PandaDoc API Essential Guide

What type of API does PandaDoc provide?

PandaDoc utilizes a REST API. Here are the key points about PandaDoc's API:

API Type

PandaDoc has a REST API. Their API documentation states:

"PandaDoc API is organized around REST. Our API has predictable resource-oriented URLs and uses standard HTTP response codes, authentication, and verbs."

Key Characteristics

• Uses predictable resource-oriented URLs
• Employs standard HTTP response codes
• Utilizes standard HTTP authentication methods
• Uses standard HTTP verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.)

Authentication

PandaDoc's API supports two authentication methods:

1. API Key Authentication
2. OAuth 2.0 Authentication

Getting Started

• Developers can start testing the API with a sandbox key on PandaDoc's Enterprise plan
• A sandbox key with predefined rate limits can be generated on the Developer Dashboard
• The full list of available features is provided in the Feature Overview section of their documentation

Best Practices

• PandaDoc recommends reviewing their getting started guides for specific features like creating from templates, uploading and sending local PDFs, or listening for changes in document status
• They also suggest exploring their dynamic content generation capabilities

In summary, PandaDoc offers a standard REST API, which is widely used and well-supported in the industry. This choice allows for easy integration with a variety of systems and programming languages, making it accessible for most developers.

Does the PandaDoc API have webhooks?

Yes, the official PandaDoc API does have webhooks. Here are the key points about PandaDoc's webhooks:

Webhook Availability

PandaDoc offers webhooks as part of their API functionality. Webhooks allow you to receive immediate notifications in your application about the status of PandaDoc documents.

Event Types

While the search results don't provide an exhaustive list of event types, they do mention several events you can subscribe to:

• Document opening: You can set alerts for when a client first opens a document.
• Electronic signing: Notifications can be sent when a document is electronically signed.
• Payment: You can receive alerts when a client sends payment.
• Document status changes: PandaDoc uses webhooks to notify your app of any changes to your document status.

Benefits and Use Cases

1. Automation: Webhooks enable you to automate various tasks in your app based on recipient activity.

2. Efficiency: Webhooks are more streamlined and less resource-intensive compared to polling for updates.

3. Data Access: Webhooks carry structured data about documents, including information about signers, field data, and pricing tables.

4. Workflow Streamlining: You can use webhooks to send reminder emails, automate contract or invoice creation, and perform other actions based on document status changes.

Setup

Setting up webhooks in PandaDoc is described as simple:

1. Log into your PandaDoc account
2. Navigate to the integration page
3. Configure webhooks by setting the endpoint URL, selecting the information to include (JSON payload), and choosing which events to track

PandaDoc provides extensive documentation to guide you through the setup process, and they offer access to a dedicated customer service team for support.

Best Practices

• Use webhooks to receive automatic notifications rather than constantly polling for updates, as this is more efficient and less resource-intensive.
• Take advantage of the structured data provided in webhooks to access and utilize document information effectively in your application.
• Implement proper error handling and retry mechanisms in your webhook endpoint to ensure reliable processing of webhook events.

While the search results don't provide an exhaustive list of all possible webhook events, they indicate that PandaDoc's webhook system is flexible and can be configured to track various document-related events, allowing for extensive automation and integration possibilities.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Based on the provided search results, I can provide information about the API Rate Limits of the PandaDoc API. Here are the key points:

Sandbox Environment Rate Limits

1. In the Sandbox environment, API calls are limited to 10 requests per minute, per endpoint.

2. The Sandbox environment is primarily for testing purposes and comes with certain limitations:

   • Generated PDFs will have watermarks
   • Created documents will have the "[DEV]" prefix by default
   • It's not suitable for production use, as documents created in Sandbox are not legally valid

Production Environment Rate Limits

1. For the Production environment, PandaDoc offers more generous rate limits:

   • Up to 300 documents can be created per minute

2. The exact rate limits for the Production environment are not explicitly stated in the provided search results. It's likely that these limits vary based on the specific Enterprise plan and may be customized for high-volume users.

Key Considerations

• To access Production API keys and higher rate limits, you need to have an Enterprise account.

• PandaDoc API pricing is based on both an Enterprise license fee and transaction volume. Custom quotes are provided based on specific needs.

• For businesses in early stages of development or those unsure about their API call volume needs, PandaDoc offers startup packages with custom pricing.

• If you work with high-transaction volumes, it's recommended to contact PandaDoc's solutions expert for tailored rate limits and pricing.

