[Rets-dev] Search responses and StandardNames

[Keith T. Garner]

Scott Gifford wrote:
> A few more things.  First, I should clarify that I'm writing the
> server side of things, not the client, if that makes a difference.

It does.  There are some things that are optional for a client that are
required for a server.


[snip part on standardnames that i hope someone else answers.]
> Somebody suggested to me that I should ignore StandardNames and the
> STANDARD-XML response type altogether, since it's tricky and not
> widely used, and just support COMPACT responses with System Names.  Is
> there rough consensus that's the right way to go?

For a client, yes.  For a server, you *have* to support them.  However, in a
lot of servers they don't have StandardNames configured, the Standard-XML
response comes back empty, so its not useful.  I'd spend most of your time
where it'll get the most bang for the buck.

Variman, CRT's open source RETS server, more or less, has taken this
approach.  Our Standard-XML response for a query in general just barely
returns anything.  Variman is in use at 4 or 5 MLS's and this has never come
up as a problem.  (http://www.crt.realtors.org/projects/rets/variman if you
want to go with ours instead of roll your own.  Time savings, baby!)

> Also, are there recommendations for a simple client for testing the
> basics of my server application?  I'm not really ready to do any
> serious testing yet, I'd just like to make sure I'm handling all of
> the basics correctly.  I took a look at the reference client, but it
> looks like a big project to get it all set up.  What do other people
> do for basic testing?  I'm using Linux, but I have a Windows machine
> available for testing if that's helpful.

You're my hero for the day.  :)  Anyway, you can use the cross platform
libRETS to whip up a quick testing suite for yourself.  Its written in C++,
but has bindings to ruby, python, and the .NET languages.  All supported
fine under linux.  http://www.crt.realtors.org/projects/rets/librets

There's also ezRETS the odbc driver that talks to RETS servers.  This is
also cross platform.  Windows and Linux officially supported with OS X not
far away.  (I just need some time to sit down and finish some installer
stuff.)  Anyway, on Windows and OS X you can easily do queries from excel
then.  On linux and OS X, I usually use some scripting language's ODBC
interface for testing.

Keith

-- 
  Keith T. Garner - Managing Director - Center for REALTOR® Technology
   kgarner at realtors.org - 312-329-3294 - http://blog.realtors.org/crt