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sbpfx

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

This page covers common issues and their solutions when using the sbpfx library.

Common Issues

Rate Not Found for Specific Date

Problem: Getting “PDF not found” error for certain dates.

Possible Causes:

  • Weekends: SBP doesn’t publish rates on Saturdays and Sundays
  • Holidays: No rates published on Pakistani public holidays
  • Future dates: Rates don’t exist for dates that haven’t occurred yet
  • Very old dates: Historical data might not be available

Solution:

rate, err := client.GetExchangeRate(ctx, sbpfx.USD, sbpfx.ForDate("2025-08-27"))
if err != nil {
    if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "PDF not found") {
        // Try previous business day or handle missing data
        fmt.Println("No rates available for this date")
    }
}

Timeout Errors

Problem: Getting “context deadline exceeded” or timeout errors.

Possible Causes:

  • Slow network connection
  • SBP server issues
  • Large PDF files taking time to download

Solutions:

  1. Increase timeout:
// Increase client timeout
client := sbpfx.New(httpr.Timeout(60*time.Second))


// Or use context timeout
ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 30*time.Second)
defer cancel()
  1. Retry logic:
func getExchangeRateWithRetry(client *sbpfx.Client, currency sbpfx.Currency, maxRetries int) (*sbpfx.ExchangeRate, error) {
    var lastErr error
    for i := 0; i < maxRetries; i++ {
        rate, err := client.GetExchangeRate(context.Background(), currency)
        if err == nil {
            return rate, nil
        }
        lastErr = err
        time.Sleep(time.Duration(i+1) * time.Second) // Exponential backoff
    }
    return nil, lastErr
}

Invalid Date Format

Problem: Date string not being parsed correctly.

Solution: Ensure you’re using the correct format:

// ✅ Correct format
rate, err := client.GetExchangeRate(ctx, sbpfx.USD, sbpfx.ForDate("2025-08-27"))


// ❌ Incorrect formats
// ForDate("08/27/2025")  // Wrong format
// ForDate("27-08-2025")  // Wrong format
// ForDate("2025-8-27")   // Missing zero padding

PDF Parsing Errors

Problem: Error parsing PDF content or unexpected data structure.

Possible Causes:

  • SBP changed PDF format
  • Corrupted PDF download
  • Network issues during download

Solution:

// Download PDF manually for inspection
err := client.DownloadRateSheet(ctx, "debug.pdf", sbpfx.ForDate("2025-08-27"))
if err != nil {
    log.Printf("Failed to download PDF: %v", err)
    // PDF might be corrupted or format changed
}

Debugging Tips

Enable HTTP Debugging

If you’re using httpr’s debug features:

import "github.com/mistermoe/httpr"


client := sbpfx.New(
    httpr.Inspect(), // Logs HTTP requests and responses
)

Check PDF URLs

Verify the URL generation is correct:

url := client.GetUrl(sbpfx.ForDate("2025-08-27"))
fmt.Printf("Generated URL: %s\n", url)


// Manually check if URL is accessible in browser

Validate Exchange Rate Data

rate, err := client.GetExchangeRate(ctx, sbpfx.USD)
if err == nil {
    fmt.Printf("Currency: %s\n", rate.Currency)
    fmt.Printf("Date: %s\n", rate.Date.Format("2006-01-02"))
    fmt.Printf("Spot Rate: %s\n", rate.GetSpotRate())
    fmt.Printf("Source URL: %s\n", rate.URL)


    // Validate rate is reasonable
    if rateFloat, err := strconv.ParseFloat(rate.GetSpotRate(), 64); err == nil {
        if rateFloat < 100 || rateFloat > 500 {
            fmt.Printf("Warning: Rate seems unusual: %.2f\n", rateFloat)
        }
    }
}

FAQ

Q: Why do rates differ from Google or other sources?

A: SBP rates are official interbank rates used by authorized dealers for mark-to-market revaluation. They differ from consumer exchange rates shown by Google, which typically include retail margins.

Q: What time are new rates published?

A: SBP typically publishes rates during Pakistani business hours. Rates for a given date are usually available by end of business day in Pakistan time (PKT).

Q: Are rates available for weekends?

A: No, SBP doesn’t publish rates on weekends (Saturday/Sunday) or public holidays in Pakistan.

Q: How far back do historical rates go?

A: The availability of historical data depends on SBP’s archive. Very old dates might not be available.

Q: Can I get intraday rates?

A: No, SBP publishes daily rates only. For real-time rates, you would need a different data source.

Q: What currencies are supported?

A: The library supports 30+ currencies including major currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY) and regional currencies. See the API reference for the complete list.

Q: How do I handle rate unavailability gracefully?

A: Implement fallback logic:

func getAvailableRate(client *sbpfx.Client, currency sbpfx.Currency, preferredDate string) (*sbpfx.ExchangeRate, error) {
    // Try preferred date first
    rate, err := client.GetExchangeRate(ctx, currency, sbpfx.ForDate(preferredDate))
    if err == nil {
        return rate, nil
    }


    // Fall back to today's rate
    rate, err = client.GetExchangeRate(ctx, currency)
    if err == nil {
        return rate, nil
    }


    return nil, fmt.Errorf("no rates available")
}

Getting Help

If you’re still experiencing issues:

  1. Check the GitHub issues: github.com/mistermoe/sbpfx/issues
  2. Create a new issue: Include error messages, code samples, and environment details
  3. Verify SBP website: Check if sbp.org.pk is accessible and the PDF format hasn’t changed

Contributing

Found a bug or have a suggestion? Contributions are welcome!

  • Bug reports: Include steps to reproduce and error messages
  • Feature requests: Explain the use case and expected behavior
  • Code contributions: Follow the existing code style and include tests