Tucson MLS Website for IE Browser Only
June 3, 2008
Post Tags: Firefox-Tucson-MLS-System , Search-Results-Limit-Tucson-MLS , Tucson-MLS
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Tucson MLS Broken Again?
I use the Firefox Browser for almost everything, except when I need to access the Tucson MLS system. It won’t really work with Firefox. Sometimes it will come up, but for the most part it isn’t functional.
The public search will come up but you can’t specify additional criteria for your search. That tab while visible is “Dead” in Firefox. You can click to your hearts content but all you will get is 
at the bottom of your browser window.
If you do a search without additional criteria the “view criteria” option is not available. “Revise Criteria” is but again, without Additional Options Tab being functional. All of this is without warning.
At least when agents log in to the system they are meet with this ominous warning.
Isn’t it time for a major public platform to move beyond IE compatibility? Have you ever seen a notice anywhere indicating “Tucson MLS System is IE compatible ONLY!” I haven’t, when coming into the system as a normal consumer would. We are left to wonder what’s wrong with the Tucson MLS, it is Broken Again.
Searches Limited to 1000 results
So I’ll tack on this little bonus beef : )
One Thousand search results is the limit. As most of you know I track closed transactions each month. Today, as of this minute, I know there are 1014 closed transactions in the system, but only because I get this error message.
Why is there a limit of 1000 search results when tracking Closed Transactions?
If you read here often you see the clip images of the instant stats returned when doing a search. This really is a nice feature. Once we hit the 1000 limit it is export as a statistics report and get some of the data out of that report. It doesn’t contain all the data in the quick summary drop-down.
It really would be nice to increase this limit. The Tucson Real Estate Market isn’t even considered healthy by media standards. LOL there’s an oxymoron “Media Standards” Sorry I crack me up sometimes. Where was I? Oh, yeah, if we are exceeding this number in a falling, free fall, flooded, sliding, slipping, descending, etc. market what will the numbers be for a healthy market?
Please get this limit set higher so it is easier to provide the public quick snapshots of closed transactions in the system for a giving month; 2000 would be great, 1500 . . . But clearly we need it to be higher than the current 1000 limit.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Hey Dave,
You kind of beat around the bush with the whole idea of the Tucson MLS, but I’ll go out and say it for you.
The Tucson MLS sucks.
Period.
It’s 2008, and it works only for PC Internet Explorer? That fact alone is a disgrace.
How much money does the TAR have? There are more than 9000 agents who pay yearly dues! More than 80% of buyers today utilize the internet! Not all agents use PCs!
If anybody missed my comment about the Tucson MLS, I think it sucks.
-Ron Park
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Geez Ron,
Why don’t you let us know how you really feel about it : )
They are using the Rapattoni system which in the beginning was known as the Crapattoni system by many agents.
I know it seems to be down more than it is up. And it takes for ever to get a search to come up. And you can’t click on some things to fast or it just locks up, But other than that and some more it is . . . OK? Usable? Developed by someone off planet?
I pretty much get out of it what I need, but the other half of the office that works with clients and does searches and CMA’s that half pulls her hair out all the time.
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I used to pull out every single hair from my head, but I’m doing maybe, half or a third now.
Not going to be a fan anytime soon, unless they make it work on Macs first of all. I dislike using Paralells to run XP on my comp.
:/
When it’s the only solution out, there’s not much you can do but cry :…(
June 4th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Very good inputs regarding the lack of Mac and alternate browser support by Rapattoni MLS. I am going to share this blog with the MLS Technology Committee and MLS Board. We are working diligently with Rapattoni to address downtime, support, and performance issues. FYI, there are approximately 6000 members not 9000.
June 4th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Wes,
Thanks for your input. I’ve seen great strides in the system since BORRIS. LOL Remember those days anyone?
I was in the commercial last year opening the door and remember hearing over and over again 5700 strong.
I thought Ron was just doing a little Puffing of our ranks : )
Barbara B suggested I join that committee with my background in data management and the web. I would love to see your MLS one of the top in the country. It has come along way from those old days. It could be much better. I think TAR has some fantastic programs going for the public and its members. I love Andy’s classes and the many opportunities provided for us in the training facility, including WIFI access.
Thanks again Wes for your input.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Another way around the 1000 limit is to export to an Excel spreadsheet. From Admin–>Custom Export you can set up which fields you would like to export from your search.
I cover this feature in my Import/Export class as well as in Tech-Savvy.
June 4th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Andy,
I use that as I mentioned above, but it takes more work and doesn’t show the Listing price only the sold in the one I’ve been exporting and the Price per square foot for list and sold isn’t in that report either. Finally, I don’t use excel. : ) I have it, but as a database guy I always cook my data in Access.
For those of you that don’t know Andy provided some fantastic training at the TAR offices and training center.
Thanks Andy for stopping in.
June 4th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Excellent feedback, but you may be preaching to the choir. I’ve been on the Technology Committee for the last 2 ½ years, so I am well aware of the issues you mention. Still, I am glad that you have all expressed your feelings. Our Committee has been working to improve our system for agents and for the public the entire time. I know it might seem as though we have a virtually infinite budget and a world of resources at our disposal, but sometimes it takes a year (or more) to address the tiniest of issues. Also, each change we make can have unforeseen consequences. Don’t forget that this system isn’t just serving those 6,000 agents, but more importantly the people those agents represent. If you were selling your house or buying a home and a well meaning change on the mls prevented you from accomplishing that goal, how would you feel?
We are working diligently on improving the system even further and we will use your comments to help guide us in our mission. Thanks!
June 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
John,
Your entire committee and the staff are doing a great job. Like I said this has come a long way since the days of BORIS.
I wrote this post to document some of the Firefox issues and to let our readers that come through the public portals that the system isn’t broken. It just has to be navigated with IE.
Having worked with vendor support myself in the past I know much of what goes on in features and functionality are really out of your hands.
I hope people/agents taking the time to read this entire post and comments will realize this is not intended to be a bash against the Tucson MLS or TAR. Just the opposite. It is pointing out where there are a couple of potholes for Firefox browser users with a hope the vendor is aware of them and can fill them in the future.
John again thanks for the information and we could all only hope for “a virtually infinite budget and a world of resources at our disposal”.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
We’re stuck using Rapattoni as well. We’re on CRIS, the MLS system used by various boards in the Akron, Ohio area.
It’s a big pain in the neck because we’re trying to get away from Windows systems in the office.
I’ve looked at various alternatives to Rapattoni’s interface, and I’m discovering that every method I’ve discovered to bypass the problems are either technologically infeasible, too expensive, or I would have to violate terms of service with Rapattoni, the local board, or one or more of our other data providers.
Back to being a slave for Microsoft…