Testing
Testing Your Order XML
Testing is an important part of the integration process, regardless of whether you are using the ezp Builder, the ezp Builder + ezp Commerce, or just doing an Web Service Integration. It is important to ensure that any bugs are found before your customers start to place live orders. Your account will not be activated for live orders until the testing process is complete.
If you are not using the ezp Commerce module, you will post order XML to ezprints, as is described in previous sections. The first phase of testing will involve testing the XML you've generated to ensure it is valid and meets the ezprints specifications. When testing, please use realistic data in your orders - do not use unrealistic quantities or dollar amounts.
During integration, your account with ezprints is in Test mode, so orders are stored in the ezprints database, but they are not posted to production. While in Test mode, your orders will not be printed or shipped. Because orders are not posted to production, they will not appear in the ezp Partner Portal.
While in Test mode, you can post as many orders as you like. You should post those orders to the production URLs mentioned in the
Posting URLs section. Remember that when posting to the production URLs, you will receive a reference number in response to your posts. Partners should build retry logic based on the receipt of that reference number. In other words, if you received the reference number in response to your post, we received the order. If you didn't receive the reference number, we have no record of your order and you will need to repost it.
When you are comfortable with your XML posts, email your Integration Manager with the ezp reference number from one of your orders. Your Integration Manager will find your order in the database and post it to production, checking for any necessary tweaks to the order XML.
Testing Checklist
Although your Integration Manager will work with you on each phase of the testing process, the following checklists are provided as a guide. Each item should be completed prior to launch.
XML Testing:
- Post many test orders to the EZP production URLs while your account is in Test mode. Ensure that you receive a reference number in response to your posts
- Email your Integration Manager with one of the reference numbers you received in response to your order post. Your Integration Manager will suggest any XML tweaks, if necessary.
- Your Integration Manager will manually post one of your orders to production. Ensure that the images used in the order are retrieved by the ezprints asset collector service. Ensure that you can see the order in the ezprints partner portal. Ask your Integration Manager if you do not have access to this portal.
If you are using the ezp event notifications (optional), you should conduct the event notification tests below. These can be done after your Integration Manager places your accont in Live mode, or it can be done by asking your Integration Manager to manually post one of your orders to production.
- Accepted, AssetsCollected, and InProduction notification. Place one order to test these notifications. The Accepted notification will be posted to you about 2-20 minutes after the order is posted. The AssetsCollected notification will be posted to you about 10 to 120 minutes after the order is posted. The InProduction notification will be posted to you about 2-24 hours after the order is posted. Ensure that you receive and properly respond to each of these notifications.
- Shipment notification. Either the order used to test the first set of notifications or a new order can be used to test the Shipment notification. This is posted to you when each part of an order (for an order that splits and ships separately) is scanned out at our shipping station.
- CompleteShipment notification. This notification is posted to you when all parts of order have been scanned out at our shipping station.
- Canceled notification. This notification is posted to you when the order is cancelled from within the partner portal - you can do this by accessing a newly placed order through the partner portal and then requesting a cancellation. This notification should be posted to you within minutes.
- Failed to unmarshal notification. Post an order with an invalid state code, e.g. 'GF'. You should receive a notification within minutes that the order failed.
End to End testing. This is defined as a user entering an order on your website or application (e.g. as your customer would do) and ensuring the order flows to us from your website or application as it would for a live order, without special intervention on your side or on our side. This will need to be done after your Integration Manager has placed your account in Live mode. The order is produced and shipped to the address on the order. You will receive this order to inspect for product quality and packaging quality.
- Submit a single order that contains one of each product family that you will offer on your site. For example, if you plan to offer all types of mugs on your site, you will need to place an order that contains at least one mug. But you do not need to place an order for an 11oz white mug, an 11oz black mug, a 15oz mug, etc. Each orderline should use a different image. Ship this order to your QA representative for review. As a second example, if you are offering the prints and canvas product families, you could submit a test order for one 4x6 print and one 11x14 canvas. If you wish to see multiple finishes, sizes, or specific items from the same product family, you may also order those; our minimum requirement for this test is one product per family.
Testing Costs
Testing is an important part of the integration process, so ezprints encourages thorough testing without charging partners for products. However, as some ezprints products are expensive to produce, we cannot offer unlimited product tests. Work with your Integration Manager and/or your Account Manager to determine the appropriate amount of test orders needed.