software projects

Property DB

Our client required a method for gathering real estate property information from local estate agents. System was required to enable data entering, network upload and automatic insertion of new properties into main database used for driving dynamic site content and enabling online property search.

Client requested that application should be written in Visual Basic to ensure easy maintenance. Final specification had the following features:

•	simplified, maximum user friendly interface for entering all estate property data
•	local database system for storing, browsing and editing information about properties and agents
•	ability to attach images and documents to further describe properties
•	ability to enter rich-formatted text (so that formatting can be used in HTML)
•	simple and open format should be used for interfacing between local agent's database and main site database
•	data compression should be used to speed up data transfer over dial-up connections
•	data transfer operation must be simple, with easy configuration and minimum client intervention
•	logging system must be implemented to enable error detection and online support
•	simple and compact installation procedure must be developed to enable easy application distribution to local estate agents

Based on this requirements we created 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. System uses local MS Access database for storing property data, descriptions and information about attached external documents (images and text files). Application enables easy browsing and editing and can be effectively used as stand-alone property database system. Local agent can at any time initiate data upload into the main database over the Internet: data is extracted from local database into XML file, ZIP archive including XML and all linked documents is created, dial-up connection is established and compressed data is transferred (using FTP) into agent's folder on main server. Server-side application then extracts the data and inserts it into the main database (MS SQL Server).

Property DB has clean, user friendly interface and simple installation procedure enabling deployment to local real estate agents with minimal IT experience. Application is very simple and requires minimal configuration. Data transfer operation is fully automated.

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 agent's day to day operations.

This system meets 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