On October 14, 2014, at approximately 8pm CDT, the FBS Hosting team reacted to a vulnerability/exploit (CVE-2014-3566) that was disclosed to the public about an hour earlier. The action taken, on our vendor’s part, was to completely disable SSLv3 on the servers responsible for serving all Flexmls traffic.

What this may mean for you is that your browser you are using to access Flexmls is out of date or is using non-standard settings, you will likely have an issue even bringing up the Flexmls system. You do have several options to help assist with access to the system:

Make sure the browser that’s being used is as up-to-date as possible for the OS that is being used.

• All versions of Chrome and Firefox, as well as Safari support at least TLSv1.0 by default.
• IE versions 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 on Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 also support at least TLSv1.0 by default.
  • Internet Explorer 6,7 or 8 on Windows XP is not supported as of April 7, 2014. You must be using either Google Chrome or Firefox as your browser on Windows XP.

It is still recommended that users upgrade to the latest possible version of whichever browser they’re using (if possible).

If the user is running one of these browsers and still having an issue, it may be the case that they have disabled TLS support in their browser.

• There is no legitimate reason for this, so the recommended action would be to re-enable at least one version, preferably the most recent one possible, which would be the most secure. As there are many variations on the steps depending on which browser is being used, please contact your browsers reference material for help.
• If all of the TLS versions are disabled, it should only be necessary to re-enable the most recent version (eg: TLSv1.2 if it’s available, otherwise TLSv1.1 if it’s available, otherwise TLSv1.0). If none of these are available to enable, then the browser should be updated to a more recent version (if possible)

For most home users, the answer is to look to make sure you are up to date with both your browser’s version or the appropriate Windows or Mac OS updates. The following links can help:

For assistance with Windows Updates, you can use the following link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-update
For assistance with Mac OS updates, you can use the following link: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1338

Once you have updated fully for either Windows or Mac OS updates, if you are still having a problem with your browser of choice, your next course of action would be to try a different browser. Flexmls supports recent versions of Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox on Windows systems and Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari on Mac OS.

If you are on a computer that is in an office or corporate environment, it is possible your computer may have certain settings or software requirements established by your company’s IT team for the protection of their internal network or provided hardware. You would want to consult your IT team for further assistance regarding this situation. If your IT team has questions, please direct them to our technical support at techsupport@columbusrealtors.com or by phone at 614-475-4000 during regular business hours of Mon-Fri 8:30a – 5:00p.

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10/15/2014

There will be a scheduled outage for Realist beginning approximately 1am Tuesday morning.  There will be intermittent inaccessibility during the update.  Service should be restored to normal for Realist by 5am.

PLEASE NOTE:  MLS access will not be affected, only Realist.

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10/13/2014

The DOM field now displays on the CR Full Report for the Public.  This field was previously displayed only on the Private version for agents. With the recent change to disallow email of Private reports (see next paragraph), the MLS Committee and Board of Directors have voted to add the DOM (but not CDOM) to the public report.  Again, the Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) will NOT be added to the Public reports.  Only DOM will appear on any public report.

The Private reports can no longer be emailed to a client. The Private reports contain sensitive information that is intended only for agents.  It has long been discouraged that a Private, agent-only report be emailed or even printed and delivered to a client.  Volatile, agent-only information such as compensation, A2A Remarks, and agent contact information appear on the Private version.  For this reason, the Private reports can no longer be directly emailed to the client from the MLS. The DOM field was added to the Public report specifically to allow agents to email DOM to clients.  This was the primary reason agents would previously provide a Private report to clients.

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10/07/2014

The Subdivision, A2A Remarks, and Property Description fields now default to searching for text “contained within the field”.  That is, if you type “meadow”, these 3 fields will now find the term “meadow” anywhere within the field.  (ie Meadowlark Woods, The Meadows, etc)

The Property Description field had this functionality already, but Subdivision and A2A Remarks defaulted to “Starts with” previously.

If you want to search for a specific subdivision by an “exact matching name”, you can use the “=” (equals sign) for search for “exact matches”.  (ie =The Glen will return only that subdivision, not The Glen at Woodside or The Glen at Abbyshire)

As always, remember that Subdivision is not a required field at time of listing entry.  If the agent chooses not to fill in the field, it will be blank and unsearchable.  It is always a good idea to do a “second opinion” search when using the field Subdivision.  A second search using a polygon around the subdivision might be a good idea to make sure you didn’t miss any listings that had a “blank” subdivision.

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10/06/2014

This information was last updated afternoon of 10/3/14.

All major issues with ASAP notification should now be resolved. Some minor issues remain (see below).  If you encounter an additional occurrence of one of these issues, please report it to MLS Technical Support.

Fixed Issues

• Listings sent via email that are outside of the criteria of the search.  This issue has been mostly resolved by Flexmls.  The vendor says that a bug that caused criteria that was not saved correctly in a search to send errant listings.  While the errant listings/bad criteria has been repaired, it is likely that the already-sent “non-matching” listings will still appear in the results list.  FBS is working on a fix for this, but is unsure of the ETA for correction.  The incorrectly matched listings will automaticlly “work their way” off the list over time due to the changes and additional results being added to the top of the list.  If you find that any of your clients are receiving listing emails that do not match their criteria specifically on 9/25/14 or later please forward that email to support at techsupport@columbusrealtors.com and we will provide these examples to Flexmls.
• Weekly events sending as ASAP. Most instances of this were to be resolved as of late afternoon on 9/22/14 and this particular issue affected approximately 1% of all searches) If you find that any of your clients are still having issues when they look at their emails specifically on 9/23/14 or later , please have them forward you a copy of an email that still isn’t working. Then forward that email to your support staff (us) at techsupport@columbusrealtors.com
• Error message that appears in a red box when clicking on a link in an email and no listings shown. This issue has been resolved.  If you find that any of your clients are still having issues when they look at their emails specifically on 9/25/14 or later , please have them forward you a copy of an email that still isn’t working. Then forward that email to your support staff (us) at techsupport@columbusrealtors.com

