Need .xml file feed for Windows Live Product Search

Can anyone help with this or refer me to who can?

[roomoo22]

Hi there,

Wondering if anyone can help me with creating an .xml feed to upload my products to [products.live.com...] I have tried over and over, but to no avail--just keep getting error messages saying feed was not uploaded. I have a .csv file I have tried converting to .xml and .txt file--still does not work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I am willing to pay a reasonable fee for this help too. I hope this does not violate any rules. I am at my wit's end with this.

Many thanks,
Joel

[cmarshall]

Hi Joel,

Welcome to WebmasterWorld!

Unfortunately, your post may fall afoul of WebmasterWorld Posting Guidelines [webmasterworld.com] as it both has an external link and solicits work.

However, the external link is one of the "big" generic ones, so it may be OK, and the solicitation is not that direct. Basically, it's up to the board moderator.

However, this is a very legitimate question, and someone here may well be able to help you. I don't know much about Live Search, but it looks like you have a number of options; not just XML.

If you use XML, you need to get a schema or DTD. I suspect that Microsoft publishes one somewhere, then validate your feeds against the schema using a tool like <oXygen/> [oxygenxml.com] or Validome [validome.org].

I hope this helps.

[httpwebwitch]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld!

there is no board moderator, yet. but don't fret - a mod would just remove the link and put a little comment at the bottom of your post, and maybe a little "tsk tsk" via stickymail.

Anyhow, i took a look through the 'products.live' program and it seems pretty straightforward. Awkward that they don't accept CSV, though a tab-delimited TXT shouldn't be hard to export.

I'll suggest: try making a really tiny "test" XML with only three of your products in it, and upload that. You'll more easily find out if the problem is with your XML or with Microsoft's upload tool.

[roomoo22]

Hi all,

Thanks for your kind replies and advice.

I did get a couple of quotes from a site --lowest one was for $300. For the most part though, their so-called experts could not be bothered. Guess the money was not good enough.

In spite of that, I believe I have found someone to do this for me, but should it not work out I will give your suggestions a try and let you know how it turns out.

I guess I have to repost here within thirty days or they purge me from this system. That's what I understand anyway.

Thanks again!
Joel

[edited by: jatar_k at 2:27 pm (utc) on Jan. 31, 2008]
[edit reason] no specifics thanks [/edit]

[httpwebwitch]

I guess I have to repost here within thirty days

Well then, jump in with both feet, find a forum that appeals to you and get to know the locals. The finest and brightest in the industry are here

</music type="sappy">

[phranque]

welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], roomoo22!