README.md

VS-data

This package has been vendored into vs-data-api for simplicity, and is preserved only for reference.

This is a python library that serves as a bridge between inventory management in FileMaker, and order details on vitalseeds.co.uk.

Aims to replace opaque and proprietary FM 'scripts' - specifically where they interact with the WooCommerce/WP website.

Requirements

To connect to Filemaker:

• filemaker database
• fm user configured with all access
• ODBC manager instaleld and configured with a DSN for the db
• Filemaker ODBC driver

To connect to WooCommerce:

• API credentials

Installation

• pip install ...(TBC)
• Set environment variables (these can also be passed as arguments eg when calling from FM)
  • VSDATA_FM_CONNECTION_STRING
  • VSDATA_WC_URL
  • VSDATA_WC_KEY
  • VSDATA_WC_SECRET

Rationale

• FM scripts
  • are quite error prone
  • almost impossible to test and debug
  • have extremely poor documentation
  • have very limited and costly external support
• python scripts can
  • make use of robust third party libraries such as WooCommerce
  • be version controlled
  • use automated testing
  • be edited and searched as text, ie with a full featured code editor like VScode
  • be much more performant
  • be iterated and improved more simply