Need help intigrating IDX data from real estate MLS. Total n00b needs help.

Sorry....

Their, being my customer, the real estate company. Except the "their" referring to the host that houses the web pages.

There are a LOT of ways of displaying the data.  You can place a search engine type and have it display the results of the search based on the users input.  Some companies put a rotating display of homes like a "featured home" slideshow.  I'm sure it just randomly pulls data from that .dic file and matches it to the photos in the zip file.

I'm not sure if I'm responsible to extract the pictures daily or if a script can be written to perfrom that task.

I've called the IDX distributor and they more or less just say "you are supposed to know how to use the data or hire someone who does.  We supply the data, and you have to use it within the boundaries set by your local board of realtors".

Here is a sample page i found randomly showing an example of how this info is displayed:

http://tomrich.realtorpro5.com/

Here is the contents of the first file; most are all the same except in how they are used and the amount of data:

Database Name      Field Name      Data Type      Length
LM_MST_MLS_NO      MLS Number      Number      9
LM_MST_LIST_PRC      Price Listing      Number      11
LM_MST_ZONE      Area / Zone Code      Char      30
LM_MST_ACT_ST_A      Status Actual (alpha)      Char      2
LM_MST_SEC      Section      Char      30
LM_MST_STR_NAM      Address Street Name      Char      37
LM_MST_CITY      Address City      Char      30
LM_MST_UNITNUM      Address Unit Number      Char      6
LM_MST_STATE      Address State      Char      2
LM_MST_BDRMS      #Bedrooms      Number      2
LM_MST_ZIP      Address Zip Code      Number      9
LM_MST_BATHS      #Baths      Number      2
LM_MST_COUNTY      Address County      Char      30
LM_MST_HBATH      #Half-Baths      Number      2
LM_MST_SUBDIV      Address Subdivision      Char      30
LM_RES_UNTFLRS      Floors Per Unit      Number      3
LM_RES_CONDO_NM      Condo Name      Char      30
LM_RES_DGAR      Garage Size      Number      2
LM_MST_PROP_TYP      Property Type (alpha)      Char      30
LM_MST_PROP_CD      Property Code      Number      2
LM_RES_FNS_STAY      Furnishings to Stay      Char      30
LM_MST_REMARK      Remarks      Char      600
LM_RES_FND_TYPE      Foundation Type      Char      30
LM_RES_ATTIC      Attic      Char      30
LM_RES_GAR      GARAGE      Char      30
LM_RES_N_FPL      Fireplace      Char      30
LM_RES_POOL      Pool       Char      30
LM_MST_EXCLUS      Exclusions      Char      1
LM_RES_UNTFLRNO      Unit Floor Number      Number      3
LM_RES_ELEV_YN      Elevator YN      Char      1
LM_RES_TSHR_NUM      Timeshare Weeks      Number      2
LM_RES_SHARE      Shared      Char      1
LM_RES_EXP_MNT      Maintenance Expenses      Number      4
LM_RES_EXCH_YN      Exchange Y/N      Char      4
LM_RES_TIMEWK      Timeshare Week      Char      7
LM_RES_LIV_L1      Living Rm Level 1      Char      30
LM_RES_DLIV      Living Rm Size      Char      9
LM_RES_BD1_L      BR1 Level      Char      30
LM_RES_BR1_SIZE      BR 1 Size      Char      9
LM_RES_DIN_L      Dining Rm Level      Char      30
LM_RES_DDIN      Dining Rm Size      Char      9
LM_RES_BD2_L      BR2 Level      Char      30
LM_RES_BR2_SIZE      BR 2 Size      Char      9
LM_RES_KIT_L      Kitchen Level      Char      30
LM_RES_DKIT      Kitchen Size      Char      9
LM_RES_BD3_L      BR3 Level      Char      30
LM_RES_BR3_SIZE      BR 3 Size      Char      9
LM_RES_FAM_L      Family Room Level      Char      30
LM_RES_DFAM      Family Room Size      Char      9
LM_RES_BD4_L      BR4 Level      Char      30
LM_RES_BR4_SIZE      BR 4 Size      Char      9
LM_RES_OT1_L      Other 1 Level      Char      30
LM_RES_DOTH1      Other Room 1 Size      Char      9
LM_MST_TXDST      Tax - City/Village      Number      7
LM_MST_INC_RENT      Rental Income      Number      9
LM_MST_YR_BLT      Year Built      Number      4
LM_MST_WTR_FT      Waterfront      Char      30
LM_MST_TXCOM      Tax - Town/County      Number      7
LM_RES_SIMP_YN      Fee Simple YN      Char      1
LM_MST_NEW_YN      New Construction YN      Char      1
LM_MST_WTR_FDTG      Water Frontage      Char      30
LM_MST_EXP_WTR      Water Expenses      Number      7
LM_MST_EXP_GRD      Ground Expenses      Number      7
LM_MST_SQFT_N      #SQFT Total (numeric)      Number      9
LM_MST_DOCK      Dock Type      Char      30
LM_MST_EXP_SWR      Sewer Expenses      Number      7
LM_MST_YRS_OWN      Years Owned      Number      3
LM_MST_PUBRDYN      Public Road Y/N      Char      1
LM_MST_SCH_DIST      SCHOOL DIST      Char      30
LM_MST_TR_EX      Trash Expenses      Number      7
LM_MST_INS_YN      Insured Y/N      Char      1
LM_MST_DLOT      Lot Size      Char      20
LM_MST_N_ASSF      Association Fee (#)      Char      7
LM_MST_BLOCK      Block      Char      2
LM_MST_ACRES      #Acres - Total      Decimal      9,2
LM_MST_IN_CITY      Inside City Limits      Char      1
LM_RES_CONDO_FS      Condo Assoc Fees      Number      7
LM_MST_HIS_DIS      Historical District Y/N      Char      1
LM_MST_LOFSF      Lot Size sqft      Number      9
LM_MST_ZONING      Zoning      Char      30
MM_OFF_NAME      Office Name      Char      40
LM_MST_VIRT_URL      Virtual Tour URL      Char      90
LM_MST_SELL_DT      Date Closed / Sold      Char      10
LM_MST_SELL_PRC      Price Selling      Number      11
LM_MST_PEND_DT      DTC      Number      5
LM_MST_CONT_DT      DTC2      Number      5
LM_MST_SELL_DT      DTS      Number      5
LM_MST_LIST_DT      Date Listed      Char      10
LM_MST_LIST_TM      List Time      Char      8
LM_MST_LIST_BRD      List Brd      Char      4
LM_MST_LIST_FRM      List Firm      Char      6
LM_MST_LIST_OFF      List Off      Char      3
LM_MST_LIST_AGT      List Agent      Char      9
LM_MST_CFF      STYLE      Vchar      62
LM_MST_CFF      CONSTRUCTION TYPE      Vchar      62
LM_MST_CFF      EXTERIOR TYPE      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      EXTERIOR FEATURES      Vchar      124
LM_MST_CFF      ROOFING      Vchar      62
LM_MST_CFF      BASEMENT      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      PARKING      Vchar      62
LM_MST_CFF      PORCH/PATIO/DECK      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      SECURITY      Vchar      62
LM_MST_CFF      INTERIOR FEATURES      Vchar      465
LM_MST_CFF      OTHER ROOMS      Vchar      186
LM_MST_CFF      KITCHEN      Vchar      124
LM_MST_CFF      APPLIANCES      Vchar      465
LM_MST_CFF      PRIMARY FLOORING      Vchar      124
LM_MST_CFF      EXTRA UNIT DESCRIPTION      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      LOT DESCRIPTION      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      COOLING SYSTEM      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      HEATING SYSTEM      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      WATER      Vchar      62
LM_MST_CFF      SEWER      Vchar      62
LM_MST_CFF      FINANCING      Vchar      124
LM_MST_CFF      DISCLOSURES      Vchar      124
LM_MST_CFF      SHOWING INSTRUCTIONS      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      CONTRACT INFORMATION      Vchar      93
LM_MST_CFF      CONDO/HOA AMENITIES      Vchar      372
LM_MST_CFF      DOCS ON FILE      Vchar      124

