Web service requirements for return authorization numbers – REST

When creating a parcel return policy, you have the option to request that your customers enter a return authorization (RA) number to retrieve a label. You can use one static number or provide us with a URL address to a web service that you host where your list of unique authorization numbers is housed.

When you create your parcel return policy in My Returns on the Canada Post website, if you select the web service option, you will be prompted to enter the URL, username and password for your web service. Here are the requirements for the web service.

Implementation

Your web service should be implemented using standard REST-style architecture.

We will call your web service to validate the RA number entered by your customers before we allow them to retrieve a return label. The web service must return either a pass or fail. If the authorization fails, we will not allow your customers to retrieve a return label.

The username and password required to access your endpoint will be included in the HTTP authorization header. Your web service will use this information to authenticate our call to your service.

Please note that your web service must include the authorization number 99999999999999 (i.e., 14 9s), which should always return an indication of a valid number. This will allow Canada Post to ping your web service to determine that it is operational.

Successful completion

If your web service completes its actions successfully for the input data provided, you will return a 200-level HTTP code and respond with the output data contained within a top-level XML element.

Web service summary

Request details

Endpoint
GET https://[your endpoint]/ValidateRsa/{RsaNumber}

HTTP headers

Body

The request body should be left empty.

Response elements

Error condition

An error condition occurs when a user is not authorized to call your web service or your service is not able to complete successfully.

An error condition occurs when a user is not authorized to call your web service or your service is not able to complete successfully.

In case of an error condition, your web service should return an HTTP 400-level or 500-level status code. Depending on the HTTP status code, you can also provide a top-level XML element and associated structure for error codes and messages in the response body.

Please note that you will return either the normal output data (under a top level XML element, as appropriate) or the error XML structure, or neither (depending on the nature of the error).

Examples

Sample REST request

GET https:///ValidateRsa/99999999999999? AdditionalInfo=PO123-45678- XY&RsaNumberIssueDate=2012-09-22 HTTP/1.1

Sample REST - XML Response

HTTP/1.1 200 Good
Content-Type: application/canadapost.rsa+xml
<?xml version=”1.0” encoding=”UTF-8”?>
<?ns1:ValidateRsaResponse xmlns:ns1=”http://www.canadapost.ca/webservices/validatersa”>
<ValidationStatus>true</ValidationStatus>
</ns1:ValidateRsaResponse>


Sample REST - XML Response to an error condition

HTTP/1.1 500 Error
Content-Type: application/canadapost.rsa+xml
<?xml version=”1.0” encoding=”UTF-8”?>
<ns2:Messages xmlns:ns2=”http://www.canadapost.ca/webservices/messages”>
<Message>
<Code>8304</Code>
<Description>Sample error</Description>
</Message>
</ns2:Messages>

Sample REST - JSON Response

HTTP/1.1 200 Good
Content-Type: application/candapost.rsa+json
{
"ValidateRsaResponse":{ "ValidationStatus":true
}
}

Sample REST - JSON Response to an error condition

HTTP/1.1 500 Error
Content-Type: application/candapost.rsa+json
{
"Messages":[
{ "Code":"8304", "Description":"Sampleerror"
}
]
}