Test and go live with Subscriptions

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Last updated: Sept 24th, 5:30pm

You can run negative tests on your integration to manage the responses you give to your customers.

Know before you code

  • Before you trigger a simulation, you'll need to you need to get an access token.
  • Use Postman to explore and test PayPal APIs.

Test flow

Test a transaction to see the subscription created in the merchant account.

Test the transaction as a buyer

  1. Select the PayPal button on the page.

  2. Use the sandbox personal login information from the Developer Dashboard to log in and simulate the buyer making a purchase.

  3. In the Checkout window, notice the purchase amount in the upper right corner. USD is the default currency. You can customize the PayPal JavaScript SDK with different currency codes.

  4. Select the pull-down arrow next to the purchase amount. The subscription details are available for the buyer to review. It should appear similar to the following image: Screenshot,of,subscription,details,in,checkout

  5. Complete the flow.

Confirm funds move from the buyer account

  1. Use the sandbox personal account you used to complete the purchase to log in to https://www.sandbox.paypal.com/myaccount/autopay/connect/. This URL takes you to the automatic payments page in the sandbox personal account.
  2. Confirm the subscription appears in the active automatic payment list. Select the active automatic payment to see the details of the subscription.
  3. Log out of the account.

Confirm funds move to the merchant account

  1. Use the sandbox business account information from the Developer Dashboard to log in to https://www.sandbox.paypal.com/billing/subscriptions. This URL takes you to the subscriptions management page in the sandbox business account.
  2. Confirm the subscription made by the test buyer appears on the Subscriptions tab. Select the subscription to see the details of the subscription.
  3. Log out of the account.

Simulation methods

To trigger a simulation for the Subscriptions API, you can use either a JSON pointer in the request payload or a path parameter in the request URI.

Use a JSON pointer in the request payload

Trigger Test value Simulated error response
plan_id ERRSUB033 NOT_AUTHORIZED

Request

    1curl -X POST \
    2 https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v1/billing/subscriptions \
    3 -H 'Authorization: Bearer <Access Token>'
    4 -d '{
    5 "plan_id": "ERRSUB033",
    6 "start_time": "2020-02-06T15:00:00Z",
    7 "quantity": "1",
    8 "shipping_amount": {
    9 "currency_code": "USD",
    10 "value": "12.00"
    11 },
    12 "subscriber": {
    13 "name": {
    14 "given_name": "John",
    15 "surname": "Doe"
    16 },
    17 "email_address": "customer@example.com",
    18 "shipping_address": {
    19 "name": {
    20 "full_name": "John Doe"
    21 },
    22 "address": {
    23 "address_line_1": "2211 N First Street",
    24 "address_line_2": "Building 17",
    25 "admin_area_2": "San Jose",
    26 "admin_area_1": "CA",
    27 "postal_code": "95131",
    28 "country_code": "US"
    29 }
    30 }
    31 },
    32 "application_context": {
    33 "brand_name": "Walmart Inc",
    34 "locale": "en-US",
    35 "shipping_preference": "SET_PROVIDED_ADDRESS",
    36 "user_action": "SUBSCRIBE_NOW",
    37 "payment_method": {
    38 "payer_selected": "PAYPAL_CREDIT",
    39 "payee_preferred": "IMMEDIATE_PAYMENT_REQUIRED"
    40 },
    41 "return_url": "http://zoho.com/returnUrl",
    42 "cancel_url": "http://zoho.com/cancelUrl"
    43 }
    44 }'

    Response

      1{
      2 "name": "NOT_AUTHORIZED",
      3 "debugId": "b1d1f06c7246c",
      4 "message": "Authorization failed due to insufficient permissions.",
      5 "details": [
      6 {
      7 "issue": "PERMISSION_DENIED",
      8 "description": "You do not have permission to access or perform operations on this resource."
      9 }
      10 ],
      11 "links": [
      12 {
      13 "href": "https://developer.paypal.com/docs/api/v1/billing/subscriptions#PERMISSION_DENIED",
      14 "rel": "information_link",
      15 "method": "GET"
      16 }
      17 ]
      18}

