Auction Ace Step-by-Step Guide

• New Users: Click "Register" on the home page. You will need to provide an email and a password. A verification email will be sent to your inbox. You must click the link in that email to activate your account before you can log in.
• Returning Users: Click "Login" and enter your credentials to access your auction dashboard.
• Your auctions and all related data are securely tied to your unique, verified account.

• Once logged in, you will land on the "My Auctions" page. Click the "Create New Auction" button. If this is your first time and you have no auctions, a creation dialog will appear automatically.
• Provide an Auction Name (e.g., "Summer League Draft 2024").
• Optionally, you can add a URL for an Auction Logo, an Auction Wallpaper for branding, and a YouTube Live Stream URL if you plan to broadcast your event.
• After creating the auction, you will be automatically redirected to the "Auction Setup" page.

This is a critical step that defines the data structure for every player in this specific auction. You can access this page anytime via the "Settings" button on an auction card.

• Core Fields: "Name" and "Base Price" are mandatory for every player.
• Standard Optional Fields: Use the checkboxes to include fields for a "Player Image URL" and a "Player Description".
• Custom Fields: Add your own unique, text-based fields relevant to your auction (e.g., "Role", "Nationality", "Batting Avg."). These fields will automatically appear in the "Add Player" form and as columns in the downloadable CSV template for this auction.
• Auction Visuals: You can update the Logo, Wallpaper, and YouTube Live link here at any time.

After setup, you'll be taken to the main auction dashboard. From here, you can populate your auction using the top-left menu:

All real-time bidding happens on the auction management page.

• To start, either click the "Start Next Auction" button in the "Auction Control Center" or click directly on any player card in the "Upcoming Players" list.
• A bidding dialog will pop up, displaying the player's details and the current highest bid (or base price).
• In the dialog, select a bidding team from the dropdown, enter a valid bid amount, and click "Place Bid". The system validates the bid against the current high bid and the team's remaining budget.

• Draft State: Newly created auctions begin in draft. You can configure players, teams, visuals, and settings safely.
• Start Action: An explicit Start Auction button (inside the "Auction Control Center") sets status to active and records the start timestamp.
• Auto Close: Auctions automatically move to closed exactly 48 hours after they are started. A precise local time for closure is displayed instead of a vague countdown.
• Why This Matters: Lifecycle state prevents accidental bidding on incomplete setups and provides deterministic public visibility windows.

Within the active bidding dialog for a player, you have several options:

• Sell: Sells the player to the current highest bidder. The player is moved to the "Sold Players" list, the team's budget is automatically updated, and the next player is teed up for auction.
• Pass: If a player receives no bids, you can pass on them. They are moved to the "Unsold Players" list.
• Cancel Bidding: Returns the player to the "Upcoming Players" list, ready to be auctioned again later.

You can also manage players directly from their respective lists:

• Unsold Players: You can "Re-list" an unsold player, which moves them back to the "Upcoming" list.
• Sold Players: You can "Revoke" a sale. This returns the player to the "Upcoming" list and refunds the purchase amount to the team's budget.

The main dashboard provides a complete overview of the auction's state:

• Player Lists: "Upcoming," "Unsold," and "Sold" players are organized into their own scrollable sections. You can search across all categories to quickly find a player.
• Team Status: View all participating teams, their remaining budget, and the number of players they've acquired. You can edit a team's details or click to view its full player roster.

• Default Limit: Regular users can create up to a fixed free allowance (currently 2) unless upgraded or adjusted.
• Dynamic Per-User Override: Admins can now modify an individual user's maximum allowed auctions directly from the Admin Users page (look for +/- controls in the "Allowed Auctions" column).
• Real-Time Enforcement: The creation dialog respects the live limit—once reached, it offers purchase / upgrade actions instead of the creation form.
• Why: Prevents abuse while allowing granular expansion for trusted or premium users.

You can share a read-only version of your auction with participants or spectators.

• From the "My Auctions" page or the auction dashboard, click the "Share" button.
• This provides a public URL and a unique Auction ID. Spectators can use the URL directly or enter the ID on the "Find a Public Auction" page.
• The public view mirrors the main dashboard, including any custom wallpaper or live YouTube embed, but without any of the management controls.