generating an ACH file using php?

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mattjtayl
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Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 10:26 pm

generating an ACH file using php?

Post by mattjtayl »

Ok I just started a brand new job today. First programming job ever. The first thing my boss wants me to do is to use php to generate an ACH file . I am lost I have no clue. Heck I tried doing some research, but I still am lost on what an ACH file actually is! Something to do with routing and checking numbers used in automatic deposits at banks? Is that right? If someone could please give me a sample of how to do this in php or point me in the right direction it would be eternally grateful !
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Stryks
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Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2004 5:06 pm

Post by Stryks »

I've no idea about ACH files, but a quick google for 'ACH file format' turns up some pretty informative links.

A few clicks later and I had me a site with an example file - LINK.

If this is your first day, and assuming you didn't lie your way into the job, my first questions to my employers would be regarding the accuracy of my assumption of what an ACH file is, the source of data to be entered into the file , where specifically the file would be used (because they might be a good source of information on requirements), and what kind of time frame they are looking at.

My best advice for you as a coder is simply this, if you don't know something, let your employers know you don't, but make it clear that after a few short questions and a little research, you soon will. A good employer will encourage questions. The clearer you are on what they want, the closer your results will be, and the happier they will be.

As for the 'how' of this question ... thats going to depend largely on where the data is coming from. Are you collecting data from a form, pulling from a database, pulling from a file?

For writing, and assuming that the file format is in fact the one above, I'd imagine that fputcsv() could be used, or even just fputs if you want to handle composition manually.

I'm sure that others will have more advice to give.


Good luck
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