NetSuite API Essential Guide

What type of API does NetSuite provide?

NetSuite offers two main types of APIs for external integration:

1. SOAP API
2. REST API

SOAP API

• This is the older and more established API
• It is considered more reliable and feature-complete compared to the REST API
• Supports most standard entities like Customer, SalesOrder, Employee, etc.
• Supports Saved Searches and File Cabinet operations
• Uses XML for data exchange
• Has good documentation and community support
• There is a Java SDK available for the SOAP API

REST API

• This is the newer API but is still considered to be in beta for many endpoints
• Many important endpoints like /account, /customer are still in beta
• Lacks some features compared to SOAP, like multiple-shipping routes for sales orders
• Uses JSON for data exchange
• Has some issues with basic operations like getting data and creating new records
• Supports SuiteQL queries, which is not available in SOAP

Key Considerations

• The SOAP API is generally recommended over REST for most use cases due to its stability and feature completeness
• REST API might be preferred if you need to use SuiteQL or retrieve custom field metadata dynamically
• Custom Restlets can be used to overcome limitations of both SOAP and REST APIs

Conclusion

For reading customer and invoice data, which seems to be your primary requirement, the SOAP API would likely be the better choice due to its reliability and support for these standard entities. However, if you have specific needs that are only supported by the REST API, you may need to evaluate the trade-offs carefully.

Does the NetSuite API have webhooks?

Based on the search results, it appears that the official NetSuite API does not have built-in webhook functionality. However, there are some key points to consider regarding integrating webhooks with NetSuite:

1. NetSuite does not have native webhook support, but you can create custom endpoints to receive webhook data.

2. To integrate webhooks with NetSuite, you typically need to create a RESTlet or Suitelet script that can act as an endpoint to receive webhook data.

3. Authentication is required for external services to call NetSuite endpoints. This presents a challenge when setting up webhooks from external systems like DocuSign.

4. One approach to handle authentication is to implement a middleware service that can receive webhook calls from external systems and then make authenticated calls to NetSuite.

5. For the specific case of DocuSign integration, you would need to:

   • Create a RESTlet or Suitelet in NetSuite to process the DocuSign webhook data
   • Set up authentication for the NetSuite endpoint
   • Configure the DocuSign webhook to call your NetSuite endpoint with proper authentication

6. Since NetSuite requires authentication for incoming requests, you may need to explore options like:

   • Using a middleware service to handle authentication
   • Implementing OAuth or other authentication methods in your NetSuite script
   • Working with DocuSign's webhook configuration options to include authentication headers

7. The exact implementation details would depend on NetSuite's and DocuSign's specific capabilities and limitations.

In summary, while NetSuite does not have native webhook support, you can create custom solutions to receive webhook data. The main challenge is handling the authentication requirements for external systems to call NetSuite endpoints. A middleware approach or careful configuration of both NetSuite and the external system (like DocuSign) is often needed to successfully implement webhooks with NetSuite.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Here are the key points about the API Rate Limits for the NetSuite API:

Request Limits

• The API returns a maximum of 1,000 objects per request [1].
• The API accepts a maximum of 1,000 objects as arguments per request [1].
• For REST API, you can add or modify only one object per request, and delete up to 100 or 1,000 objects depending on the object type [1].

Frequency Limits

• There is a maximum number of requests allowed within a 24-hour window for each company's OpenAir account [1].
• There is also a maximum number of requests allowed within a 60-second window [1].
• The exact limits are not specified in the search results, but they are set on a per-account basis.

Concurrency Limits

• There are user-level and account-level concurrency limits [4].
• User-level limits define the maximum concurrent requests per user for specific authentication methods and APIs [4].
• Account-level limits apply to the combined total of SOAP Web Services and RESTlet requests per account [4].
• The account-level limit is based on the service tier, number of SuiteCloud Plus (SC+) licenses, and account type [4].

Error Handling

• If frequency limits are exceeded, different APIs return different error codes:
  • XML API returns error code 556 [1]
  • SOAP API returns a 403 Access denied error [1]
  • REST API returns a 429 Too Many Requests error [1]

Best Practices

• Use pagination to retrieve lists of more than 1,000 objects [1].
• Batch operations into each API call and avoid making API calls within a loop [1].
• Monitor your API usage using the Administration > Global Settings > Account > API Limits page in OpenAir [1].
• Use the XML API to read the number of requests remaining within the current 24-hour window [1].

