How to Install and use FeedSync

FeedSync lets you quickly import listings from a variety of formats like REAXML, MLS, Jupix, Expert Agent, BLM into your custom application or WordPress website project and display your clients real estate property listings quickly and easily.

Table of Contents

Installing FeedSync

Your first step is to determine where you want to install FeedSync on your server. If you haven't already, you can download the FeedSync extension from your Easy Property Listings account. Once you have downloaded the FeedSync files to your desktop, the next step is to upload them to your server/web hosting account. The recommended method is a standard FTP upload into the XML directory within the document root of your hosting account.

If you're hosting account uses cPanel, the recommended directory is /public_html/XML/

If you're hosting account uses Plesk or Parallels, the recommended directory is /httpdocs/XML/

If you're unsure about any of the steps above, please refer to the video guide below.

Creating the FeedSync Database

Now that the FeedSync files are sitting on your server, the next step is to configure the database. FeedSync uses a SQL database to store the listing data. Please follow the steps below to setup a new database. If you're unsure about how to create a new database with your web host, please get in touch with them as they may be able to create the database for you.

If you're hosting account uses cPanel, the steps are as follows:

  • From the cPanel home screen, click the MySQL Database Wizard under the Databases heading.
  • Next to New Database enter a name for your database and click Next Step.
  • Next to Username enter a username.
  • Next to Password, enter it password and then enter the same value for Password (Again), then click Create User
  • On the next page, you'll assign privileges for the user to the database. Check the box next to All Privileges and then click Next Step.

If you're hosting account uses Plesk/Parallels, the steps are as follows:

  • Login to your hosting account and click the Websites tab.
  • Click Databases under the Websites & Domains heading.
  • Click Add New Database and enter feedsync as the database name.
  • Make a note of the Database Server.
  • Enter feedsync in the Database User Name field, under the Users heading.
  • Enter a strong secure password in the New Password field, enter it again for Confirm Password field (Again) and then click Ok.

Congratulations, you've successfully created the database for FeedSync! Be sure to make a note of your database name, password and database username as they will be required later.

The Initial FeedSync Setup

There is only one file that you need to edit in order for your FeedSync installtion to work, which is the config-sample.php file located in the feedsync directory. Open up your FTP program and navigate to the folder where you installed FeedSync, then rename config-sample.php to config.php and open the config.php file in your text editor. Proceed to edit the following details highlighted in bold below:

The DATABASE_NAME, DATABASE_USER_NAME and DATABASE_PASSWORD are the same as the ones you set in the previous step. YOUR_WEBSITE_DOMAIN_NAME is the domain of the website you're installing FeedSync on. YOUR_URL and YOUR_KEY are the details attached to your EPL purchase.

  • define('DB_NAME', 'database_name' );
  • define('DB_USER', 'database_user_name' );
  • define('DB_PASS', 'databa' );
  • define('DB_HOST', 'localhost' ); // Plesk/Parallels: replace localhost with your Database server details.

Create a Unique FTP Account for your REAXML Provider

It is strongly recommended that you to create a unique FTP account for the feed provider and only give them access to the feedsync/input folder.They don't need access to anything else on your server.. This allows you to change the location of FeedSync later and all you have to do is edit the providers FTP Account Directory on your hosting.

The steps for creating an FTP account differ from host to host, however, most cPanel powered hosting sites should be similar. Please refer to  this page of their documentation for the steps on how to create a new FTP account.

Important: In the Directory field, be sure to specify the FeedSync input folder. When using cPanel its usually: /public_html/XML/feedsync/input/. When using Plesk/Parallels its usually: /httpdocs/XML/feedsync/input/.

After creating the FTP account, you will need to forward the details to your REAXML feed provider. The details they require are the:

  • FTP Account: ftp.YOUR_WEBSITE_DOMAIN_NAME
  • User name: FTP_USER@YOUR_WEBSITE_DOMAIN_NAME
  • Password: FTP_PASSWORD
  • Folder: Leave this blank as you have only given them access to the feedsync/input folder.

Be sure to replace the bold text above with the details of the new FTP account you just created. Once your provider has configured their end they will start delivering REAXML files to the input folder on your server. When files are in the feedsync/input folder they will be listed on the FeedSync home page as ready for processing.

Once you have received REAXML files you can perform the import process manually to check that everything is working correctly with your configuration.

Setting up your Cron Jobs

Once you have confirmed that your feed is working correctly and you have successfully processed your initial feed, you can create a cron job on your server to process the files automatically. To create a cron job, log into your hosting cPanel and look for the Cron Jobs button or icon. Your new cron job will want to run once every half an hour (30 minutes). cPanel provides a list of pre-configured times for new cron jobs, so selecting one from the list will save you having to write it yourself. The command that you want the cron job to run is one of the following (Option 1 is the safest, don't create all of the commands below, only one):

Cron Option 1 
wget -q -O /dev/null "http://easypropertylistingsdemo.com/XML/feedsync/core/cron.php"
Cron Option 2 
/usr/bin/php -q /home/easydemo/public_html/XML/feedsync/core/core/cron.php
Cron Option 3 
GET http://easypropertylistingsdemo.com/XML/feedsync/core/cron.php
Cron Option 4 
curl 'http://easypropertylistingsdemo.com/XML/feedsync/core/cron.php'

Save your new cron job. Now your FeedSync installation will check for new files and process them at your scheduled cron times.

Exporting Files to Import

FeedSync has an export tab for exporting XML files manually and you can also directly access the export data via a URL. Using Easy Property Listings for with WP All Import Pro allows you to import REAXML listing data into any WordPress website. An example of the export URL would be:

http://easypropertylistingsdemo.com/XML/feedsync/?action=do_output&type=rental&status=current

You can adjust the output using three variables based on the REAXML specifications:

  1. action=do_output : this is required
  2. &status=current or a singular value of (current, sold, leased, withdrawn, offmarket)
  3. &type=all or a singular value of ( all, residential, rental, land, rural, commercial, business, commercial_land)

Note: action=do_output is required and the remaining defaults are all.

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