Step by Step Guide to Building a ConnectWise Manage API Integration in C#

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to dive into the world of ConnectWise Manage API integration? You're in for a treat. This guide will walk you through the process of building a robust integration using C#. We'll cover everything from authentication to handling complex endpoints, all while keeping things snappy and to the point. Let's get started!

Prerequisites

Before we jump in, make sure you've got:

• Visual Studio or your favorite C# IDE
• .NET Core SDK (latest version)
• ConnectWise Manage API credentials (you've got these, right?)

Setting Up the Project

First things first, let's create a new C# project:

1. Fire up Visual Studio
2. Create a new .NET Core Console Application
3. Name it something cool like "ConnectWiseIntegration"

Now, let's grab some NuGet packages:

Install-Package Newtonsoft.Json
Install-Package RestSharp

These will make our lives much easier when dealing with JSON and HTTP requests.

Authentication

ConnectWise uses API key authentication. Here's how to set it up:

var client = new RestClient("https://api-na.myconnectwise.net/v4_6_release/apis/3.0/");
client.AddDefaultHeader("Authorization", "Basic " + Convert.ToBase64String(Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes($"{companyId}+{publicKey}:{privateKey}")));

Making API Requests

Let's create a base API client:

public class ConnectWiseClient
{
    private readonly RestClient _client;

    public ConnectWiseClient(string companyId, string publicKey, string privateKey)
    {
        _client = new RestClient("https://api-na.myconnectwise.net/v4_6_release/apis/3.0/");
        _client.AddDefaultHeader("Authorization", "Basic " + Convert.ToBase64String(Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes($"{companyId}+{publicKey}:{privateKey}")));
    }

    public T Get<T>(string resource)
    {
        var request = new RestRequest(resource, Method.GET);
        var response = _client.Execute<T>(request);
        return response.Data;
    }

    // Implement Post, Put, Delete methods similarly
}

Working with ConnectWise Manage Endpoints

Now for the fun part! Let's interact with some endpoints:

var client = new ConnectWiseClient("companyId", "publicKey", "privateKey");

// Get companies
var companies = client.Get<List<Company>>("/company/companies");

// Get tickets
var tickets = client.Get<List<Ticket>>("/service/tickets");

// Create a time entry
var timeEntry = new TimeEntry { /* populate properties */ };
client.Post("/time/entries", timeEntry);

Handling Responses and Errors

Always expect the unexpected:

try
{
    var result = client.Get<T>(resource);
    // Process result
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Oops! Something went wrong: {ex.Message}");
    // Log the error, maybe retry the request
}

Implementing Pagination

ConnectWise API uses continuation tokens for pagination. Here's how to handle it:

string continuationToken = null;
do
{
    var request = new RestRequest("/company/companies", Method.GET);
    if (continuationToken != null)
        request.AddQueryParameter("continuationToken", continuationToken);

    var response = _client.Execute<List<Company>>(request);
    // Process companies

    continuationToken = response.Headers.FirstOrDefault(h => h.Name == "Continuation-Token")?.Value.ToString();
} while (continuationToken != null);

Best Practices

• Respect rate limits (check headers for limit info)
• Use caching when appropriate
• Implement retry logic for failed requests
• Use async/await for better performance

Testing and Debugging

Always test your integration thoroughly:

[Fact]
public void CanGetCompanies()
{
    var client = new ConnectWiseClient("testCompanyId", "testPublicKey", "testPrivateKey");
    var companies = client.Get<List<Company>>("/company/companies");
    Assert.NotEmpty(companies);
}

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now equipped to build a solid ConnectWise Manage API integration. Remember, this is just the beginning. There's a whole world of endpoints and features to explore. Keep experimenting, and don't be afraid to dive deeper into the API documentation.

Additional Resources

• Official ConnectWise Manage API Documentation
• ConnectWise Developer Network

Happy coding, and may your integration be ever successful!