Since I began web design in 2004, I've always been curious as to the integration of massive online databases, such as auto dealerships and realtors. My curiosity finally led me back that direction and I'm happy to say, ZGRets was born. Sure, building a PHP RETS connection by myself would have been suicide, and far too complex for the time line I had to complete my project, so I found PHRets - an open source PHP solution to interacting with an RETS server. The catch to this amazing package of goodies is that it's like receiving hieroglyphs penned with invisible ink, and you have to translate it into English. ZGRets is a translation and working application of PHrets.
It's still in Beta, but I am looking forward to having a basic working script via ZakGraphix Open Source Downloads in a few weeks. The realtors I've been working with are quite pleased with it, and with the future addition of email signup and alerts for individuals who are willing to submit their email addresses into the system. Right now, ZGrets has the ability to display the individual Realtor's listings, and the rest of the listings - each stored in a separate table on the database, and in different folders for the images. This makes the retrieval of the realtor's listings that much faster and allows the setup of two unique cron jobs to run at different times - (i.e. the realtor's update could go several times a day, while the entire MLS listing could be updated just once a day, or once every other day).
Right now I'm converting the script into a working plugin, mainly to help other developers in implementing it into their own sites. Right now it's a bit complicated. Anyway, ZGRets should be available for Beta download by the end of June!
ZakGraphix - “Raising the Standard of Design, One Website at a Time.”
Micah Zak
St. Louis Web Design – ZakGraphix.com