Import FTP Data stream

[barryman9000]

Cool forum! Any suggestions with the easiest way to parse the IDX FTP file into my DB? I've done a lot of work with SQL Server, but I'm not sure I understand how to use the "psudeo XML" mapping file with the text/data file.

Also, although I don't like MS Access, is that an alternative to SQL server? Just thinking of cost.

Thanks in Advance!

[REW Fergus]

Microsoft Access is a file format, not a database server. It's utterly inadequate for the purpose of a custom IDX. If cost is your concern, I can recommend MySQL or PostgreSQL. These are free open-source database servers.

It sounds like you intend to host your solution on a Microsoft server. I think this is a poor choice, but the good news is that MySQL does support Windows. The MySQL server running on Windows does not perform as quickly as it would running on Linux. I expect PostgreSQL also runs on Windows, but I don't know.

[DMike]

How did you built your database strcuture ? Every field from the mls it's a column ? How many listings you'll have in your database ? Sometimes, depending on the number of listings it's better to use different database structures.

[barryman9000]

I'm building the site in ASP.NET, and it looks like I'm going to use SQL Server 2005 with some software that automatically retreives the data on a daily basis and parses it into my DB.

Relatively speaking, the MLS DB that I'll have will be much smaller than some of the other DBs I've used, so speed shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks for your help