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Active Content is ...
Active Content, according to eBay, "is used by many sellers today to provide interactivity, animation or video via JavaScript, Flash, plug-ins, and form actions in listings." eBay's intent to disable the use of Active Content is most recently confirmed here on eBay:
active-content.html
Typically, Active Content is used to display photos and text boxes in ways that conserve space in the page such as photo click to enlarge thumbnail galleries.
If you are not sure whether or not your item descriptions contain Active Content, visit your listings while signed in and use the preview link that appears above your item description to test each feature within the item description.
IMPORTANT: Understand that eBay is not going to consider the use of Active Content as a violation - they are simply causing it to stop working. Thus, as long as there is no important affect to your item descriptions you need not change (fix) anything.
Surprise! Links must also target a new window!!
eBay's current preview also disables links to other pages unless they open in a new window. Let's say you have a link to your other items for sale, or to your eBay store, or to a PDF file, or to a video that further describes your item -- those aren't working in the preview unless they open in a new window. To be certain that each link opens a new window the link needs to contain target="_blank"
eBay has confirmed that target="_blank" will be required for links or they will not function.
When will this all happen ...
So far eBay is announcing what they refer to as a phase out beginning June 2017. In the past, when eBay has made changes they will "grandfather" existing listings until they are ended and relisted or revised. In the past, Good Till Cancelled (GTC) listings fall into the grandfather category so would be exempt from alteration to disable Active Content. That may be what is referred to as "phase out" but eBay has not yet divulged specifics (thanks eBay!).
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If you have used FreeForm ...
If you have used the original FreeForm at robshelp.com then your item descriptions could be affected with use of Code Input Areas. For example, if you have imported EAPH Plugins or an EAPH Window Shopping Gallery those will stop working when eBay disables Active Content. NOTE: The EAPH plugins and Window Shopping Gallery will probably not be revised to work without Active Content.
Also, keep in mind that links to other pages or pictures must open in new windows. Both FreeForm and FreeForm2 provide that option for links.
If you have used FreeForm2 ...
If you have used the separate FreeForm2 at freeform2.robshelp.com and you have used the "Enlarge in Place" or "Mouseover Enlarge" methods for displaying photos prior to January 2017 those will stop working when eBay disables Active Content. As of January 2017 those two methods within FreeForm2 have been revised to not employ Active Content.
If you have imported EAPH Plugins or an EAPH Window Shopping Gallery those will stop working when eBay disables Active Content. NOTE: The EAPH plugins and Window Shopping Gallery will probably not be revised to work without Active Content.
Also, keep in mind that links to other pages or pictures must open in new windows. Both FreeForm and FreeForm2 provide that option for links.
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