My modified version of the 45n5 mashup script
Posted on May 17, 2008, under Affiliate Marketing, Scripts.
As I mentioned in the last post I have modified the mashup script from 45n5.com so that it now works with the new eBay Partner Network. I also tweaked a few other things to how I wanted it, others may not like those changes so feel free to remove any of that.
From what I could find you can no longer use the GetSearchResults eBay API call (or maybe I just didn’t look hard enough…), so I had a look through eBay’s developer site and found the FindItems call which I think does pretty much the same thing, and it certainly is enough for what I wanted. I also couldn’t find a way of using the new eBay API calls without having an eBay Developer account and App ID (please let me know if anyone knows of a way that you don’t need an App ID), so to use the script you’ll have to sign up with the eBay Developers Program and generate a production app ID.
The script is still very much based on the original from 45n5, and as in the original you still need to modify some variables in the stufftochange.php file, and add your keywords to the products.txt file.
As well as getting the eBay stuff working with the new affiliate network the other tweaks I have made are:
- Added time remaining, current price and current bids to the eBay listings
- Aligned the eBay images and text a bit more neatly
- Removed the bottom AdSense text banner
- Added an AdSense box underneath the “Auctions for…” section
- Put a bit of vertical space between the different sections (ie. between “Video for…” and “Shop for…”) just so they’re not so bunched up
There’s probably alot more that can be done with this script and I will work some more on it in the near future, although I have alot on for the next week or so, so i’ll have to wait a little while before I can have another play ;).
If anyone notices any problems with this version the please contact me and i’ll try my best to fix it. Also, if anyone digs through the code, please don’t laugh at my amateur coding skills… but i’d be happy to hear of any tips or improvements I could make.
I’ve put a up a quick demo here for you to take a look at.
11 Replies to "My modified version of the 45n5 mashup script"
Chris on June 20, 2008
Sure, you can contact me, hopefully I can help.
It is based on the 45n5 script, but i’m not sure that Mark at 45n5 put a requirement to link back to him if you use the script, although i’m sure he’d be grateful if you did.
Hope this helps you out.
Kara on June 21, 2008
Thanks.
I will sure link back to 45n5 if I can use the script for which I am sure I will sure need some help from you.
Thanks again
Chris on June 21, 2008
Actually, i’ve just read the license.txt included with the script (I know - should really have read this long ago…), and it seems 45n5 do require a link back from any distribution of their code:
“Proper attribution is a link back to 45n5.com with every distrubution
of the original or modified code.”
Have a read of the license.txt file for more details.
Kara on June 21, 2008
No problem, as I said before I will surely give backlink to 45n5.com. Just now I am studying the script and up to now it seems pretty straightforward. But what to do if I want dollar listing for eBay? Could you tell me what is the TrackingPartnerCode for US? Or where could I find out?
Thanks in advance
Chris on June 21, 2008
The TrackingPartnerCode (set in stufftochange.php) stays set to 9, this means it uses the eBay Partner Network. To display listings from eBay US, change the SiteID variable in ebaysearch.php. The code for US is 0.
You can display listings for a specific price range. You can look here to find info on how to do that, then amend the code:
http://developer.ebay.com/devzone/shopping/docs/CallRef/FindItemsAdvanced.html
If you’re not sure about that or need some help then drop me an email and i’ll take a look.
Kara on June 22, 2008
Hello Chris,
Thanks for your helpful replies. I am working on setting up a test site based on your modified script and will get back to you.
On another topic: you have written in your post that you would like to know if there was a way for using the new ebay API calls without having to use the eBay APP ID.
I don’t know whether this answers your question but here it is. Would be glad if it is helpful.
Huge Pedlar has developed a script for ebay-youtube mashup which he is giving away free. With this I have built a mashup site http://iphone.right-info.com without having to use eBay App ID. Here is the url where you can get the script:
http://blog.hugepedlar.com/2008/04/25/new-ebay-youtube-adsense-script-update/
Maybe you can have a look at this script and find a way to modify your script so that you don’t have to use the API Id.
One request please. Can you please modify your blog comment and contact boxes so that they show lines beyond their size? What happens now is that I don’t see what I am writing after I have reached the end of the box. Could I explain what I meant to say?
All the best
Kara
Chris on June 22, 2008
Hi Kara, thanks for that.
I took a quick look at the script, looks like it doesn’t need a developer ID because it’s not using the developer API’s, it’s just making an RSS call. I can’t find any reference on the RSS call so can’t tell for sure, but i’d imagine you would have less control over what you want displayed.
For example, using FindItemsAdvanced API call I could define what is returned by price, time left, category, whether the auctions have bids or not etc. etc. Maybe you can do the same with the RSS call but I can’t find any details to say for sure.
Thanks for letting me know about the problem with this comment box and the one on the contact page, I never noticed it before. As you should now see i’ve sorted that out.
Kara on June 22, 2008
Hi Chris,
I am not a geek so did not understand all that you could with just a glance at the script.
I emailed you by the contact box about Amazon Developer Id. Did you get it? Would be glad if you could help me about it.
All the best
garifo on June 30, 2008
Hello,
Thanks for the updated script.
Sorry for this dumb question, but is the amazonid is the user ID to login?
Also, where do I find the amazontag.
Thank you in advance.
Chris on July 1, 2008
Hi garifo,
Sorry if it’s not clear which is which, the amazonid is your Amazon Access Key ID which you get from the developer site. The amazontag is your Amazon Associates affiliate ID which you get from the Amazon Associates site.
Hope that helps. What I will do is write a step by step guide on setting up a site using this script.
Kara on June 20, 2008
Great. This was what I was looking for and found you from 45n5.com script site
I will try the script and see what happens. Could I contact you if I have some problems?
Btw you say that your script is based on 45n5.com script so do I have to give to backlink to 45n5.com script?