Getting started with Authorize.net
There are several pieces of information you'll need to pull from Authorize.net to enable a secure connection between RaiseDonors and Authorize.net. The configuration can be accessed by following the 5 steps here:
- Login to RaiseDonors
- Go to your Account Settings -> Payment Providers section
- Select Authorize.net as your payment provider
- Supply configuration information as described below
- Click Save
Configuration Information Details
API Login ID
The API Login ID is a complex value that identifies your account to the payment gateway when submitting transaction requests from your website. While it's not valid for logging into the Merchant Interface, its purpose is similar to a login ID - it's like your website 'logging on' to the payment gateway. The API Login ID is at least eight characters in length, includes uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and/or symbols.
You can obtain the API Login ID for your account in the Authorize.net Merchant Interface by following the 3 steps here:
- Log into the Merchant Interface at account.authorize.net, or if you are already logged in, click the Home tab near the top of your screen.
- Click Settings under Account in the main menu on the left side of your screen
- Click API Login ID and Transaction Key in the Security Settings section (it may also be named "API Credentials & Keys").
Your API Login ID is displayed on the page if one has been generated already. If not, enter the Secret Answer to the Secret Question for your user account. The API Login ID and the Transaction Key (see below) will then be generated.
It's important to note that your API Login ID is sensitive account information and should only be shared on a need-to-know basis.
Transaction Key
The Transaction Key is a 16-character alphanumeric value that is randomly generated in the Merchant Interface and is used as an additional layer of authentication when submitting transaction requests from your website.
You can generate a Transaction Key for your account in the Merchant Interface by following these 6 steps:
- Log into the Merchant Interface at account.authorize.net, or if you are already logged in, click the Home tab near the top of your screen
- Click Settings under Account in the main menu on the left side of your screen
- Click API Login ID and Transaction Key in the Security Settings section (click here to reach the Authorize.net help center if you need to obtain your API Login ID)
- Enter the Secret Answer to the Secret Question for your user account
- Click Submit
- Capture your Transaction Key from the provided confirmation page
It's important to note that your Transaction Key will not be visible at any other time in the Merchant Interface. You must record it temporarily or copy and paste it to a secure file location immediately. Like the API Login ID, the Transaction Key is sensitive account information and should only be shared on a need-to-know basis (for example with your Web developer for the purposes of integration with the payment gateway).
Public Client Key
To generate the Client Key, log in to the Merchant Interface as an Administrator and navigate to Account > Settings > Security Settings > General Security Settings > Manage Public Client Key. Check out this article to learn how to generate a Public Client Key if it does not yet exist.
Signature Key
The Signature Key is a feature that allows you to enhance the security of your Server Integration Method (SIM) and Direct Post Method (DPM) integrations, by using the HMAC-SHA512 authenticated hash. HMAC-SHA512 should be used in place of the legacy HMAC-MD5 authenticated hash. Check out this article to learn how to generate your Signature Key.