Step by Step Guide to Building a WP All Export Pro API Integration in C#

Hey there, fellow developer! Ready to supercharge your WordPress data management with some C# magic? Let's dive into building a robust integration with the WP All Export Pro API. This guide assumes you're already familiar with C# and have a basic understanding of APIs. We'll keep things concise and focused on the good stuff.

Prerequisites

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

• Visual Studio or your favorite C# IDE
• .NET Core 3.1 or later
• A WP All Export Pro license and API key

Got all that? Great! Let's get coding.

Setting Up the Project

First things first, create a new C# console application. Then, grab the necessary NuGet packages:

Install-Package Newtonsoft.Json
Install-Package RestSharp

These will make our lives easier when dealing with JSON and HTTP requests.

Establishing API Connection

Let's start by creating a simple client to connect to the API:

using RestSharp;
using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;

public class WPAllExportClient
{
    private readonly RestClient _client;
    private readonly string _apiKey;

    public WPAllExportClient(string apiKey)
    {
        _client = new RestClient("https://your-wordpress-site.com/wp-json/wpae/v1");
        _apiKey = apiKey;
    }

    // We'll add more methods here soon!
}

Implementing Core Functionality

Now, let's add some methods to our client to interact with the API:

public JObject GetExportJobs()
{
    var request = new RestRequest("export_jobs", Method.GET);
    request.AddHeader("X-WPAE-API-KEY", _apiKey);
    var response = _client.Execute(request);
    return JObject.Parse(response.Content);
}

public JObject CreateExportJob(string name, string postType)
{
    var request = new RestRequest("export_jobs", Method.POST);
    request.AddHeader("X-WPAE-API-KEY", _apiKey);
    request.AddJsonBody(new { name, post_type = postType });
    var response = _client.Execute(request);
    return JObject.Parse(response.Content);
}

public JObject StartExportJob(int jobId)
{
    var request = new RestRequest($"export_jobs/{jobId}/start", Method.POST);
    request.AddHeader("X-WPAE-API-KEY", _apiKey);
    var response = _client.Execute(request);
    return JObject.Parse(response.Content);
}

public JObject CheckExportJobStatus(int jobId)
{
    var request = new RestRequest($"export_jobs/{jobId}", Method.GET);
    request.AddHeader("X-WPAE-API-KEY", _apiKey);
    var response = _client.Execute(request);
    return JObject.Parse(response.Content);
}

public void DownloadExportResults(int jobId, string filePath)
{
    var request = new RestRequest($"export_jobs/{jobId}/download", Method.GET);
    request.AddHeader("X-WPAE-API-KEY", _apiKey);
    var response = _client.DownloadData(request);
    File.WriteAllBytes(filePath, response);
}

Error Handling and Best Practices

Don't forget to wrap your API calls in try-catch blocks and handle rate limiting:

try
{
    // API call here
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Oops! Something went wrong: {ex.Message}");
}

For rate limiting, consider implementing a simple delay between requests:

await Task.Delay(1000); // Wait 1 second between requests

Example Usage

Here's a quick example of how to use our shiny new client:

var client = new WPAllExportClient("your-api-key-here");

// Create a new export job
var newJob = client.CreateExportJob("My Awesome Export", "post");
int jobId = newJob["id"].Value<int>();

// Start the export job
client.StartExportJob(jobId);

// Check status until complete
JObject status;
do
{
    await Task.Delay(5000); // Wait 5 seconds between checks
    status = client.CheckExportJobStatus(jobId);
} while (status["status"].Value<string>() != "completed");

// Download the results
client.DownloadExportResults(jobId, "export_results.csv");

Testing and Validation

Always test your integration thoroughly. Check for edge cases like empty responses or network errors. Validate the data you're receiving to ensure it matches your expectations.

Optimization Techniques

To make your integration even snappier, consider using asynchronous methods and implementing a caching strategy for frequently accessed data.

Wrapping Up

And there you have it! You've just built a solid integration with the WP All Export Pro API using C#. This is just the beginning – feel free to expand on this foundation and tailor it to your specific needs.

Remember, the official API documentation is your best friend for diving deeper into what's possible. And don't hesitate to reach out to the WP All Export Pro community if you hit any snags.

Now go forth and export with confidence! Happy coding! 🚀