Documentation (work in progress)

Contents:

Starting BidNobble
  1. Under Windows
  2. Manual (all platforms)
First Steps
  1. License Agreement
  2. Login to eBay
  3. Add new auction
  4. Set new bid job
  5. Update existing bid job
Configuring BidNobble
  1. Proxy Settings
  2. Browser Settings
  3. Other Settings
Using BidNobble without a GUI (console mode)

Some thoughts about using BidNobble


Starting BidNobble

The program is distributed as an executable Java ARchive (jar) file. There are 2 ways to run it.

  1. Under Windows just double click the bidnobble.jar file in the Windows Explorer.
    Some archive manager like WinRar can change the association of the .jar file.
    In this case you need to run it manually (see below).

  2. Manual start
    • Start new console (On windows: click Start button, then select Run..., type cmd
      and press Enter)
    • Go to the directory where you have downloaded bidnobble.jar
    • Type: javaw -jar bidnobble.jar and press Enter




First Steps

  1. First you need to accept the License Agreement (only the first time).
    If you do not agree then press Exit and delete bidnobble.jar from your computer.

  2. Login to eBay
    When the program is started then a login dialog will be shown. If you don't want to
    place bids then you don't need to be logged in to eBay. You can login to eBay at any
    time by pressing the login button on the toolbar or choosing the Login menu item
    from the File menu. The auctions on that you have placed snipe tasks will be loaded
    when you login to eBay.
    When you login with a different username then only the snipe tasks placed with this
    user will be loaded!

  3. Add new auction
    Adding new auction to BidNobble is pretty simple. Just copy an auction url from eBay
    page, paste it in the Address field of BidNobble and press Enter or the Go button.
    Important! Auctions only with the Buy It Now option are not supported!

  4. Set new bid (snipe) job
    Important! You can set a snipe job only when you are logged in to eBay! The snipe
    job is only for the user you are logged with!
    To set a snipe job, just right click (the default popup trigger actually) on the
    auction you want to bid on. In the popup menu select Open Bid Dialog.
    In the appeared dialog you can choose the amount you want to snipe and how much
    seconds before the end of the auction the bid must be placed.

  5. Update existing bid job
    Changing the parameters of a snipe task is the same as setting new snipe task.



Configuring BidNobble

  1. Proxy Settings
  2. Browser Settings
  3. Other Settings



Using BidNobble without a GUI (console mode)

Running BidNobble in console mode will allow You to snipe only on one Auction! This version
will not check for version updates, will not read the news from server and will not read the
saved auctions on the disk!

To use the console version You must start BidNobble like This:

java -jar BidNobble <username> <passowrd> <url> <money> <bidBefore>

Where:
  • The <username> is the eBay username
  • The <password> is the eBay password
  • The <url> is the Auction url. This must be given in quots ("") like: "http://www.ebay.com/myAuction"
  • The <money> is the max bid, this must be given in primary currency*100!
    For example for 123,45$ You must give 12345, the currency symbol must NOT be
    given! BidNobble will bid in the Auction currency! For tw.ebay.com the price must allways ends with "00", for example for 123NT$ You must give 12300
  • The <bidBefore> is the sniping time in milliseconds, this mean for 5 seconds befor the end You must give 5000

This version will never end, so after the bid is confirmed You must exit manually!
This is only a temporary solution until the client-server/engine-gui version is ready!



Some thoughts about using BidNobble

Using BidNobble isn't a guarantee that you will win the auction, use it at your own risk!
There may be lots of reasons preventing the snipe (net failure, changes in eBay site...).
If you really want to win an auction then do it manually!

Although using BidNobble can be very helpful.
  • You can just load some auctions, set the snipes and let the program do the
    remaining work.

  • There are lots of people using snipe programs to win auctions, so if you don't use
    one you are in many situations in disadvantage.

  • There are lots of people that whenever they are not the High bidder they bid more
    just to be on top. Using BidNobble will lower the risk of driving early the price high.