FTP Stock Check Service

What is this?

This document describes how to send and receive stock checks via Anchor Distributor’s FTP site.

How do I send and receive Stock Checks?

Use an FTP program and use the following information to login:

Host Address: anchordistributors.com
Remote Port: 21
Username: stockcheck
Password: anchorstock6

Upload files with the Ingram appropriate request format to the root directory with the filename ‘<Your SAN Number>.STK’.  Entries found in this directory will be processed within a minute.  Reponses to requests will be written to a subdirectory with your SAN number (i.e., change directory to /<Your SAN Number>).  Responses will follow the naming convention of <Your SAN Number>.AD for a single file response and <Your SAN Number>.AD<Response Count> for a multiple file response. 

How do I format a request string?

The request string field has the following format:

Request Header
Field Name Start Stop Length Contents
File Type 1 1 1 "1" = Request File Identifier
Bill To 2 8 7 SAN or Bill-To Account Number
Ship To 9 15 7 SAN or Ship-To Account Number
Password 16 23 8 Password

 

Request Data Format
Field Name Start Stop Length Contents
Request Type 24 27 4 “ISTK”
Version Level 28 28 1 “1”
Data Length 29 33 5 Total Length of Request Data. It should be padded with zeros.  For example, "00013" for a single item, or “00026” for two items, and so on.
Request Data 34 46 13 ISBN, UPC, or EAN.  Data should be left justified & padded with spaces. Up to 50 consecutive (padded) item codes can be sent in the same request.

Example 1: the following example shows an implementation of an ISTK request type for an ISBN of “0764533126”.

String:

“112345677654321PASSWORDISTK1000130764533126  

Example 2: this example has five ISBNs in one transmission.

String:

“112345677654321PASSWORDISTK1000651111111111   2222222222   3333333333   4444444444   5555555555  

What codes are valid for lookups?

We accept ISBN, EAN13 and Speedy codes for lookup strings for an FTP stock check.

What should I use for my account number?

We accept four account numbers to identify your store.

    1)       Your Ship-to SAN number
    2)       Your Bill-to SAN number
    3)       Your Ship-to Account Number
  
4)    Your Bill-to Account Number