Hi,

----------- Overview

Companies House in the UK has an XML Gateway that allows you to search
for company names and their availability.

I would like some guidance on how to query this Gateway via PHP (v 4.3.2)

Information on their service can be found at:

http://xmlgw.companieshouse.gov.uk/

----------- Requirements

PHP code that queries the Gateway for a certain company name.

a)

If the company name is already taken, then this should be displayed,
and the entry displayed (fields required : company name, number, and
comments).
In addition, the 2 records before and 2 records after this record
should be displayed.

e.g.

Search for: 'ASDF'
Result : "ASDF is not available for registration."

Also display :

Name,No.,Comments
A. S. DEVELOPMENTS (EAST ANGLIA) LIMITED,05051713,LIVE
ASDEX LIMITED,05915180,LIVE
ASDF LIMITED,04822895,LIVE
ASD FIRE PROTECTION LIMITED,SC126403,LIVE
ASD GB LIMITED,05920542,LIVE

b)

If the company name is not already taken, then this should be displayed.

e.g. Search for "97TTT"
Result : 97TTT is available for registration.

----------- Other

This is my 1st Google answers post, so if I have missed something
important out, please do not hesitate to ask.
I have priced this initially at $50 because I guess that someone
already has created this code (as it's a popular XML gateway), and
they would simply be sending it on to me (though of course, I may be
mistaken!).

Thanks,

B.

---

Request for Question Clarification by sycophant-ga on 06 Sep 2006 16:58 PDT

Hi, 

I have been unable to find any PHP scripts that seem to be designed to
interface with this gateway.

However, this comment on the PHP website provides a very basic
implementation of the XML POST method that the site calls for:
http://php.net/manual/en/ref.xml.php#50726

With that basis, what is required is to create the XML request and
process the response.

How comfortable are you to develop this on your own? What level of
support do you need in this development?

It is a little bit difficult to develop for this gateway as no test
account or 'sandbox' system seems to exist, meaning a valid gateway
account is required to test with.

Regards,
Sycophant

---

Clarification of Question by bedfordshire-ga on 08 Sep 2006 07:22 PDT

Hi.

Thanks.

r.e. "However, this comment on the PHP website provides a very basic
implementation of the XML POST method that the site calls for:
http://php.net/manual/en/ref.xml.php#50726"

This would have been an ideal start, but my hosting provider does not
have curl support installed.

r.e. "How comfortable are you to develop this on your own? What level of
support do you need in this development?"

I will always try to develop it 1st on my own, but may pass things
over if I need too.
If I could just get a 'start' on this, I think I will know how much
support I would need, or whether I should pass it on to others.

Thanks again,

B.

Hi,

Did you manage to implement this function? I am exploring the same
type of application. Would really appreciate a notification on how far
you have progressed with this project, thanks. I look forward to your
reply.

Kind Regards,

Ste

I would gladly do this project start to finish for you. but im not
certain the 50 dollars would be sufficient as there seems to be some
worktime involved.

if you would like to talk about either raising the offer or
collaborating on it, i am very flexible, and as it is finally winter
here in the frozen north i have quite a bit of free time.