>> Here is the contents of the first file; most are all the same except in how they are used and the amount of data:

This looks like a SQL table structure to me.   If so, I'm sure one of the other files is the data dump and all you would need to do is use a cron job to launch a script to import the results of the nightly data dump into a database.  From there, you have to build a site that pulls in dynamically.

Now, if you have no experience creating database driven sites, then my professional opinion is that you are in over your head at the moment.  Depending on how fast you need to integrate this data, you should probably look into buying or downloading a premade script or hiring a developer with experience in IDX/MLS integration.  Googling for "mls idx integration" produced a couple of links, I will leave it to you to evaluate them.

I've done some research and found the answers I needed to know.

Basically, the web server needs to be running PHP, MySQL, SQL or similar to parse the info into the database for distribution.

Right...

Jason,

I'm getting little help from my ISP, as they say the are running MySQL, but they keep saying "we'll get back to you" on questions.

Do you know anymore on how to build the database, or what needs to be done to get this in motion?

I think I have enough info for me to create my pages on my end, but unless the database is setup on their end, the queries won't work.

Loral

Jason,

You were the only one that hung in there with me.  Although this isn't resolved, I think you know what I'm after and have pointed me in the right direction more than once.

Do you have any 1st hand knowledge with real estate IDX?  If so, I'd like to contact you for future questions.

Loral

>> Do you have any 1st hand knowledge with real estate IDX?

Nope, and happy to not be in that field.  It sounds nightmarish.