Our client required a method
for gathering real estate property information from local estate agents. A system
was required to enable data entering, network upload and automatic insertion
of new properties into a main database used for driving dynamic site content and
enabling an online property search.
The client requested that the application should be written in Visual Basic to ensure
easy maintenance. The final specification had the following features:
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simplified, maximum user friendly interface for entering all estate
property data
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| • |
local database system for storing, browsing and editing information
about properties and agents
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ability to attach images and documents to further describe properties
|
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ability to enter rich-formatted text (so that formatting can be used
in HTML)
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simple and open format should be used for interfacing
between local agents database and main site database |
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data compression should be used to speed up data transfer over dial-up
connections
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data transfer operation must be simple, with easy configuration and
minimum client intervention
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logging system must be implemented to enable error detection and online
support
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simple and compact installation procedure must be developed to enable
easy application distribution to local estate agents
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Based on this requirements we created a Property DB - XML based
real-estate property database system.
Property DB is Visual Basic application for distributed entering
and maintenance of real estate property databases. It is an open system built
around XML standard for property data transfer. The system uses a local MS Access
database for storing property data, descriptions and information about attached
external documents (images and text files). The application enables easy browsing
and editing and can be effectively used as a stand-alone property database system.
The local agent can at any time upload data into the main database over the
Internet: data is extracted from local database into an XML file or a ZIP archive
including XML and all linked documents are created, the dial-up connection is
established and compressed data is transferred (using FTP) into the agent's
folder on the main server. The server-side application then extracts the data
and inserts it into the main database (MS SQL Server).
Property DB has a clean, user friendly interface and simple installation procedure
enabling deployment to local real estate agents with minimal IT experience.
The application is very simple and requires minimal configuration. Data transfer
operation is fully automated.
The system is built around open standard (XML) and can be easily adjusted to
any server configuration (OS, database, application server). It can also be
used as a complete stand-alone property database system for real estate agents
day to day operations.
This system met all our clients requirements. It enabled our client to greatly
speed up the data gathering process and fully automate the flow of information
from local agents to online users.
Technology used: XML, Visual Basic (main application), Visual C++ (compression
and networking functions, implemented in a DLL), MS Access, MS SQL Server, MFC,
ADO, InstallShield
