Real Estate agents use an online service known as Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to download information about properties. An account must be created for each agent requesting access. A code will be issued for each account, and that will be the key to connecting to the service. Below are the settings needed in a ClarisWorks Communications document to properly connect to the service. This has been tested in the San Francisco Bay area, and may not be valid in other areas (the number you dial may need a different configuration than the following):
While in a Communications document, select Connection... from the Settings menu.
Enter the phone number of your service in the box next to Dial Phone Number
Baud Rate: 2400
Parity: Even
Data Bits: 7
Stop Bits: 1
Handshake: None
Next, select Terminal... from the Settings menu.
Emulation: VT100 or VT102 Tool
Check the Local Echo box
Enter the access code into the Answerback Message box (Sample: XXXX1234). Be sure your code is entered with all letters UPPERCASE.
You are then ready to select Open Connection from the Session menu.
NOTE: It is common to simply Capture Data as it scrolls onto the screen. This leaves property features listed with cryptic codes. Consult your manual for the commands needed to download a comma delimited file. Comma delimited data can be imported or pasted into a database. A database is a quick way to display property features as full words (Example: "SF:5,490" could be displayed as "5,490 Square Feet"; "HZ:9 VT:76" could read "Map Coordinates: Horizontal=9, Vertical=76")