Exporting Data from AL, Tuscaloosa - SolidEarth

Using the Report Designer to setup the Export Format

Before you can export data, you must first setup the Export format.  This is a one time action that you will need to do.  The format must be setup exactly as shown in this section for the Buying Pattern application to understand the format.  

Under the “Tools” menu, select the “Report Designer” option.  Once you’ve pressed the “Report Designer” option, you will see a dialog box as shown below. 

To define the fields in your report, select a field from the left table (shown as “Available Fields” and press the  key.  You will see the item move to the table on the right (shown as “Report Fields”). 

Do this for each of the options as shown below. 

Be sure that you create the spreadsheet with the fields that are shown below (additional fields will be ignored).

·      # Bedrooms

·      # of Total Baths

·      Approx SqFt

·      City

·      Date: Listing

·      Date: Sold

·      Date: Status

·      List Price

·      MLS Number

·      Sold Price

·      Status

·      Street Name

·      Street Number

·      Style

·      Subdivision

·      Unit Number

·      Year Built

 

Your screen should look similar to that shown below. 

Next place the name “Focus1st” as the “Report Description” as shown above. 

Once you have completed the task above, save the results by pressing the  icon.  You are now ready to do your MLS search and export results. 

Tuscaloosa

In selecting data from your MLS, be sure to select the options below:

First select “Residential” as the category.  Then make sure that all the status options are selected.  This option will make sure that all the data that is needed to create the appropriate graphs, is collected.  

You should also make your normal selection choice by selecting other options that you would normally select in doing a CMA.  As mentioned earlier, looking at activity in specific subdivisions is a good starting point.  (In this example we are looking at activity in the “Adamsville’ Subdivision. )

To avoid downloading unnecessary data, you may select only sold, withdrawn, and expired data within the last 24 months.  To do this set the ‘Status Date’ to start at ‘01/01’2006’ (assumes it is 2008, you are only looking for the last two years of data). 

Once you’ve selected the search criteria, press the  button to see the results as shown below.  Now you are ready to download the results. 

Check the box in the header area to make sure that all the records are exported (otherwise only the first 50 records shown will be exported). 

Then check the “Report” box at the bottom of the page and select the “Focus 1stf” from the ‘Custom Report’ heading (as shown in the graphic above). 

To download the results, select the  button (located at the bottom of the page).  When you select the download button, the screen shown below is displayed.   

Enter the access code shown in the box and click the  button.    You will then see a screen similar to that shown below. 

Right click on the Click here to download Report link and use the “Save Target As…” to save and choose a file name. 

Be sure to remember where you save your file.  This is the exported file that will be used to create your graphs. 

You will see dialog boxes similar to what you see below.

Once you have saved your exported file, you are ready to run the Focus 1st application. 

When you run the application you will need to point to the exported data file, so make sure that you’ve placed the file in an easy to find location. 

For instructions on how to run the Visual Pricing System see the on-line tutorials located at www.focus1st.com .