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Paypal and NuSOAP

This is a quick guide to building webservice clients for Paypal SOAP webservices.

If you would like an overview of Paypal integration services, the secured payment gateways or API services it provides, read here.

First things:
If you are trying to build a quick but reliable client code to do a transaction through Paypal SOAP API's, if you are using PHP, then don't even bother-to, or, worry-about the Paypal SDK or samples that you can download at the Paypal integration center. Trust me, those samples only make it look like its so complex.

And further, if you had a look at the paypal developer community forums, some posts might make it look like if you are trying things with NuSOAP or any SOAP SDK other than what PayPal provides, then you are reinventing the wheel.

Things are not as difficult.. and scanning quick through Paypal's SDK and samples for PHP, I had a feeling the whole thing is way too much for simple requirements like for example 'Sending money to one or more Paypal users through API'.

Samples

What better than understanding things with an easy sample. All samples below are tested with PHP5.x and NuSOAP 0.7.2 (NuSOAP avaliable here)

For all samples you will need:
1. You should have / will need a Paypal Business account (not the free account or even the premier account), to query Paypal webservices.. all Paypal integration services are only provided for business accounts.

You can though, test with sandbox/test accounts.. with dummy money, dummy transactions and all. The sandbox user's guide will help you create such accounts.

2. You will need either,
  - a combination of API Username, Password and signature, or,
  - an API Certificate (if you can install the certificate on your server).
 
  These things are provided at no extra cost for Business accounts. Again, you can get them with a sandbox test account also.

More details on API signature/certificates here.

To create a sandbox test account, use this Sandbox user's guide.

3. Paypal SOAP API referrence: Just have this pdf document with you while you are developing.. don't worry about going through it entirely. In below samples, I will give you the only pages you might need to refer to for specific details.. and later as you develop for more requirements you will refer this document more.

I will make two samples here..
1. A 'get transaction details' sample
2. A 'send money / mass payment' sample

[ Samples in next pages. ]

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