D&D Distribution
XML Service
Manual
by Benny Rossaer
[email protected]
D&D Distribution
Brugsken 27 b2
9100 Sint-Niklaas
Tel.: +32 (0)3 780 20 20
Fax: +32 (0)3 707 07 01
E-mail:
[email protected]
1. Introduction
D&D Distribution’s XML Service is a Web Service which allows you to request information about our products (such as stock and pricing).
You can use this service on your webshop: for example, if a client wants to buy an item of which you don’t have any stock, you can have your website query our server:
a) On your webshop: user requests an item your stock: 0
b) Your website consults our XML Service We have the item in stock.
c) Your website tells the user that the item isn’t in stock, but can be delivered in 48 hours.
This is only an example of one of the many ways you can use this service.
Another option is to integrate our XML Service within your administration software, so you can request our stock and pricing in real-time. An example of this functionality is included in this manual (with Dbfactw software).
2. Requirements: login and password
Requirement: you need to have a login and password for D&D Distribution’s webshop. Typically, your login is the same as your client number (usually 4 digits) and your password is assigned to you (which you can change on our site).
If you don’t have a login yet, go to http://www.dddistribution.be/register.htm to request one.
If you want to change your password, go to http://www.dddistribution.be, login with your user name and password, and click the link “My D&D Profile”.
3. How to request XML data
Now for the interesting part.
To request XML data for an item, you need to know 3 things: - your D&D login;
- your D&D password in MD5 hash;
- the code of the item you’re looking for (or search string)
3.1. Convert your password into an MD5 hash
Point your browser to the following web address:
http://www.dddistribution.be/md5.php
Type in your password and click “Go”.
The string then displayed (in Bold) is the MD5 hash you need.
3.2. Requesting XML data
To request XML data, you need to use the following URL:
http://www.dddistribution.be/xml.php?login=login&pass=md5pass&prodid=productcode login = your D&D login
md5pass = the MD5 hash of your D&D password (see 3.1) productcode = the code of the article you want
Example:
http://www.dddistribution.be/xml.php?login=test&pass=098f6bcd4621d373cade4e832627b4f6&prodid=NETL15 00202
If you input a correct user name and password, you should get the following (example in browser IE6.0):
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
- <Realdata> - <item>
<ID>NETL1500202</ID>
<DESC>L1 10/100 Mbps Lan-adapter(Realtek)</DESC>
<PRICE CURRENCY="EURO">9.99</PRICE>
<QTY>16</QTY>
<DELDATE />
</item> </Realdata>
What’s what?
<ID> Æ Product code <DESC> Æ Description <PRICE> Æ Price in Euros <QTY> Æ Quantity
Important: if our stock is more than 20, QTY will be displayed as >20.
<DELDATE> Æ If available: date when stock of this item becomes available.
3.3. Requesting more than one item
With the example above, you can only request one specific item. However, with search strings, it’s possible to request multiple items. For example:
http://www.dddistribution.be/xml.php?login=yourlogin&pass=passmd5&prodid=windows
This will effectively show all items which contain the word “windows” in their description.
3.4. Requesting all items
In some cases, you might want to request our entire product database. This is possible by entering an asterisk (*) as the prodid. For example:
http://www.dddistribution.be/xml.php?login=yourlogin&pass=passmd5&prodid=*
This will return our ENTIRE stock.
3.5. Changing your password
Important: if you go to our webshop and change your password, don’t forget to also update your MD5
hash in any application you use our XML Service!
Otherwise, you will get an error (your password has changed, but the MD5 hash still refers to the old password).
4.0. Use the XML Service with Dbfactw
One of the more popular administrative software products is Dbfactw, made by TML (The Missing Link). See www.dbfact.be for more info about Dbfact.
Use the following directions to install our XML service into Dbfactw (requires version 2.50tbm or higher!) 1. Start Dbfactw and login with the Supervisor account
(ask your system administrator for the password) 2. In the menu, go to:
8. Filebeheer Æ 8. Diverse Bestanden Æ 2. Instellingen XML Æ 1. Communicatie instellingen 3. Click on the “Nieuw” button to create a new XML code.
4. Enter the following data:
Omschrijving: DDDISTRI Leverancier: D&D Distribution
(if “D&D Distribution” isn’t in the list, you need to update your Dbfactw to version 2.50tbm or higher)
Relatie nummer: the number D&D Distribution has in your Dbfactw Klantnummer bij leverancier: your D&D Login
Te versturen code: ref. leverancier (recommended), or stuknummer or volgnummer Gebruikersnaam: your D&D Login
Toegangscode: your D&D password in MD5 hash (see 3.1) Check “Gebruik voor Online Info”
Next, go to the tab “Url-Dtd”.
Under “Ophalen artikelinfo”, type the following:
http://www.dddistribution.be/xml.php?login=
Now click “Opslaan” and “Sluiten”.
Now, when you click F7 to request an item and you get the item list, click the “Online info” button, and then click DDDISTRI. Dbfactw will then query our server and display the requested information.
5.0. More information
If you have any questions left, send an e-mail to [email protected] and we will answer you as soon as possible.