Some or all of these issues appear to have begun some time on Friday September 19th, 2014.  Any issues still outstanding are currently at a high priority for fixing with FBS (the software vendor that makes Flexmls). As more information is known this article will be updated.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

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10/03/2014

Create your Own One-Line Report with the Flexmls Report Writer

• Learn the basic functions of the report writer;
• Add tables, insert fields, and customize;
• Save your own customized reports for printing and emailing;
• Familiarize yourself with our new one line math;
• and more!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014 – 3:00 PM
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/590270521

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

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The CR Full Report is a crowded report with limited space.  For this reason, the MLS committee limited the display of the A2A Remarks (Agent to Agent).  This means that only the first 2-3 lines of the A2A Remarks will display on the CR Full Report.

To view the full 820 characters of the A2A Remarks field, you can simply open, view or print the “Tessera – A2A and Property Description report”.  This new report, created with the Tessera report editor will display all 820 characters of the Property Description field as well as all 800 characters of the A2A Remarks field.

Please remember that A2A Remarks are intended for Agent to Agent communications only.  That means there may be volatile information in that field that should not be provided to the public.

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10/02/2014

The following information applies only to agents who have their listings and photos entered by MLS staff.   There is no change for agents who add their own listings or photos.

Dear MLS Member,

You are being contacted because you recently requested MLS data entry or photo services.  These services may have included data entry of a listing from an MLS worksheet or scanning/upload of listing photos to your listing.  This letter is to inform you that there is a new fee schedule for data entry of listings, photo scanning, and photo upload to MLS.  These price changes have been authorized by the Columbus REALTORS® Board of Directors and will take effect October 1, 2014.

Why the change?
The current fee of $3.00 for data entry of a listing by MLS staff was set over 20 years ago.  This price has never been adjusted since its’ creation.  At that time, many listing agents did not have access to a computer.  Computers were very expensive and the MLS online interface was cryptic.  The price of computers has dropped significantly and the ease-of-use of the MLS has been vastly improved.  Personal computers and mobile devices are ubiquitous.  The new fee of $15 for data entry of a listing by MLS staff will be closer to the actual cost of time and effort required of MLS staff to add a listing to the MLS.

Historically, there has been no fee for MLS staff to scan photos and upload them to an MLS listing.  Nor has there been a fee for photos that are received in a digital format to be uploaded to a listing. These services were implemented well over a decade ago.  At that time, many listing photos were taken with a 35mm film camera.  Film had to be developed, printed and delivered to MLS staff by the agent or photographer.  MLS staff then scanned the printed photos and uploaded them to the appropriate listing.

Photographic Technology and MLS software have advanced dramatically since that time.  Almost all MLS photos are now taken with a digital camera.  Photos can be uploaded by the listing agent, assistant, or office administrator directly to the MLS listing from any computer and many mobile devices.  There is no MLS staff intervention necessary for the digital photo to be added to the listing on the MLS.

The MLS will continue to offer photo scanning and upload services, but there will now be a $15 fee for these services.  This service fee will be closer to the actual cost of time and effort required by MLS staff to scan and/or upload up to 25 images.  Additional photos can be uploaded at the rate of $15 per 25 images or any portion thereof.  (See full schedule of MLS service fees below.)

MLS Data Entry and Photo Services Fee Schedule (as of October 2014):

Data Entry of MLS listing:
Initial data entry of listing from completed MLS worksheet = $15

Photo Services – scanning and/or upload:
(This Photo Services fee will be charged for any portion of 25 photos according to the following schedule)
First 1-25 photos (or portion thereof)= $15
Additional 26-50 photos (or portion thereof) = $15
Additional 51-75 photos (or portion thereof) = $15
Additional 76-100 photos (or portion thereof) = $15
Each additional 25 photos (or portion thereof) = $15

New Listing Bundle Discount available (combined services):
Data entry and photo scan/upload (up to 25) for 1 listing = $25
(A discounted rate of $25 for initial data entry of a new listing with scan and/or upload up to 25 photos for the same listing)

* – Original Article posted on 08/31/2014

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10/01/2014

CoreLogic will be performing system maintenance on the evening of Saturday, September 20, 2014, from 11:00 pm ET to 4:00 am ET.  Realist may be unavailable several hours during this maintenance window.

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09/18/2014

Several new options have been added recently to the MLS.

• New “Photo Waiver on File” placeholder photo – If a new listing is added and the client wishes not to display a primary photo, the agent must fill out the “Image Waiver Form”.  Once MLS staff receives the “Image Waiver Form”, they will upload the “Photo Waiver on File” placeholder image as the primary photo on the MLS.
• Vinyl and Aluminum added to Multifamily “Construction” field – Allows agents with Multifamily listings to select vinyl or aluminum as exterior options within the “construction” field.
• Tessera reports – There are 3 reports that are already ready-to-use and appear in the report drop-down alongside the CR Full report.  These template-driven reports have limited but very easy to use customization.  You can choose from over a dozen Tessera templates available under Preferences > My Reports > New > Tessera.
• Auction Yes/No is now required entry – For all property types, the Auction field is required entry for all listings.  If “Yes” is selected, the auction date will also be required.
• Cement Fiber Board option in RES Exterior field – The new “Cement Fiber Board” option in RES exterior field is meant to be selected for any cement fiber exterior.  This includes siding made by Hardie and other vendors who offer similar cement fiber products.

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09/16/2014