Auction Controls: To view the functions of our controls please see our Standard Controls section.
Creating and maintaining an auction can be done by clicking the Auction Setup button (the gavel). 
From here, the user can set up a variety of auction settings such as designating the Buyer's Premium rates and adding expenses to an auction. This chapter is designed as an introductory tutorial for basic auction setup.
| • | The first screen you will see when entering the Auction Setup Maintenance screen will look like the following: |
You will see that here you can change the name and date(s) of your auction. The Auction ID is the particular number for this auction (1 being your first auction, 2 your second, and so forth). Here on the lower part of this window is the area to change the Buyer Premium, Tax 1, and Tax 2 (not shown) Rates. Finally, we must choose the Type of auction we are holding. It is "safest" to choose 'Automatically Determined', for this will encompass all of the options and a combination of catalogued & non-catalogued in a single auction. Your choice here will only affect the clerking behavior.
In version 6, we have added the Alternate Buyer Premium Rate feature for your customers. If you wish to have a second Buyer Premium, you may set that particular rate and the range of bid cards that second rate is applied to. This is especially useful for charging a higher Buyer Premium Rate to your internet buyers.
We have a couple Check-In options located at the bottom of the initial screen here as well. You have the options here to select if you would like to have your AutoNumber Bid Cards feature enabled or if you plan on utilizing Seller Check-In (If this box is checked you must check in customers that are consignors with a Seller Code. Then when clerking your non-catalogued items, you enter the Seller Code, which is auction specific. If this box is NOT checked, the you clerk your non-catalogued items by the Customer Code, which is not auction specific).
| • | The following tabs:  are primarily for internal use with the exception of 'Terms & Conditions', which are printed on your catalogs, online catalogs, and bid-cards. Click here for more information on payment type surcharges. |
| • | The next tab over  deals with setting up some buyer charges in Auction Flex. Please see the Buyer Charges Section of this help manual. |
| • | The next tab  will allow you to place various charges/expenses in to your auction. Please see Add Expenses to Auction for further help. |
| • | Auction Flex can also accept an array of different types of alternate bids.  To manage these bids, you should go to the 'Alt Bids' Tab and add or remove absentee (left), phone, and/or internet bids. If you have elected to hold auctions online and accept online-absentee bids, this is the area where you download the successful bids by clicking on the  button. By clicking on the Auto-Clerk button, you can automatically have Auction Flex clerk your online bids in a batch. Please see our chapter on Auto-Clerk for more instructions. You may E-Mail Results to your online bidders from this tab, as well. |
** NOTE: Just taking alternate bids on lots does not mean that those items are sold. They must still be clerked to receive a 'sold' status.
The Upload Tool 
allows you to upload your auction catalogs while giving you a variety of settings to choose from. It is here that you can choose the settings for bidding and registration, and also upload your prices realized. Please see the Upload Catalog to Internet section for further instruction.