Step by Step Guide to Building a PandaDoc API Integration in JS

Introduction

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to supercharge your document workflows? Let's dive into integrating the PandaDoc API using the nifty pandadoc package. This powerhouse combo will have you creating, sending, and managing documents like a pro in no time.

Prerequisites

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

• Node.js and npm (you're a pro, so I'm sure you do)
• A PandaDoc API key (grab one from your PandaDoc account)
• Your JavaScript skills and async/await knowledge at the ready

Setting up the project

Let's get this show on the road:

mkdir pandadoc-integration && cd pandadoc-integration
npm init -y
npm install pandadoc

Configuring the PandaDoc client

Time to bring in the big guns:

const PandaDoc = require('pandadoc');

const apiKey = 'your-api-key-here';
const client = new PandaDoc({ apiKey });

Basic API operations

List templates

Let's see what templates we've got to work with:

async function listTemplates() {
  const templates = await client.templates.list();
  console.log(templates);
}

Create a document from a template

Now, let's make some magic happen:

async function createDocument(templateId, name, recipientEmail) {
  const document = await client.documents.create({
    name,
    template_uuid: templateId,
    recipients: [{ email: recipientEmail, role: 'signer' }],
  });
  console.log(`Document created: ${document.id}`);
}

Send a document for signing

Time to get those signatures:

async function sendDocument(documentId) {
  await client.documents.send(documentId);
  console.log(`Document ${documentId} sent for signing!`);
}

Handling webhooks

Let's stay in the loop with webhooks:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.post('/webhook', express.json(), (req, res) => {
  const event = req.body;
  console.log(`Received event: ${event.event_type}`);
  // Handle the event based on event_type
  res.sendStatus(200);
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Webhook server running on port 3000'));

Error handling and best practices

Always be prepared:

async function safeApiCall(apiFunction) {
  try {
    return await apiFunction();
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(`API call failed: ${error.message}`);
    // Handle rate limiting, retry logic, etc.
  }
}

Advanced usage

Want to level up? Try these:

// Custom document creation
const customDoc = await client.documents.create({
  name: 'Custom Contract',
  content_url: 'https://your-server.com/custom-template.html',
  recipients: [{ email: '[email protected]', role: 'signer' }],
});

// Document merging
const mergedDoc = await client.documents.merge([documentId1, documentId2]);

// Bulk operations
const bulkCreateResults = await Promise.all(
  documentsData.map(data => client.documents.create(data))
);

Testing the integration

Don't forget to test! Here's a quick example using Jest:

jest.mock('pandadoc');

test('creates a document', async () => {
  const mockCreate = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({ id: 'doc123' });
  PandaDoc.mockImplementation(() => ({
    documents: { create: mockCreate },
  }));

  await createDocument('template123', 'Test Doc', '[email protected]');
  expect(mockCreate).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
    template_uuid: 'template123',
  }));
});

Conclusion

And there you have it! You're now armed and ready to integrate PandaDoc into your JavaScript projects like a boss. Remember, this is just scratching the surface – the PandaDoc API has tons more features to explore.

Keep experimenting, stay curious, and happy coding! If you need more info, the PandaDoc API docs are your new best friend. Now go forth and automate those documents!