USPS API PROC HTTP

[Jim_Cooper_hmsa]

I am trying to write a PROC HTTP program to validate Zip+4 for mailing addresses using PROC HTTP and the USPS API webtools.  I have a successful HTTP URL that I need to replicate with PROC HTTP.  The program creates an XML library to format the addresses for validation but I am getting an XML syntax error when run the PROC HTTP.  The URL I am trying to reproduce returns an XML response record without error.

http://production.shippingapis.com/ShippingAPI.dll?API=Verify

&XML=<AddressValidateRequest USERID="165THEQU4205"><Address ID="0"><Address1></Address1>

<Address2>6406 Ivy Lane</Address2><City>Greenbelt</City><State>MD</State>

<Zip5></Zip5><Zip4></Zip4></Address></AddressValidateRequest>

test program that returns an XML Error Response Message:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Error><Number>80040B19</Number><Description>XML Syntax Error: Please check the XML request to see if it can be parsed.</Description><Source>USPSCOM::DoAuth</Source></Error>

SAS code:

libname test xml "/sasuser.v94/AddressValidateRequest.xml";
filename in "/sasuser.v94/AddressValidateRequest.xml";
filename out "/sasuser.v94/AddressValidateResponse.xml";

data test.Address;
Revision=1; ID=1; Address1=''; Address2='6406 Ivy Lane'; City='Greenbelt';
State='MD';
run;

* Pass information to USPS API webtool for processing;
proc http
url="https://stg-secure.shippingapis.com/ShippingAPI.dll?API=AddressValidateRequest"
webusername="165THEQU4205"
webpassword="120RW00US168"
method="POST"
in=in
out=out;
run;

[ChrisNZ]

I don't see where &xml is used.

[ChrisNZ]

Oh sorry. You formatted your question badly.

The link is

http://production.shippingapis.com/ShippingAPI.dll?API=Verify&XML=<AddressValidateRequest USERID="165THEQU4205"><Address ID="0"><Address1></Address1><Address2>6406 Ivy Lane</Address2><City>Greenbelt</City><State>MD</State><Zip5></Zip5><Zip4></Zip4></Address></AddressValidateRequest>

There is no macro variable.

[Jim_Cooper_hmsa]

Chris, Yes the question was formatted badly. Let me restate:

I am trying to create a process where I can send one or more addresses to the USPS API for validating addresses and correct the ZIP+4 codes using PROC HTTP. The purpose of this test is to take this HTTP request:


http://production.shippingapis.com/ShippingAPI.dll?API=Verify
&XML=

6406 Ivy LaneGreenbeltMD

and pass it from a PROC HTTP statement.

[ChrisNZ]

What happens if you use http instead of https?

What happens if you use method GET?

What happens if you use 

proc http url='http://production.shippingapis.com/ShippingAPI.dll?API=Verify&XML=<AddressValidateRequest USERID="165THEQU4205"><Address ID="0"><Address1></Address1><Address2>6406 Ivy Lane</Address2><City>Greenbelt</City><State>MD</State><Zip5></Zip5><Zip4></Zip4></Address></AddressValidateRequest>'  ?

[Jim_Cooper_hmsa]

The site only accepts https: queries.

The API User manual recommends using POST as the request method

specifying the full URL in the PROC HTTP statement causes a SAS syntax error.  Also, this will not solve root problem since I would like to make the requests dynamic and, if possible, automated from a database query by using the in= clause.

[ChrisNZ]

> The site only accepts https: queries. The API User manual recommends using POST as the request method

Pasting

http://production.shippingapis.com/ShippingAPI.dll?API=Verify&XML=<AddressValidateRequest USERID="165THEQU4205"><Address ID="0"><Address1></Address1><Address2>6406 Ivy Lane</Address2><City>Greenbelt</City><State>MD</State><Zip5></Zip5><Zip4></Zip4></Address></AddressValidateRequest>

in a browser works, so maybe the constraints are not as hard as they seem.

> Also, this will not solve root problem since I would like to make the requests dynamic

You can still make the query dynamic, for example with a call execute.

I can't run proc http, so these were just ideas for you to test. Feel free to ignore 🙂