Upload batches of expenses from a spreadsheet

Using the API is a great idea - and I'm some of the way there. However, I am a bit stuck with 500 server errors - so a bit of assistance would be appreciated. When I've worked out how to do this, I'm happy to upload a full description for those that would like to do the same.

Warning: my brain is hurting. If you're not technically minded, stop reading now.

I'm using CURL. This runs in Terminal in OSX on a Mac but it also works on the Command Line within Windows. See http://curl.haxx.se/

I started by interrogating my company data using the following syntax (I've replaced "email" and "password" and "mycompany" with my relevant values)

curl -i -u 'emai:password' -H 'Accept: application/xml' -H 'Content-Type: application/xml' 'https://mycompany.freeagentcentral.com/invoices'

This lists all invoices in XML.To do other things, you just need to replace the url at the end. Using:

'https://mycompany.freeagentcentral.com/users'

gives me a list of users. Within the XML there is an ID field for each user. Using this ID number (mine is 4647) I can the replace the URL with this:

'https://mycompany.freeagentcentral.com/users/4647/expenses?view=all'

This downloads all my expenses. (The "?view=alll" bit at the end took me a while to figure out.) If I just want a single expense, I can look once again at the XML and find the ID for the expense. For instance, finding on that has the ID 12345 then I can use:

'https://mycompany.freeagentcentral.com/users/4647/expenses/12345'

to view the details. So far, so good. Now for the tricky bit - POSTing new expense entries.

I've tried three things here, just to upload one test expense. None of the things which I've tried is working - all of them are giving me a 500 error.

1) I used several -d options within the curl command line (I've spread this over several lines to make it easier to read):

-d expense-description='Travel'
-d dated-on='2008-01-09'
-d description='test expense'
-d gross-value=15
'https://mycompany.freeagentcentral.com/users/4647/expenses'

2) I put the expenses into a file called new_expenses.txt which contains the text:

dated-on=2008-01-09&description=test%20expense&expense-type=Travel&gross-value=15

and use

-d @new_expenses.txt

3) I put the expenses into and XML file which contained the text:

<expense>
<dated-on>2008-01-09T00:00:00Z</dated-on>
<description>Test expense</description>
<expense-type>Travel</expense-type>
<gross-value>-15</gross-value>
</expense>

and used the -T option in curl to upload this to the server.

I'm clearly missing something here. Any suggestions/hints gratefully received.

Cheers

DJ

RIGHT. Sorry about this - I'm sure these posts should go on the API user group on google - but while I'm here, I should just say that I worked it out:

Method 3 (above) - the XML file - and the following command:

curl -u 'email:password' -H 'Accept: application/xml' -H 'Content-Type: application/xml' -d @new_expenses.txt -X POST 'https://mycompany.freeagentcentral.com/users/4647/expenses' -i -v

I can write this up for mac users. I may need some help converting this for windows users.

DJ

For what it's worth, I've now done this - and have several hundred expenses uploaded. I need a holiday - but it is possible. At least on a Mac. Anyone who would like some encouragement is welcome to ask