CiviCRM Community Forums (archive)

I was trying to setup for USPS address standardization in CiviCRM 1.7.

I am not sure if I sent the correct info or signed up at the right URL. Below is the text of the confirming email I got back from the USPS. Does this sound like I am on the right track? Should I just send them the base URL for the site?

Dear USPS Customer,

Address Information APIs are accessible with special permission.  The APIs can only be used in conjunction with USPS SHIPPING SERVICES ONLY.

We must first understand how you'll be using the API.  We need a commitment that the API will be used on a transactional basis (not batch processing or cleansing of a database, but as a customer enters the information into a form on a website).  Also, you must state that you will use the output from this API solely in association with USPS SHIPPING SERVICES ONLY.

Please provide a detailed description how you plan to use the APIs, include the URL of the site (development or production).  We will review the material received to see if you meet our requirements.

If your implementation does not meet these requirements, I suggest contacting the NCSC for other Postal products that may meet your needs.

The Address Management System Application Programming Interface (AMS API) is available on a subscription basis for $2,500/year with bi-monthly updates. For more information, write to:

AMS-API
National Customer Support Center
United States Postal Service
6060 Primacy Pkwy Ste 201
Memphis, TN  38188-0001
Email:  AMSCD.NCSC@USPS.GOV
 
Or call 877-640-0724.
 
I hope this helps,

Okay, I am unsure of how to proceed now. I just got an email from them, but it doesn't have any URL's. I do know the user ID I am using.

Thank you for requesting the U. S. Postal Service's Address Informational Application Program Interfaces (APIs).

You have been granted TEST permission to the Address Informational APIs.  With the userID provided, you will be able to run test requests and begin development.  We will then need to evaluate your application for full access to the Address Informational APIs.

When you have completed your testing, please notify the Internet Customer Care Center (ICCC) listed below.  After reviewing your application, the ICCC will update your profile to allow you access to the Production Server and provide you with the production URL.

The ICCC is manned from 7:00AM to 11:00PM Eastern Time.
        E-mail:         icustomercare@usps.com
       

For more information regarding the USPS Web Tool Kit userID policy, or for questions regarding distribution of documentation, send e-mail to icustomercare@usps.com.

Thank you for helping the U.S. Postal Service provide new Internet services to our shipping customers.




Todd
USPS Internet Customer Care Center
icustomercare@usps.com

As our customer, your privacy is important to us.  Please see our privacy policy at www.usps.com

-------------------------------------------------------
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material.  Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.  If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
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0096

Mike:

Your best bet would be to get into the code, debug and contribute back patches.

The right file is: CRM/Utils/Address/USPS.php

There is only one function in there to debug. Putting in a bunch of print and exit statements will help you (and us) figure out whats happening and why

lobo

Yes, seems like we do talk to the USPS server and get an error message.  you can start debugging there and see what it responds

lobo

welcome to the USPS bureaucracy maze

Same bureauracy, new price.  We received a reply:

Thank you for contacting us.  Unfortunately the Address API's can only be used in conjunction with USPS Shipping Services and is not intended for the use of cleansing databases or batch processing.

The USPS offers the AMS API CD as an alternative, which has all the addressing needs on it that would have been provided through the Address API. The Address Matching System Application Programming Interface is $3,500/ annually for in-house use.

I replied:

Perhaps we didn't fill out your form correctly.  We are a non-profit (an Episcopal church) with only 240 addresses on our mailing list.  We are using an open source program that will interface with your API.  We would like to validate our members addresses to insure correct delivery and to qualify for automation rates.  May we please have access?

USPS iCustomerCare replied:

Dear USPS Customer,

What you are talking about would be database cleansing. The address api's can only be used on a transaction by transaction basis (as someone purchases something from a website, and the item is shipped USPS).

Thank you.

It always helps when you read the documentation.   

The USPS explanation of their WebTools is here:
http://www.usps.com/webtools/_pdf/Address-Information.pdf
The test server only allows a few specific addresses to be verified.  This is why a randomly chosen real address produces an error. 

Here is how you test it -- create a new Civicrm contact as follows:
Mr Test Record  (the name can be anything since it won't be verified)
6404 Ivy Lane
Greenbelt MD
leave the zip code blank.
Save the contact record.

I get a "Contact has been saved" message and:
Mr Test Record
6406 IVY LN
GREENBELT, MD 20770-1440

With the 9-digit zip code!  So it works.  The other test record is as follows.
Ms Teresa Record
8 Wildwood Drive
Old Lyme, CT 06371

The response is:
Ms Teresa Record
8 WILDWOOD DR
OLD LYME, CT 06371-1844

Very cool.  The next step is to call them on the phone to ask for access to the production server.

Hope this helps everyone.

Dan

Update:  FYI, I am using civicrm-1.7.9379-drupal-php5 on an ubuntu edgy server.

Can u reproduce this on our demo server and file an issue if so along with details

thanx

lobo

Upgrading to the latest build: CiviCRM 1.8.beta.10790 seemed to fixed this issue for me.  The USPS standard test data described above standardized properly.

Now it's back, same error on line 84 of USPS.php  On Save, all address data but the state are deleted from the contact.

Further, using the SmartyDebug feature, the following variables show empty when loading a contact, but shouldn't they contain the appropriate values stored under "Global Settings"?

AddressStdProvider => empty
AddressStdUserID => empty
AddressStdURL => empty