Additional Notes

• The specific limits can vary based on your NetSuite account type and configuration.
• It's recommended to contact NetSuite support or consult your account-specific documentation for the exact limits applicable to your account.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results, the most recent version of the NetSuite API appears to be 2024.1. Here are the key points:

1. The direct answer to the question is that the latest NetSuite API version is 2024.1, as indicated by the "NetSuite 2024.1 Release Notes" mentioned in the search results.

2. NetSuite versions and WSDL (Web Services Description Language) versions follow the same naming convention. For example, NetSuite version 2024.1 would have a corresponding WSDL version v2024_1.

3. The WSDL version that accompanies a NetSuite release typically incorporates much of the new functionality offered in the NetSuite upgrade, including new operations or records to support NetSuite enhancements.

4. It's important to note that when your NetSuite account is upgraded, you are not required to upgrade your WSDL to the supporting NetSuite version. You can continue using an older WSDL version with a newer NetSuite account.

5. With each new release of NetSuite (and new WSDL version), it's recommended to read the relevant portions of the Sneak Peeks and Release Notes that come with the release. These documents list all of the new functionality and any schema bug fixes offered in the latest WSDL.

6. The naming convention for WSDL URLs typically includes the major version (e.g., v2024_1) and may also include a minor or patch version (e.g., _0).

Best practice: When working with the NetSuite API, it's advisable to use the most recent version available to take advantage of the latest features and improvements. However, always consider compatibility with your existing integrations and thoroughly test any upgrades before implementing them in a production environment.

How to get a NetSuite developer account and API Keys?

Here is the rewritten section on how to get a NetSuite developer account and API keys, without any extra content:

Options for Getting Development Access

• NetSuite now offers 3 development accounts per customer that can be used as dev accounts.
• To get development access, you need to open an account through Oracle and obtain proper licensing and permissions.
• Individual NetSuite accounts can be costly, typically around $10,000 or more for an organization.

Key Considerations

• Setting up a NetSuite integration is more complex compared to other accounting platforms.
• You'll need to enable mandatory features, generate an integration record, select authentication methods, choose APIs, and obtain client credentials.
• A NetSuite development account provides an isolated environment to test integrations without impacting production data.
• Oracle recommends setting up a development account at the start of a new project.

Alternative Options

• Some companies like Codat offer pre-configured integration records and bundles to simplify the setup process.
• Consider using services that provide NetSuite integration capabilities if building your own is too costly or complex.

What can you do with the NetSuite API?

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Customer Data Model

• Create new customer records
• Retrieve customer information
• Update existing customer details
• Delete customer records

Sales Order Data Model

• Create new sales orders
• Retrieve sales order information
• Update existing sales orders
• Delete sales orders

Inventory Data Model

• Update inventory levels
• Retrieve current inventory information
• Create new inventory items
• Delete inventory items

Financial Data Model

• Generate financial reports
• Create and post journal entries
• Retrieve financial transaction details
• Update financial records

Vendor Data Model

• Create new vendor records
• Retrieve vendor information
• Update existing vendor details
• Delete vendor records

Employee Data Model

• Create new employee records
• Retrieve employee information
• Update employee details
• Manage employee roles and permissions

Item Data Model

• Create new item records
• Retrieve item information
• Update item details
• Delete item records

Transaction Data Model

• Create various types of transactions (e.g., invoices, bills)
• Retrieve transaction details
• Update transaction information
• Void or delete transactions

Custom Record Data Model

• Create custom record types
• Add, retrieve, update, and delete custom record instances
• Define and modify custom fields

Saved Search Data Model

• Execute saved searches
• Retrieve search results
• Create and modify saved searches

Workflow Data Model

• Trigger workflow actions
• Retrieve workflow status
• Update workflow states

Project Management Data Model

• Create and manage projects
• Track project tasks and milestones
• Update project status and details

Key Points to Consider:

• Both REST and SOAP APIs are available for interacting with these data models
• The REST API is currently in beta but offers modern and flexible integration options
• The SOAP API (SuiteTalk) is more mature and offers extensive functionality for complex operations
• Proper authentication and authorization are required to access these data models through the API
• The NetSuite Schema Browser can be used to explore the relationships between different record types

Best Practices:

• Use the appropriate API (REST or SOAP) based on your integration needs and complexity
• Leverage the NetSuite API documentation and tutorials for detailed guidance
• Implement proper error handling and follow security best practices when working with the API
• Optimize API usage by understanding the available endpoints and their capabilities
• Utilize the REST API Browser for exploring and understanding the API structure