Why can't I open my referral URL?

[JustinMann8]

I have created a small script to generate referral URLs before I continue with the integration. I can successfully make a call to the API with a valid token and get the referral URL(action_url). When I paste the URL in the browser I get a blank screen and when I view the JSON data it tells me this:

I made the API call with a valid token so it is confusing me. How do I add an auth header if this is a link I would just be redirecting a user to? The app I am integrating with is built using the MERN stack.

[MTS_Jennifer]

Hi @JustinMann8 ,

Thank you for posting to the PayPal Merchant Community.

The error you are seeing usually means the incorrect payer-action url is being used.

Before you create the order, make certain that you are getting a valid access_token:

https://developer.paypal.com/api/rest/authentication/

When you create the order, in the response you should see the payer-action link.

This document has an example request and response:

https://developer.paypal.com/docs/api/orders/v2/#orders_create

In the response the payer-action link looks similar to this:

{

    "href": "https://www.paypal.com/checkoutnow?token=5O190127TN364715T",
    "rel": "payer-action",
    "method": "GET"

}

As you can see the link is a checkout now link with a token that is returned to you in the response.

If you are not opening a link that looks like the above, you will see an authentication error.

Thank you,

Jennifer

MTS

PayPal

[JustinMann8]

Hey Jennifer,

Thank you for getting back so quick!

I may have been a little unclear. I am trying to integrate the on boarding process for my app so users can connect their PayPal accounts, not creating orders just yet. Using the partner referral API: https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v2/customer/partner-referrals

It seems I resolved the issue by adding more data in the request body in the initial API request. Could you just confirm that I am on the proper path?

This is the old request:

const createReferal = async () => {
  const paypalApiUrl =
    'https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v2/customer/partner-referrals';

  const requestBody = {
    operations: [{ operation: 'API_INTEGRATION' }],
    legal_consents: [{ type: 'SHARE_DATA_CONSENT', granted: true }],
    products: ['EXPRESS_CHECKOUT'],
  };

  axios
    .post(paypalApiUrl, requestBody, {
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        Authorization: `Bearer {VALID TOKEN GOES HERE}`,
      },
    })
    .then((response) => {
      console.log(response.data);
    })
    .catch((error) => {
      console.log({ error: error.message });
    });
};

 This is the new request:

const createUrl = async () => {
  const paypalApiUrl =
    'https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v2/customer/partner-referrals';

  const requestBody = {
    operations: [
      {
        operation: 'API_INTEGRATION',
        api_integration_preference: {
          rest_api_integration: {
            integration_method: 'PAYPAL',
            integration_type: 'THIRD_PARTY',
            third_party_details: {
              features: ['PAYMENT', 'REFUND'],
            },
          },
        },
      },
    ],
    legal_consents: [{ type: 'SHARE_DATA_CONSENT', granted: true }],
    products: ['EXPRESS_CHECKOUT'],
    web_experience_preference: {
      return_url: 'https://fruntt.com/settings',
    },
  };

  axios
    .post(paypalApiUrl, requestBody, {
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        Authorization: `Bearer {VAlID TOKEN GOES HERE}`,
      },
    })
    .then((response) => {
      console.log(response.data);
    })
    .catch((error) => {
      console.log({ error: error.message });
    });
};