Transaction Data Requirements

The standard payment gateway application programming interface (API) consists of required information fields (introduced in the previous section) and additional optional fields that can be submitted to the payment gateway for real-time transaction processing.

Transaction Post Location

The merchant’s Web site should submit transaction requests to the following payment gateway URL:

https://gateway.merchantplus.com/cgi-bin/PAWebClient.cgi

Note: If you are using a developer test account, test transactions are posted to the same as the production environment.  If you do not have a developer test account, you can sign up for one by emailing support@merchantplus.com.

Transaction Submission API

The following tables list the transaction data fields that can be submitted using the transaction request string. Several of these fields can also be configured in the Merchant Interface. For more information about configuring these settings in the Merchant Interface, see the Integration Wiki here.

Fields are name/value pairs with the syntax: x_name_of_field = value of the field&.

Merchant Information

Field NameDescription
x_loginRequired
Value: The merchant’s unique Login ID
Format: Up to 20 characters
Notes: The merchant  Login ID is provided in the Merchant Interface and must be stored
securely.
The API Login ID and Transaction Key together provide the merchant authentication required for
access to the payment gateway.
x_tran_keyRequired
Value: The merchant’s unique Transaction Key
Format: 16 characters
Notes: The merchant Transaction Key is provided in the Merchant Interface and must be stored
securely.
The API Login ID and Transaction Key together provide the merchant authentication required for
access to the payment gateway.

Transaction Information

Field NameDescription
x_method

Required

Value: The payment method

Format: CC or SVP

Notes: If this field is not submitted or the value is blank, the payment gateway will generate an error "x_Method cannot be left blank".

x_type

Required

Value: The type of credit card transaction

Format: AUTH_CAPTURE , AUTH_ONLY,  CREDIT, PRIOR_AUTH_CAPTURE, VOID ( for FirstData and Tsys )

Notes: If the value submitted does not match a supported value, the transaction is rejected. If this field is not submitted or the value is blank, the payment gateway will generate an error "x_type cannot be left blank".

x_amount

Required

Value: The amount of the transaction

Format; Up to 15 digits (no dollar symbol). For example, 102

Notes: This is the total amount and must include tax, shipping, and any other charges. If this field is not submitted or the value is blank, the payment gateway will generate an error "x_amount cannot be left blank".

x_card_num

Required

Value: The customer’s credit card number

Format; Between 13 and 16 digits without spaces.

Notes: This is sensitive cardholder information and must be stored securely and in accordance with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard. If this field is not submitted or the value is blank, the payment gateway will generate an error "x_card_num cannot be left blank".

x_exp_date

Required

Value: The customer’s credit card expiration date.

Format; MMYY.

Notes: This is sensitive cardholder information and must be stored securely and in accordance with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard. If this field is not submitted or the value is blank, the payment gateway will generate an error "x_exp_date cannot be left blank".

x_card_code

Optional

Value: The customer’s card code

Format: Numeric

Notes: The three- or four-digit number on the back of a credit card (on the front for American Express). This field is required if the merchant would like to use the Card Code Verification (CCV) security feature. For more information, see the Merchant Integration Guide at http://www.merchantplus.com/support/merchant.

x_trans_id

Conditional

Required only for CREDIT, PRIOR_ AUTH_ CAPTURE, and VOID transactions

Value: The payment gateway assigned transaction ID of an original transaction

Notes: For more information about transaction types, see the "Credit Card Transaction Types,"  section of this document.

x_test_request

Optional

Value: The request to process test transactions

Format: TRUE, FALSE.

Notes: Indicates if the transaction should be processed as a test transaction. "Test Transactions," section for more information.

Order Information

Field NameDescription
x_invoice_num

Optional

Value: The merchant-assigned invoice number for the transaction

Format: Up to 20 characters (no symbols)

Notes: The invoice number must be created dynamically on the merchant server or provided on a per-transaction basis. The payment gateway does not perform this function.

x_description

Optional

Value: The transaction description

Format: Up to 255 characters (no symbols)

Notes: The description must be created dynamically on the merchant server or provided on a per-transaction basis. The payment gateway does not perform this function.

Customer Information

Field NameDescription
x_first_name

Optional

Value: The first name associated with the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 50 characters (no symbols)

x_last_name

Optional

Value: The last name associated with the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 50 characters (no symbols)

x_company

Optional

Value: The company associated with the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 50 characters (no symbols)

x_address

Optional

Value: The customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 60 characters (no symbols)

Notes: Required if the merchant would like to use the Address Verification Service security feature.
For more information on AVS, see the Merchant Integration Guide at http://www.merchantplus.com/support/merchant/.

x_city

Optional

Value: The city of the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 40 characters (no symbols)

x_state

Optional

Value: The state of the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 40 characters (no symbols) or a valid two-character state code

x_zip

Optional

Value: The ZIP code of the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 20 characters (no symbols)

Notes: Required if the merchant would like to use the Address Verification Service security feature.

x_country

Optional

Value: The country of the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 60 characters (no symbols) For example, (123)123-1234

x_phone

Optional

Value: The phone number associated with the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 25 digits (no letters).

x_fax

Optional

Value: The fax number associated with the customer’s billing address

Format: Up to 25 digits (no letters). For example, (123)123-1234

x_email

Optional

Value: The customer’s valid email address

Format: Up to 255 characters. For example, zac@merchantplus.com

Notes: The email address to which the customer’s copy of the email receipt is sent when  Email Receipts is configured in the Merchant Interface. The email is sent to the customer only if the email address format is valid.

x_cust_id

Optional

Value: The merchant assigned customer ID

Format: Up to 20 characters (no symbols)

Notes: The unique identifier to represent the customer associated with the transaction. The customer ID must be created dynamically on the merchant server or provided on a per-transaction basis. The payment gateway does not perform this function.

x_customer_ip

Optional

Value: The customer’s IP address

Format: Up to 15 characters (no letters). For example, 255.255.255.255

Notes: IP address of the customer initiating the transaction. If this value is not passed, it will default to 255.255.255.255.  

Shipping Information

Field NameDescription
x_ship_to_first_name

Optional

Value: The first name associated with the customer’s shipping address

Format: Up to 50 characters (no symbols)

x_ship_to_last_name

Optional

Value: The last name associated with the customer’s shipping address

Format: Up to 50 characters (no symbols)

x_ship_to_company

Optional

Value: The company associated with the customer’s shipping address

Format: Up to 50 characters (no symbols)

x_ship_to_address

Optional

Value: The customer’s shipping address

Format: Up to 60 characters (no symbols)

x_ship_to_city

Optional

Value: The city of the customer’s shipping address

Format: Up to 40 characters (no symbols)

x_ship_to_state

Optional

Value: The state of the customer’s shipping address

Format: Up to 40 characters (no symbols) or a valid two-character state code

x_ship_to_zip

Optional

Value: The ZIP code of the customer’s shipping address

Format: Up to 20 characters (no symbols)

x_ship_to_country

Optional

Value: The country of the customer’s shipping address

Format: Up to 60 characters (no symbols)