Submission Instructions
With the Upload.com submission forms you can submit your product information for listing on CNET Download.com and our partner networks. The instructions will help you understand what types of product and company information we require. We reserve the right to revise, replace, or decline submitted information at any time and without notice. Please also read our Software Policies to learn more about how we evaluate software products for listing.
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Submitting your product
Although you will use separate forms to add new products and modify existing ones, the submission process is similar. Simply fill out the required fields, verify your product information, and select your listing package. Processing times for each submission will vary according to the listing package you've chosen.
PAD files
PAD (Portable Application Description) is an XML file format developed by the Association of Shareware Professionals to assist software publishers with the submission process. If you are using a PAD file, you will need to manually enter additional information after entering it to complete your submission.
Legal notices
To submit a product to our library, you must read, understand, and agree to our Terms and Conditions, Software Policies, and Privacy Policy. You must also check the box indicating you agree to have your product hosted on our free HTTP Hosting Service.
Contact and publisher information
When you submit your first product, you will be prompted to enter your contact and publisher information. Contact information will not be displayed anywhere on CNET Download.com; publisher information will be made available on your product-listing and publisher-profile pages. You can update your contact and publisher information at any time through the Account Management Center.
Company name
The company name you enter will appear on all your product listings as a link to your publisher-profile page. If you do not have a company name, you may substitute your first and last names.
Company description
Please provide a one-paragraph description of your company for your publisher-profile page.
Main URL
This is the URL to your main company home page. At this time we do not accept product-specific URLs or links to pages other than your main company home page.
Support information
Please enter a URL, an e-mail address, and a phone number users can use for technical assistance or customer support. This information is optional.
Product information
This information describes your product to our users. All information must be consistent with that in the installed file as well as that on your Web site. Please see our Software Policies for more information about our guidelines and evaluation process.
Product name
To avoid confusion, product names on CNET Download.com should appear exactly as they do in the installed software's interface and on the publisher's Web site. However, some product names may need to be edited by our staff for clarity and consistency within our listings.
Version number
The version number listed on CNET Download.com must match the version number in the binary file, as well as the number that appears on the publisher's Web site. Each new version of a product may be featured in the Download.com New Releases list no more than once every two weeks and at our sole discretion, after changes and additions have been verified by our staff.
Description
We require three to five complete sentences that clearly describe your product's core features and functionality, written in English. We also require that you list any known bugs, as well as any additional applications that may be bundled in the downloadable file.
Notes for Upload.com production staff
If you have special instructions regarding your product, update, or would like to make a suggestion to our staff, you may do so by submitting that information here.
Short description
Our editorial staff creates the short description, or synopsis, and retains exclusive rights over the presentation. We may include editorial opinions, if deemed appropriate. A brief explanation of the product's core functionality, it should not contain marketing language or excessive detail.
Update information
If you are updating an existing product, please provide two or three sentences specifying what is new. This information will not appear in your product description, although we may use some of it in your product description.
Category
Please choose the category that best suits your product. In most circumstances, we will approve your initial category request. However, we reserve the right to revise, replace, or decline category selections at any time.
File information
These fields describe the technical requirements for the software, including operating system and hardware. You must enter a direct-download URL for your file. Premium subscription customers may also suggest up to five search keywords for use on CNET Download.com.
Operating system
Select the operating system or operating-system group with which the program is designed to run. If you don't see the exact OS version number, choose the closest one.
Other minimum requirements
Please indicate any unusual system, hardware, or software requirements. Obvious requirements and industry standards such as an Internet connection, a monitor, or a 1GHz processor need not be listed.
Uninstaller included
Please tell us if your program comes with its own uninstaller.
Download link
Please provide a link that will immediately initiate the file download. Our automated system will attempt to upload your file from its originating server to our HTTP servers as soon as you complete your submission.
Registration code
Please provide a registration code so that we can review the full version of your product.
Suggested keywords
You must have an active Premium listing package to suggest keywords. After you have signed up, you may modify your product listing with up to five suggested keywords.
Product images
You can upload screenshots for your CNET Download.com listing by clicking the Upload Screenshots button. Please read the Image Upload Instructions for more information about requirements and the upload process.
License information
These fields describe the license, trial limitations, pricing, and purchase details of your product. You may also submit a link to an e-commerce page where users can purchase your product.
License type
We categorize all software in our library as either Free or Free to try. All product listings must fall within one of these classifications. Currently we do not list commercial or purchase-only software.
Price in U.S. dollars
Because CNET Networks is based in the United States, all prices on our sites must be converted to U.S. dollars (USD).
Buy Now links
Please provide a link to an e-commerce page where users may purchase your product. The availability of your URL depends on your selected listing package.
Functionality limitations
Describe how this version differs from the full version (examples: it's a 30-day trial, it's print-disabled, it contains a watermark or a registration reminder). This includes free downloads with functional limitations, trial periods, or disabled features.
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