PHP XML & get - Can I do this 0r do I need Snoopy

[bernnhugh]

Do I need snoopy to use Get?
The USPS offers this request as a valid request:

Http://SERVERNAME/ShippingAPITest.dll?API=Rate&XML=<RateRequest>
USERID="xxxxxxxx" PASSWORD="xxxxxxxx"><Package ID="0"><Service>
EXPRESS</Service><ZipOrigination>20770</ZipOrigination><ZipDestination>20852<
/ZipDestination><Pounds>10</Pounds><Ounces>0</Ounces><Container>None</Contain
er><Size>REGULAR</Size><Machinable></Machinable></Package></RateRequest>



if I put this into file($abovestring); (I did put the correct user and password and changed all double quotes to single quotes) it sends a request but ignores everything within<> so I get the following error:

Warning: file("Http://testing.shippingapis.com/ShippingAPITest.dll?API=Rate&XML=EXPRESS2077020852100NoneREGULAR") - No such file or directory in /home/sites/home/web/testxml.php on line 5

Is this a problem with the <> in the string, or is this not a valid way to send information with GET?

Thanks,
bernn

[Anarchos]

You need to urlencode() http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.urlencode.php it.

[freddydoesphp]

Bernn I spent the better half of yesterday trying to figure this one out, but no such luck. I mean right on usps site is says those are valid get requests. But what I think is missing is a way to connect to the server and pass that xml request. I tried looking through the XML docs for PHP, but couldn't figure it out. I know a little further down the page in the usps docs it gives examples for ASP, Perl and Java, but none for PHP. I do want to figure out how it works so I will be trying some more, and will let you know if I figure it out.

[freddydoesphp]

Bernn,

I got it all figured out for you. First get snoopy, it just makes life easier. http://sourceforge.net/projects/snoopy/

Here is the script I used and it worked perfect.

<?
    include "Snoopy.class.inc";
    $snoopy = new Snoopy;
    $msg = '<RateRequest USERID="159JOHNC2479" PASSWORD="234VE51TI212">
                <Package ID="0">
                    <Service>EXPRESS</Service>
                    <ZipOrigination>20770</ZipOrigination>
                    <ZipDestination>20852</ZipDestination>
                    <Pounds>10</Pounds>
                    <Ounces>0</Ounces>
                    <Container>None</Container>
                    <Size>REGULAR</Size>
                    <Machinable></Machinable>
                </Package>
            </RateRequest>';
    $submit_url = "http://testing.shippingapis.com/ShippingAPITest.dll";
    $submit_vars["API"] = "Rate";
    $submit_vars["XML"] = $msg;
    $snoopy->submit($submit_url,$submit_vars);
    print "<PRE>".htmlspecialchars($snoopy->results)."</PRE>\n";
?>

NOw I will leave it up to you to format the return xml message, but this is how to send the request.

[bernnhugh]

Your code works splendidly ... thanks for the help

Bernn

[freddydoesphp]

No problem and see you at the Garlic Festival