Step by Step Guide to Building a ConnectWise Manage API Integration in Python

Aug 16, 2024 • 5 minute read

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 Python. We'll cover everything from authentication to handling webhooks, so buckle up!

Prerequisites

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

A Python environment set up (3.7+ recommended)
The requests library installed (pip install requests)
Your ConnectWise Manage API credentials handy

If you're all set, let's get cracking!

Authentication

First things first, let's get you authenticated:

Grab your API keys from the ConnectWise Manage portal
Set up your headers like this:

headers = {
    'Authorization': 'Basic ' + base64.b64encode(f'{company_id}+{public_key}:{private_key}'.encode()).decode(),
    'clientId': 'your_client_id',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

Making API Requests

Now that you're authenticated, let's make some requests:

import requests

base_url = 'https://api-na.myconnectwise.net/v4_6_release/apis/3.0'

# GET request
response = requests.get(f'{base_url}/service/tickets', headers=headers)

# POST request
new_ticket = {'summary': 'Test ticket', 'board': {'id': 1}}
response = requests.post(f'{base_url}/service/tickets', headers=headers, json=new_ticket)

Pro tip: Don't forget to handle pagination for GET requests that return multiple items!

Error Handling

Always expect the unexpected. Wrap your API calls in try-except blocks:

try:
    response = requests.get(f'{base_url}/service/tickets', headers=headers)
    response.raise_for_status()
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    print(f"Oops! Something went wrong: {e}")

Data Processing

ConnectWise loves JSON. Here's how to parse it:

data = response.json()
for ticket in data:
    print(f"Ticket ID: {ticket['id']}, Summary: {ticket['summary']}")

Building Core Functions

Let's put it all together with some core functions:

def get_companies():
    response = requests.get(f'{base_url}/company/companies', headers=headers)
    return response.json()

def create_ticket(summary, board_id):
    ticket_data = {'summary': summary, 'board': {'id': board_id}}
    response = requests.post(f'{base_url}/service/tickets', headers=headers, json=ticket_data)
    return response.json()

def update_time_entry(time_entry_id, notes):
    update_data = {'notes': notes}
    response = requests.patch(f'{base_url}/time/entries/{time_entry_id}', headers=headers, json=update_data)
    return response.json()

Implementing Webhooks (Optional)

Want to get real-time updates? Set up a webhook listener:

from flask import Flask, request

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/webhook', methods=['POST'])
def handle_webhook():
    payload = request.json
    # Process the webhook payload
    print(f"Received webhook: {payload}")
    return '', 200

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(port=5000)

Best Practices

Remember to:

Respect rate limits (ConnectWise isn't shy about throttling)
Cache frequently accessed data
Keep your API credentials secure (use environment variables!)

Testing and Debugging

Always test your functions:

def test_get_companies():
    companies = get_companies()
    assert len(companies) > 0, "No companies returned"

# Run your tests
test_get_companies()

And don't forget to log, log, log!

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've just built a ConnectWise Manage API integration in Python. From here, you can expand on this foundation to create more complex integrations. The sky's the limit!

Additional Resources

Now go forth and integrate! And remember, if you get stuck, the ConnectWise community is always here to help. Happy coding!