Best Practices

1. Start with the Sandbox environment to test and evaluate the API before moving to Production.

2. If you anticipate high API usage, reach out to PandaDoc's sales team for a custom Enterprise solution that fits your needs.

3. Be aware of the limitations in the Sandbox environment, especially when testing document generation and signatures.

4. Monitor your API usage to ensure you stay within the allocated limits, especially when moving to Production.

It's important to note that the specific rate limits for Production environments may vary and are not explicitly stated in the provided information. For the most accurate and up-to-date information on API rate limits, especially for Production use, it's recommended to contact PandaDoc directly or consult their most recent documentation.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results provided, I couldn't find a specific mention of the most recent version of the PandaDoc API. However, I can provide you with some relevant information about the PandaDoc API:

API Overview

PandaDoc API is organized around REST principles. It uses standard HTTP response codes, authentication, and verbs. The API provides a broad range of functionality to help developers build document automation experiences within their products.

Key Points to Consider

1. Authentication: The API supports two authentication methods:

   • API Key Authentication
   • OAuth 2.0 Authentication Process

2. Sandbox Environment: Developers can start testing the PandaDoc API with a sandbox key on the Enterprise plan, either active or in trial.

3. Rate Limits: The sandbox key comes with predefined rate limits.

4. Available Features: A full list of available features can be found in the Feature Overview section of the documentation.

API Functionality

The PandaDoc API offers a wide range of endpoints covering various aspects of document management:

• Documents: Create, list, update, delete, and manage documents
• Templates: List, create, and manage templates
• Webhook subscriptions: Manage webhook subscriptions for real-time updates
• Document Attachments: Add, list, and manage attachments to documents
• Product Catalog: Manage catalog items
• User and Workspace management
• Folders: Create and manage document and template folders
• Document Sections (Bundles): Create and manage document sections

Best Practices

1. Start with the sandbox environment to test your integration before moving to production.
2. Utilize the available guides and tutorials to get started with specific features.
3. Consider using the JavaScript SDK (PandaDoc.js) for easier integration in web applications.
4. Implement proper error handling as the API uses standard HTTP response codes.
5. Use webhooks to listen for changes in document status and implement real-time updates in your application.

While I couldn't provide the most recent version number, it's important to note that APIs are often versioned through their endpoints or headers rather than having distinct version numbers. To ensure you're using the most up-to-date API, always refer to the official PandaDoc API documentation for the latest information and any potential changes or updates.

How to get a PandaDoc developer account and API Keys?

To get a developer account for PandaDoc and create an API integration, you can follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a PandaDoc account

First, you need to sign up for a PandaDoc account if you don't already have one. PandaDoc offers a free trial of their Enterprise plan, which includes API access.

2. Access the Developer Dashboard

Once you have a PandaDoc account:

• Log in to your PandaDoc account
• Navigate to the Developer Dashboard
• Generate a sandbox API key

3. Get familiar with the API documentation

PandaDoc provides comprehensive API documentation:

• Visit the PandaDoc Developers website
• Review the API Reference, Guides, and SDK documentation

4. Start testing with the sandbox API key

Use your sandbox API key to start testing the API:

• The sandbox environment allows you to test API functionality without affecting your production data
• There are predefined rate limits for the sandbox environment

5. Implement your integration

Depending on your needs, you can:

• Use the REST API directly
• Utilize the JavaScript SDK for client-side development
• Implement the JavaScript Embed for embedding PandaDoc functionality in your web views

6. Request a production API key

Once you're ready to move to production:

• Contact PandaDoc support or your account manager to request a production API key
• If you work with high transaction volumes, you may need to speak with a solutions expert

What can you do with the PandaDoc API?

Based on the search results provided, here are the key data models you can interact with using the PandaDoc API, along with what is possible for each:

Documents

• Create documents from templates or files
• Upload and send local PDFs
• Add attachments to documents
• Update existing documents
• Delete documents
• Track document status changes
• Get document details

Templates

• Create documents from existing templates
• Manage and update templates

Contacts

• Create new contacts
• Update existing contacts

Folders

• Create new folders to store documents

Electronic Signatures

• Send documents for e-signature
• Track signature status

Webhooks

• Set up webhooks to listen for document status changes and other events

Members

• Get current member details

OAuth

• Authenticate and authorize users
• Manage access tokens

Key capabilities:

• Document creation, management, and tracking
• Template usage and management
• Contact management
• E-signature workflows
• Folder organization
• Webhook integrations
• User authentication and authorization

The PandaDoc API allows you to programmatically interact with most core PandaDoc features related to document workflows, from creation through signing and storage. The API enables automation of document processes and integration with other systems.