In a nutshell
click here
for some screenshots
PropertyBase Ver 1.00 is a Windows based application which allows you
to store
property details for sale or rent and build a property search engine
for instant upload
to the internet without the need for web designers or internet software
developers.
If you are an auctioneer who needs to pay a development company hard
earned euros every time you need to update your online property list
then this
software could be just what you need.
How it works
You have several properties that you need to sell from your office.
You either send
these details to your web developers and they work away updating your
site.
OR
With PropertyBase you control the entire web flow. This software will
allow you to
store all your properties and their details locally on your PC. You
can setup prices,
short details, property status, property type and much more. Then with
a click of a
button the software will build an entire set of web content and even
upload it for you.
So what's happening is you're losing the middle-man.
The Technical stuff
You may have developed your own web site and displayed properties on
it. Now unless
you've paid the IT experts heaps of money, you will have a simple non-interactive
web site that simply bundles all your properties and images on screen.
PropertyBase will not only store all your valuable property data in
an XML database
but will also allow you to create an interactive search engine for the
web and
you can even customize how it looks.
The software will run on Windows platforms only.
Technologies used include: VB, Java, JavaScript, XML, CSS, HTML
PropertyBase in detail:
The Main Window
Command Buttons |
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This button will save all your
data to the local XML database |
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This will create a new entry in the property list. The list will be filled with * symbols. As with all functions, you simply double click on a field to add/edit. | |
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Clicking this button will allow you to edit the currently selected field. You can also edit any field by double-clicking on it. | |
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This button will allow you to delete the currently selected row(s). You can select multiple rows by simply click and drag. | |
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Use this button to search through your property database. | |
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These buttons will sort your property list in ascending or descending order depending on which column is currently selected by the user. | |
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This button will pop up a sub-menu with the 6 category lists within the system. These are Property Types, House Types, Locations, House Price Ranges, Rental Price Ranges and Status types. Within these lists you can add, modify and delete entries. These lists are used to determine the search criteria given to the internet user wishing to view your properties. | |
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This button when clicked will save your data and generate your web content so you can preview it before uploading. This button also has a sub-menu which will allow you to Set web display properties and upload your web content. | |
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Display this page. | |
Hot Keys
Working with PropertyBase
Before you begin adding properties with the software you will need to
take a look and the systems lists:
There are presently 6 category lists within the system. These are Property
Types, House Types, Locations, House Price Ranges, Rental Price Ranges
and Status types. Within these lists you can add, modify and delete entries.
These lists are used to determine the web search criteria. see below:
to these lists is what the users on the internet will be allowed to select in order to search for a
property. I have set up several default values in the mentioned lists
The main window contains you complete property list. This window like most can be minimized maximized or resized. Use the scrollbar at the bottom to scroll across the columns. Holding the left mouse down and dragging will allow you to select multiple rows. The right mouse button will give you the option to select all rows in the property list. At present this functionality is only used for the delete process, so be careful. You can also resize any of the fields by clicking on its edges and dragging left or right.
Adding a new property entry:
Pressing the New button or Ctrl + N will create a new entry as shown below
on line 0005
All fields containing the asterisk (*) must be filled in order to create
your web content. These fields like all
fields can be edited by double-clicking on them or if you like to take
things nice and easy press the Edit
button on the toolbar to do the same thing. The date fields are also updated
automatically. If you edit any
field within the property list the updated field will change.
Pressing ENTER on a field will not only allow you to edit that field but
will move you onto the next field in your entry by scrolling across the
grid.
I will now go through how you edit each field from left to right for a property entry.
Ref: Double-click on this field and a dialog box is displayed allowing you to enter a property reference name.
Address: A dialog box is displayed allowing you to enter the address of the property.
Price: Here you enter the price of the property. You may only enter numbers in here. The euro symbol is added automatically when the web content is generated.
Short Description: Enter a short description here, eg: A fine big house overlooking the lake.
Long Description: This dialog will allow you to enter multiple lines of text describing the property or any additional details that you need to display to your web users like room sizes, special features, or contact details of an agent dealing with this particular property.
Property Status: Double-clicking this field will pop up a list of Status Types, eg: Available, Sale Agreed, Sold. You can add your own special status' to this list by clicking the List button on the toolbar.
Entry Date / Updated: These fields are updated automatically by the software.
Images: This field requires a little more details. When double-clicked, the following dialog box appears:
This dialog box displays a list of images contained in your property entry. From here you
can add, edit and remove image entries.
NOTE:
The first image that you add will be the image that's displayed in the search results window in your
web content. All subsequent images are displayed when the user clicks Full details on the search result.
This is the dialog that allows you to browse for an image file. You MUST
enter an image name. This is
the name that will be displayed beside the image on the web. eg: Front
of House, Garden etc..
The next 4 fields are used for the web property
search: On the web the user can select a property type,
house type, location or town, so setting these fields in the property
list allows them to be picked up.
Bedrooms: You've guessed it. This will pop up a dialog
box allowing you to enter the number of bedrooms
Property Type: Displays a list of property types that
you have already set up. The software has set up
some standard types, however these can be modified as you please by clicking
the Lists button from
the toolbar or menu.
House Type: Works the same as property types except the
list is for house types.
Location: Select the location that you wish your property
entry to appear under.
Town: Select the town that you wish your property entry
to appear under.
Creating your web content
What happens is your entire property list with all the criteria you have set is generated into a web page.
An Internet Explorer window will pop up telling you your web content has been created and you can preview
how your details will look on the web. I have set the content to be displayed in some standard colors, however these can be displayed in whatever color you like, I will explain next how this is done using the software.
Setting your Web Display Options
When you do so the following dialog box will appear:
Each window that's displayed in this dialog box will have
a color preview on the right. Note that the text arrangement within the
preview window does not reflect the text layout of the generated web content.
The colors however do. All windows will be displayed with default colors.
Feel free to play around changing colors as you can always click the Restore
Defaults button to restore any mistakes you've made.
Click Save Color Scheme to save your color scheme. If you now click Preview
or F12 you can view your
web content with its new look
If you're happy with what you see, its now time to upload your web search
engine.
Note: Before trying to upload anything, you must first be logged onto the internet
a web page. If you update your web page yourself then you will already know your server name. server directory, username and password. Simply enter these details here and click Upload to Internet. You have an option of saving your username and password so as not to retype every time you use this feature. Bear in mind that anybody can use this software then. If you choose not to save your personal details then you will have to retype every time.
If a third party is involved in the development of your web site, then they will supply you with the appropriate details to fill in here. They will also need to add a short link to your new Search facility. This is not an expensive task. It can be done by an experienced developer in less than 5 minutes. In fact to actually add the link to the web page would only take seconds.
Eastcoast
IT can build you a web site for a very competitive price.
We can achieve this because we work on a freelance basis with little
or no overheads.
To get another web design company to develop what this software does
could cost you a fortune. But now all you need is a simple site and
a link to your
interactive property search engine. so why not talk to us.