Step by Step Guide to Building a DocSend API Integration in C#

Aug 16, 2024 • 6 minute read

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to supercharge your document management game? Let's dive into building a DocSend API integration in C#. DocSend's API is a powerhouse for managing and tracking documents, and we're about to harness that power in our C# applications. Buckle up!

Prerequisites

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

Visual Studio or your favorite C# IDE
.NET Core 3.1 or later
A DocSend account with API access

Don't have a DocSend API key yet? No worries! Head over to your DocSend account settings and grab one. It's your golden ticket to API wonderland.

Setting up the project

Let's get this show on the road:

Fire up Visual Studio and create a new C# Console Application.
Time to beef up our project with some NuGet packages. Open your Package Manager Console and run:

Install-Package Newtonsoft.Json
Install-Package RestSharp

These bad boys will make our API interactions a breeze.

Authentication

Alright, let's get you authenticated and ready to roll:

using RestSharp;
using RestSharp.Authenticators;

var client = new RestClient("https://api.docsend.com/v1/");
client.Authenticator = new HttpBasicAuthenticator("YOUR_API_KEY", "");

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your actual DocSend API key. Easy peasy!

Basic API operations

Now for the fun part - let's interact with the API:

Fetching document list

var request = new RestRequest("documents", Method.GET);
var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
Console.WriteLine(response.Content);

Uploading a document

var request = new RestRequest("documents", Method.POST);
request.AddFile("file", "path/to/your/document.pdf");
var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
Console.WriteLine(response.Content);

Retrieving document details

var request = new RestRequest($"documents/{documentId}", Method.GET);
var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
Console.WriteLine(response.Content);

Advanced features

Ready to level up? Let's tackle some advanced features:

Managing document permissions

var request = new RestRequest($"documents/{documentId}/permissions", Method.POST);
request.AddJsonBody(new { email = "[email protected]", permission = "view" });
var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);

Tracking document views

var request = new RestRequest($"documents/{documentId}/views", Method.GET);
var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
Console.WriteLine(response.Content);

Generating document links

var request = new RestRequest($"documents/{documentId}/links", Method.POST);
var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
Console.WriteLine(response.Content);

Error handling and best practices

Don't let errors catch you off guard. Wrap your API calls in try-catch blocks:

try
{
    var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
    if (response.IsSuccessful)
    {
        // Handle success
    }
    else
    {
        // Handle API errors
        Console.WriteLine($"API Error: {response.ErrorMessage}");
    }
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    // Handle exceptions
    Console.WriteLine($"Exception: {ex.Message}");
}

And remember, play nice with rate limits. Your API key isn't a license to spam!

Testing the integration

Testing is your best friend. Here's a quick unit test to get you started:

[Test]
public async Task TestGetDocuments()
{
    var client = new RestClient("https://api.docsend.com/v1/");
    client.Authenticator = new HttpBasicAuthenticator("YOUR_API_KEY", "");
    var request = new RestRequest("documents", Method.GET);
    var response = await client.ExecuteAsync(request);
    Assert.IsTrue(response.IsSuccessful);
}

Conclusion

And there you have it! You've just built a solid DocSend API integration in C#. From basic operations to advanced features, you're now equipped to manage and track documents like a pro. The possibilities are endless - think automated document workflows, analytics dashboards, or even a custom document management system.

Additional resources

Want to dive deeper? Check out:

Now go forth and build something awesome! Remember, the best way to learn is by doing, so don't be afraid to experiment and push the boundaries of what's possible. Happy coding!