Re: [MikeF] Please consider development of RETS and IDX Import tools
Mike-
I'm just starting this process but I know there are generic RETS solutions that should work just fine.
The RETS software is going to just interact with the MySQL database that sits behind CMS Builder and since Open Realty, Wordpress, etc all use the same MySQL format it shouldn't be an issue.
The best place to start looking for a RETS solution would be the forum at
http://rets.org/ and I've also been recommended this solution ([url "http://www.interactivetools.com/forum/forum.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.interactivetools.com%2Fforum%2Fforum.cgi%3Furl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252Furl%253Fsa%253DD%2526q%253Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fretsconnector.com%252F"]
http://retsconnector.com/[/#800080][/url] ) by a techy agent I know (although I haven't started working with it yet).
Regardless of what program you use I'm told there is work involved setting the RETS up. Every MLS's database is unique and the software has to know how to map each and every field into your database. Knowing how protective my MLS is of their data I'm thinking it's probably going to be easier to just hire someone who has already worked with my MLS to set up my RETS feed.
If you choose to use Open Realty, just know that vs 3.0 is no longer open sourced and their code is encrypted (meaning it can't be customized). There's an off shoot of Open Realty's 2.x version that is open-sourced called Orodha but it's not widely used yet (so there's not a lot of plug-ins/add-ons).
Hope this helps
Sid