2007

Name-Value Pair API Developer Guide and Reference April 2007 11
Overview
Taking Your Application Live
Create and Post the Request
Create an NVP request string and post it to PayPal sandbox server. Add code to your web
application to do the following tasks:
1. URL-encode the name and value parameters in the request to ensure correct transmission
of all characters. This is described in “URL-Encoding” on page 13.
2. Construct the NVP API request string as described in “Request Format” on page 14. The
NVP format is described in “NVP Format” on page 12.
3. Post the NVP request to the PayPal Sandbox as described in “Posting Using HTTPS” on
page 16.
Interpret the Response
PayPal processes your request and posts back a reponse in NVP format. Add code to your web
application to do the following tasks:
1. Receive the HTTP post response, and extract the NVP string.
2. URL-decode the parameter values as described in “URL-Encoding” on page 13.
3. Take appropriate action for successful and failed reponses.
Taking Your Application Live
After you have finished coding and testing your application, deploy your application to the
live PayPal server using your PayPal business account and API credentials for that account.
Set Up a PayPal Business Account
When you are ready to deploy your application to the live PayPal server, create a PayPal
business account on
www.paypal.com.
Set Up API Credentials
To use the APIs, you need a set of credentials to identify yourself to PayPal. Create an API
signature for your business account.
For instructions on setting up API credentials for the business account, go to
https://www.paypal.com/IntegrationCenter/ic_certificate.html.