1. How do I send a test message to the Automaton?
2. When should I include the IP address of a nameserver?
3. Why was my domain request referred for manual approval?
4. How long does manual approval take?
5. Do I need to include every field when using the MODIFY operation?
6. How do I remove a value from a field?
7. How many domains can I delete each month?
8. Can domains registered in the previous month be deleted?
9. What happens if I delete a domain between the 1st and 7th of the month?
10. What if I attempt to delete more domains than the limit allows?
11. What if I need to delete more domain names than the limit allows?
12. How can I create a new registrant contact?
13. How do I find an 'account-id' from the Automaton?

1. How do I send a test message to the Automaton?
Test messages can be submitted to the Automaton for create, modify, and bulk modify operations. To test a create or modify operation, the domain should follow this pattern:
automaton-test-[any characters].[sld].uk

For example:
key: automaton-test-1.co.uk
key: automaton-test-another.org.uk
key: automaton-test-for-developers-ca.net.uk

Domain names that are sent using this pattern will not appear on the register. Instead you will receive a response that tells you whether the format of application / modification was correct.

To test a bulk modify operation, include the clause 'dry-run:' in the request, which will return details of the outcome of the operation but will commit no changes to the register.

3. Why was my domain request referred for manual approval?
Only requests within the .co.uk, .org.uk and .me.uk Second Level Domains are processed immediately. All other requests are referred for manual approval. If you have questions about a domain request that requires manual approval, please email us at nominet@nominet.org.uk.

4. How long does manual approval take?
Requests for domains that require manual approval are normally processed in one business day. If there are problems processing the request this may take longer. If you have questions about a domain request that requires manual approval, please email us at nominet@nominet.org.uk.

5. Do I need to include every field when using the MODIFY operation?
No. When modifying a domain the only required field is the 'key' field. Otherwise, you only need to include the field(s) you would like change.

6. How do I remove a value from a field?
To remove a field value, send a modify request and assign the field the value 'NULL'. 
NOTE: If you assign a 'NULL' value to 'dns0', the values will also be removed from all the fields from 'dns0' to 'dns9'.

7. What are the limits on the number of domains can I delete?
You may delete 5 domains or 5% of the total number of domains that have been registered but not yet invoiced, whichever is the higher.  This period of time is not a month, it is currently measured from the 1st of the month until the 7th of the following month.
NOTE: The intended use of the delete operation is clearly stated in the instructions for use.

8. Can domains registered in the previous month be deleted?
Yes. Since registrars are not invoiced for a domain until the 7th day of the month following registration, you can delete a domain registered in the previous month before midnight on the 7th.
NOTE: The intended use of the delete operation is clearly stated in the instructions for use.

9. What happens if I delete a domain between the 1st and 7th of the month?
Delete limits are based on a period from the 1st of a month to the 7th of the following month. This causes delete limits to overlap between the 1st and 7th of each month.  If a domain is deleted between the 1st and 7th, the previous period’s limit is used to determine if you can delete a domain. However since the deletion periods overlap the deletion counts against both the previous and current month’s limit, even if the deleted domain was registered in the previous month.
NOTE: The intended use of the delete operation is clearly stated in the instructions for use.

10. What if I attempt to delete more domains than the limit allows?
Once you have reached your delete limit, the delete operation will be suspended.  Any further requests to delete domains will not be processed and the Automaton will send you a fatal error message instead. The delete operation will remain suspended until the next invoicing run at midnight on the 7th of the month or if you subsequently register sufficient domains to permit further deletions.
NOTE: The intended use of the delete operation is clearly stated in the instructions for use.

11. What if I need to delete more domain names than the limit allows?
If you need to delete more domains than the limit allows, and they would be permitted under the intended use for the delete operation, you should discuss this with our Member and Registrar Support Team on +44 (0) 1865 332233 or email support@nominet.org.uk.
NOTE: The intended use of the delete operation is clearly stated in the instructions for use.

12. How can I create a new registrant contact?
An registrant contact can be created when registering a new domain.  If you include the 'account-name', 'addr', 'country', 'a1-name' and 'a1-email' fields when registering a domain, a new account will be created.  When a new registrant contact is created the Automaton will notify you of the 'account-id'.

13. How do I find an 'account-id' from the Automaton?
To request the value held in the 'account-id' field from the Automaton you may submit a query, list or bulk select operation. .