CMA Usage Tips for Desktop CTI Navigator

Add Extra Photos

To add a special report with extra photos for properties in a CMA, the image file must be in a format supported by the Windows Accessory called WordPad. WordPad does not support inserting jpg images. 

You can easily convert a jpg  photo image into a format supported by WordPad by opening or pasting the photo in the Windows Accessory program called Paint. Then save the image as a "24-bit Bitmap (.bmp)." Alternatively, you can use a free online image file converter such as www.media-convert.com.  

If you have Microsoft Office installed on your computer, you can convert jpg files to a bitmap or Picture Metafile (usable by WordPad) by first inserting the jpg image into Word. Then copy the image from Word into the Windows clipboard, and paste this converted image into the CMA report. 

Beware that conversion (without resizing, resampling or compression) can drastically increase the size of the image file (20 to 60 times the original size). Large files will be extremely slow to preview or print. Therefore it is recommended that the original image file be as small as practical, and that only a few extra photos be included in each special report. 

Copy and Transfer CMA Report files

CMA's created in CTI Navigator Desktop are stored in the computer on which they are created (not on the MLS server). However, if you save your CMA reports, they can be copied to another computer for use in CTI Navigator on that other computer. Customized CMA reports (including their data) are stored on your computer with a "cma" extension in  {your install path}\CTI Navigator\{YourMLScode}\Users\{YourAgentName}\CMA\{YourCMAName}.cma (see "install path" and notes below). If you create customized documents (such as agent resume or cover letter) in your CMA Reports, they are saved in the same CMA directory with an "rtf" extension. When a customized document is saved, it is automatically added to the ReportIndex.txt file in the CMA directory. 

To copy a saved CMA with all of its customized documents, close CTI Navigator and copy all of the files in the CMA folder under your MLS login name (in {your install path}\CTI Navigator\{YourMLScode}\Users\{YourAgentName}\CMA\{YourCMAName}.cma). If you want to copy just a CMA Report (without any customized documents), copy out of the CMA directory under your name just the file of the name you gave the CMA when you saved it. Normally all of these files are small enough to fit on removable media (such as a USB thumb drive) or to be emailed. 

If your email security settings (or anti-virus or antispam) block attachments, you may need to set them (at least temporarily) to allow attachments. Outlook Express security settings are under Tools > Options > Security. If txt or rtf formatted files are blocked, you can temporarily save them with a different extension > email  the files > then rename them back to the original extension after they have been saved on the receiving computer in your CMA directory. To set security in Office Outlook, click on Configure Security in Office Outlook and follow the instructions on CTI's Help and Tutorials website (/Support/menu.aspx). 

CMA Reports are described in the Tools section of CTI Navigator Desktop's Help. To view tutorials on using the CMA function of CTI Navigator Desktop, go on the Internet to /Support/menu.aspx > in the CMA section, click on Create CMA and/or Edit CMA Comparables in CTI Navigator as desired. 

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Include Both Active and Sold Listings in CMA

There are two alternative approaches to preparing a CMA that includes both Active and Sold listings in CTI Navigator Desktop:

  1. Use Off Market Cutoff Date instead of Close Date in the search criteria; Or,
  2. Create and save a CMA with one set of criteria (either Active or Sold) > search with the other criteria > click the CMA icon on the Search Results table > click the File tab > under Open Options select "Merge current & previous comps" > Open the previously saved CMA.

The second option of merging comps is useful when using different criteria (especially taxes if available) for one of the searches, but you want both results in the same CMA. For a menu of tutorials on creating CMA Reports in CTI Navigator Desktop, click here or select "Introduction to the CMA function in CTI Navigator Desktop" on CTI's Help and Tutorials website  

Install Path

Before April 2012 both Data and Program files for CTI Navigator Desktop were installed in the same folder ("Program Files") in Windows. However, to comply with evolving Microsoft security specifications, after April 2012 CTI Navigator Desktop data files are installed in a separate Windows folder ("Program Data" or "Applications Data") from the program files. To determine where CMAs are saved on your computer, select the appropriate install date and then your computer's version of Windows below. 

Installations After April 19, 2012

Windows 8/7/Vista (32 or 64-bit).  If your user name was Jane Realtor, your local MLS association code was Mls1, and CTI Navigator was installed on your C drive after April 19, 2012:    

Windows XP (32 or 64-bit). If your user name was Jane Realtor, your local MLS association code was Mls1, and CTI Navigator was installed on your C drive after April 19, 2012:  

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Installations Before April 19, 2012

32-bit Windows XP/Vista/7/8. If your user name was John Realtor, your local MLS association code was Mls2, and CTI Navigator was installed on your C drive before April 19, 2012:  

64-bit Windows 8/7/Vista/(XP). If your user name was John Realtor, your local MLS association code was Mls2, and CTI Navigator was installed on your C drive before April 19, 2012:  

Note 1: Where instructions refer to {YourMLScode}, substitute CTI's 3-letter code for your local MLS. This code can be determined by opening the CTI Navigator login screen > click the Setup button > the first 3 letters in the Internet Server Address box are your MLS code.

Note 2: Where instructions refer to {YourAgentName}, substitute your name as it is spelled by your local MLS. Agent Names are displayed in CTI Navigator Desktop in the Roster

Additional Help 

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[rev.01.08.2013]