Workaround for Google base "Missing required attribute: condition" for eBay feed

Problem

As the Google base has required condition attribute since June 30, sellers cannot upload their eBay store feed to it. It will give an error "Missing required attribute: condition".

Cause

There is no <g:condition> attribute in the eBay feed.

Solution

A. Download the xml file with your store listings:
Download your store feed and save as an xml file
http://esssl.ebay.com/GetListings/yourstorename?fmt=g

or

1. go to My eBay -> Manage my store
2. on the left Marketing tool menu, click Listing feeds
3. Find the line

Your Google Base-specific file will be located at http://esssl.ebay.com/GetListings/your_store_name?fmt=g

4. right click on the link and select 'save link as' or (save target as in IE) then change the extension of the file to .xml instead of .htm and save it to your computer.


B. Edit the downloaded XML file
1. Right click on the downloaded XML file and select "Open With" then select Notepad.
2. In Notepad, press Ctrl-H to open the find & replace box. Enter "condition>" in the find field and "g:condition>" in the replace field (exclude the quotation marks). Click Replace all.
3. Save the file with File --> Save.

This section is not done yet because the "g:condition" attribute the only acceptable values are "new", "used" and "refurbished." but eBay values can be "used", "pre-owned", "like new", "very good", "good", "acceptable", "see description" etc.

You have to replace all of the incompatible values with either "new", "used" and "refurbished." otherwise you cannot insert the items with incompatible attribute into Google Base.

Suppose I want to replace all "see description" as "new". I would press Ctrl-H to open the find & replace box. Enter "<g:condition><!--[CDATA[see description]]--></g:condition>" in the find field and "<g:condition><!--[CDATA[new]]--></g:condition>" in the replace field (exclude the quotation marks). Then click Replace all.

C. Upload your edited XML file to Google
1. Login to your existing Google Base account.
2. Click tab "Data Feeds"
3. Click link "Manual: Upload File"
4. Point Google to the XML file that you have edited it in B.

Now you should see no error :)

If you think this article is helpful, please kindly buy me a cup of coffee :)

Best,
Nopash

Visit my eBay store at www.eDecalShop.com