AuctionLogic user guide
A real-time player auction for sports tournaments: one host runs the room, teams bid with shared rules and budgets, and spectators follow along with live links. Import players from CSV, run multiple rounds and re-auctions, then export results.
Account and sign-in
Register or sign in to create and host auctions. Spectators can often join with a share link and may use a lightweight (anonymous) session for live viewing, similar to other KraftedLogic sports apps.
Overview
- Real-time sync — state is stored in Firebase; refresh usually resumes where you left off if you use the right link.
- Budget rules — max bid hints help every team finish a legal squad under your settings.
- CSV import — bring a roster from a spreadsheet; optional per-player base price and notes.
- Re-auctions and reserve — unsold players can return in a new round; after squads are full, reserve rules may apply.
- History — past events are listed on the history page (with passcode), with export to CSV for Sheets.
Creating a tournament
Start with Create tournament and fill the wizard. Typical fields:
| Field | Description | Default (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Tournament name | Shown on screen and in exports | Required |
| Sport | Label only (e.g. Cricket, Soccer) | Cricket |
| Currency name | Symbol before amounts | $ or your unit |
| Base price | Default opening price per player | e.g. 10,000 |
| Bid increment | Step for quick bid buttons | e.g. 1,000 |
| Squad size | Players per team (main squad) | e.g. 10 |
| Player order | How players are queued | Random or A–Z |
Team budget
All teams get the same starting budget. The UI enforces what each team can afford across remaining slots (see Max bid during the sale).
Adding teams
Minimum two teams, up to eight. Each has a name and optional owner name. Colours are assigned for you. When everyone is in, move on to players before starting the sale.
Adding players (CSV and manual)
CSV import (recommended)
First row must be headers. Example:
Name,Abilities,BasePrice John Doe,"Batsman, Wicket Keeper",15000 Jane Smith,Fast Bowler,10000
Recognised column names include: name → name, player, full name; abilities → abilities, skills, role; base price and notes (optional) with similar flexible naming.
Use quotes when abilities contain commas. Save as UTF-8. In notes, ?? can render as a star in some views (see app tooltips).
Manual entry
Use Add player manually for one-off rows: name (required), abilities, optional base price, save when ready.
Starting the auction and share links
When teams and players are ready, Start auction. A Share (or similar) action exposes links:
| Link type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Spectator | View-only: audience follows bidding and state. |
| Host | Reopen as the operator if you close the tab on the same session rules. |
| Transfer | Hand host control to another device when needed. |
Live auction controls
The host advances the sale, places bids for the active team, and confirms Sold when ready. You will see team budgets, open slots, and a max bid helper so teams can always (when rules allow) fill remaining roster spots.
Common actions: increment bid, pass, custom / jump amount, and undo for the last action where supported. A live log shows recent activity.
Spectator mode
Spectators use the spectator link only: they do not take actions for teams. If the host closes the tab, the host link (kept private) is used to resume. For a new device as host, use the transfer flow from the share panel.
Re-auction rounds
When a round finishes and some players are still unsold, a re-auction can start automatically. The queue shows round labels (e.g. re-auction 1, 2) until everyone is sold or the host ends the process.
Reserve player mode
When all main squad slots are filled, the host can continue under reserve rules (if enabled by your build): extra players within remaining budget, different validation than the “must leave room for N slots at base” rule. Use Finish when the event should close and results should lock in.
Viewing results and export
During the sale, Results shows rosters, sold vs unsold, and spend. After completion, download Export to CSV for spreadsheets. Summary and per-team blocks are included in the file format the app offers.
Auction history
Open history.html to browse past events (passcode on that page). You can open completed data read-only, delete in bulk in some cases, and return to a room if a code still works.
Tips and troubleshooting
Before you start
- Test a small CSV first.
- Check budgets and base price against your league rules.
- Share the spectator link before the first call if you have a public audience.
If something looks wrong
| Issue | What to check |
|---|---|
| Cannot bid | Team max bid, open slots, or budget |
| Lost host | Host or transfer link from the share flow |
| Spectators stuck | They must use the current spectator URL |
Keyboard shortcuts (host)
When the app is in focus, common chords include:
- Ctrl+↑ — place bid for current team
- Ctrl+→ — pass
- Ctrl+Enter / field-specific — submit custom bid
- Ctrl+Z — undo
- Ctrl+S — confirm sale when appropriate
- Escape — close modals
Exact bindings can vary slightly by version; the on-screen controls always work without the keyboard.