PHRets with Matrix

[W Bowley]

Our local MLS provider has informed us that their data provider (CoreLogic) has decided to switch over to Matrix for their data storage and front end interface.  They've given everybody who downloads data just over a month to retool all of their download processes.

Needless to say this is an unplanned task that I'm going to have to tackle.  One problem I'm having is that I was given a spreadsheet of the columns that I'm supposed to have access to.  Using the http://www.retsmd.com site, most of the columns in the spreadsheet aren't being published by the server.

The problem I have is that the MLS board uses a different system to access the data.  Most of the time I hear that everything is fine on their side and that they only support RetsConnector for accessing data.  PHRets is basically making an HTTP call to the server, sending a DMQL query and parsing the response.  I don't see anything in there that would cause columns not to show up, but others would.

Has anybody else here used PHRets to access data being stored in a Matrix system?  If so, did you have any issues?  My gut feeling is that there is a setting on their side that is stopping columns from being published to end users.  I'm hoping to be ahead of the curve when they come back with their response.

Thanks for any tips/help

-- Warren

[Troy Davisson]

I use PHRETS against Matrix systems quite often and don't usually have problems (at least ones like this).  The issue you're running into does sound like something with your permissions (or maybe they just don't have everything set up yet for the MLS move).  A quick inquiry to the MLS will usually resolve issues like this.

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[sandeep reddy]

Hi Troy Davisson,

Are you using latest credentials provided by Matrix team, I am able to connect to the updated URL but not able to fetch any properties using the search Query. I am how ever able to get properties using their RETS connector tool.

Can you pass me the search query you are using to fetch properties.

Thanks

Sandeep

[mrk.en...@gmail.com]

Sandeep,

I am working now with Matrix after successfully working with several regional FlexMLS and other RETS systems using PHRETS, and my first attempts at retrieving the property data are not returning any rows.

I am successfully connecting, and even creating the local db table with the fieldnames using the GetMetadataTable() method and some mysql code i wrote, so things are ok there.

My query is a simple one...

$rets_config['MATRIX']['data']['residential'] = array(

"resource" => "Property",

"class" => "Listing",

"query" => "(STATUS='ACT')"

      );

I've tried ACT with no quotes and the |ACT...no difference.

thanks in advance for any insights you may have..

- mark

[Neelim Sahariah]

Hi All I have also just started to working on a project with Matrix system for NTREIS. It seems that so far I am able to download listings properly. However I see a max 5000 listings limit on the server. Besides though irrelevant, I have a simple question, I have to download all listings and all images from NTREIS mls and they have 450 k + listings. if I go with normal image downloading it will take ages to download all, is there any way to download images paralley i.e make parallel requests for images 

Thanks

[W Bowley]

It depends on whether or not your provider limits concurrent requests.  For instance, MidFlorida limits concurrent queries and if I try to issue more than one query at a time I will receive a response from the server of "Too many outstanding queries".  If you are/were able to issue more than one query, you could try to get a list of all listing ID's and then have a separate program that just issues queries for images and run multiple programs at once grabbing images for different listings.

[Troy Davisson]

I don't remember the capabilities of the NTREIS server specifically, but there aren't a tremendous number of options for grabbing large numbers of listings.  For photos, however, you might check to see if the RETS server allows you to retrieve the photo URLs back rather than the photos themselves.  If you can make use of the URLs, these are usually much faster requests to make.  If you need to store a copy of the photo locally, you could save a list (or put them in a queue or something similar) and then have a bunch of other processes running through the list fetching photos by URL.  Many RETS servers only allow you to have 1 active session at a time, but for photos, you should be given access to a URL that anyone can see without authentication.

[sandeep reddy]

Hi Neelim,

I am trying to connect to NTREIS Matrix server using phrets library. since the NTREIS server has moved to matrix version i am not able to fetch the properties.

Can you pass me the search query and the library you are using to connect to Matrix server.

Thanks,

Sandeep

[John Komar]

I know this post is a few months old and everyone working with mfrmls should be converted by now, but the question of missing columns will come up again as others start to use RETS as compared to an IDX solution.

This issue is due to access levels.

The board (mls board) provides a lists of ALL possible fields but there are different levels of access depending upon the end-user. If you are using the Realtor/Broker supplied credentials you will have LESS access than a developer access level account. It comes down to this; as part of membership within the board the Realtor/Broker is granted basic privileges and pays an annual fee of a few hundred dollars. As a developer the cost is a few thousand dollars and the added expense allows you as a developer to access just about all relevant information to build a solution for end users.

In a very twisted way the Realtors-  have built in a self imposed protection for developers. 

[Troy Davisson]

the question of missing columns will come up again as others start to use RETS as compared to an IDX solution.  This issue is due to access levels.

This is generally correct.  It's not uncommon for fields to be missing because of a configuration error, but it is typically due to the permissions given.

The board (mls board) provides a lists of ALL possible fields but there are different levels of access depending upon the end-user.

MFRMLS might be this way but it's not this way for everyone.  Servers can adjust the metadata provided to hide fields you can't get anyway.

If you are using the Realtor/Broker supplied credentials you will have LESS access than a developer access level account.

It depends on why the broker or agent have the credentials in the first place, but the opposite is typically true.  A developer given credentials for a public website could only have access to fields allowed for public display while a broker feed could include much more since the intended use may be for agents only.  It all depends.

It comes down to this; as part of membership within the board the Realtor/Broker is granted basic privileges and pays an annual fee of a few hundred dollars. As a developer the cost is a few thousand dollars and the added expense allows you as a developer to access just about all relevant information to build a solution for end users.

It is generally true that the agents pay dues for the access they have (the amount varies); however, policies and fees for developer access vary widely and the access to data given (via RETS) is typically much less than that given to agents (via the MLS front end).

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