Adding pictures to COCIE

By Catherine Erney
Xceligent
October 2006 In Contract

Pictures speak a thousand words, and building pictures help us all identify the properties we're working with. Next to district and parcel ID numbers, building photos go the farthest in ensuring that we're talking about the same property. Adding photos to the database is a procedure that seems to be a stumbling block for even experienced users. Therefore, it makes sense to review those procedures here.

There are four places that one can add images in the CDX. Building photos are the most obvious to all of us. Did you know that you can also add images at the listing, suite and agent levels? The basic procedure is the same no matter where you're adding the attachment. It's always simple Windows browsing. It's important that you enter the system through the correct gateway to make sure your attachment ends up where you want it. Following are the four places for attachments and the types of attachments that are appropriate for those sites. 

• Building Level -- Building photos, site plans, lobby shots 
• Available Level -- Brochures, flyers 
• Suite level -- floor plans, suite photos 
• Agent level -- your headshot & bio

Remember: any pictures attached at the building level become part of the database and remain with the database after you sell or lease a property (or your listing expires). Attachments at the Available or Suite levels go away when your listing information goes away.

To add a new building photo, you begin in the building record. Click View My Listings on your homepage, and then click the blue Property link in the Update column.

See the file tabs at the top middle of the page. Select Attachments.

Relax! The hard part is done, honest! Click the big, orange Add Attachment button. This will take you to our disclaimer screen. You will see this every time you add a picture to our database. We need you to verify that you have the right to any picture that you add and that you are not adding someone else's copyrighted material each and every time you add a picture. Select the top radio button if you legally own the picture, and click OK.

From now, it's just simple Windows browsing. Click the orange Browse button in the lower right-hand section of your screen. Then locate the new picture on your computer or on your network, wherever you have it stored. Click Open. This will bring you back to the Add/Edit Attachment screen. You'll notice that the Name: field is pale blue _ that means it's a required field. Enter a name for the image. Right below that, you'll see a field called Folder. It's a pull-down menu that allows you to assign your picture to any of several folders. Be sure to check the "Default Photo for property?" box and then click Save _ the big orange button at the top of your screen. We understand if you wish to replace an old property photo with a newer one. We ask only that you not delete our old pictures. We're rather fond of some of them, especially the ones showing snow on the ground.

But that's it! Adding pictures to the property record is only as hard as knowing where you have the replacement picture stashed.

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