      Use a path parameter in the request URI

      Trigger or test value Simulated error response
      v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB068/activate RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND

      Request

        1curl -X GET \
        2 https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com/v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB068/activate \
        3 -H 'Authorization: Bearer <Access Token>' \
        4 -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
        5 -d '{
        6 "reason": "Reactivating the subscription"
        7 }
        8}'

        Response

          1{
          2 "name": "RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND",
          3 "message": "The specified resource does not exist.",
          4 "debug_id": "c2d1f06c7246c",
          5 "details": [
          6 {
          7 "issue": "INVALID_RESOURCE_ID",
          8 "description": "Requested resource ID was not found",
          9 "value": "I-TT452GLLEP1G"
          10 }
          11 ],
          12 "links": [
          13 {
          14 "href": "https://developer.paypal.com/docs/api/v1/billing/subscriptions#RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND,
          15 "rel": "information_link"
          16 }
          17 ]
          18}

          Test values

          Use the following test values to trigger positive and negative responses for these subscriptions actions:

          Product

          Plan

          Subscription

          Product

          Create product

          Negative response test values

          Use the JSON pointer in the request payload to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/catalogs/products.

          Trigger Test value Simulated error response
          name ERRCAT001 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          name ERRCAT002 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          name ERRCAT003 INVALID_REQUEST
          name ERRCAT004 INVALID_REQUEST
          name ERRCAT005 UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Get product

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at GET /v1/catalogs/products/{test_value}.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/catalogs/products/ERRCAT008 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/catalogs/products/ERRCAT009 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/catalogs/products/ERRCAT010 RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND

          List products

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at GET /v1/billing/plans/?&total_required={test_value}.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/catalogs/products?total_required=ERRCAT006 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/catalogs/products?total_required=ERRCAT007 NOT_AUTHORIZED

          Update product

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at PATCH /v1/catalog/products/{test_value}.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/catalogs/products/ERRCAT011 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/catalogs/products/ERRCAT012 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/catalogs/products/ERRCAT013 INVALID_REQUEST
          /v1/catalogs/products/ERRCAT014 UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Plan

          Create plan

          Negative response test values

          Use the JSON pointer in the request payload to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/plans/.

          Trigger Test value Simulated error response
          name ERRSUB001 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          name ERRSUB002 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          name ERRSUB003 INVALID_REQUEST
          name ERRSUB004 UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Activate plan

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at POST/v1/billing/plans/{test_value}/activate.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB015/activate INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB016/activate NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB017/activate RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB018/activate UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Deactivate plan

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/plans/{test_value}/deactivate.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB019/deactivate INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB020/deactivate NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB021/deactivate RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB022/deactivate UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Get plan

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at GET /v1/billing/plans/{test_value}.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB008 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB009 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB009 RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND

          List plans

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at GET /v1/billing/plans/?page_size=3&page=1&total_required={test_value}.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/plans?page_size=3&page=1&total_required=ERRSUB005 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/plans?page_size=3&page=1&total_required=ERRSUB006 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/plans?page_size=3&page=1&total_required=ERRSUB007 INVALID_REQUEST

          Update plan

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at PATCH /v1/billing/plans/{test_value}.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB011 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB012 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB013 RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB014 INVALID_REQUEST

          Change plan pricing

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/plans/{test_value}/update-pricing-schemes.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB023/update-pricing-schemes INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB024/update-pricing-schemes NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB025/update-pricing-schemes INVALID_REQUEST
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB026/update-pricing-schemes RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB027/update-pricing-schemes UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB028/update-pricing-schemes UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB029/update-pricing-schemes UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB030/update-pricing-schemes UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
          /v1/billing/plans/ERRSUB031/update-pricing-schemes UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Subscription

          Create subscription

          Negative response test values

          Use the JSON pointer in the request payload to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/subscriptions.

          Trigger Test value Simulated error response
          plan_id ERRSUB032 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          plan_id ERRSUB033 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          plan_id ERRSUB034 INVALID_REQUEST
          plan_id ERRSUB035 INVALID_REQUEST
          plan_id ERRSUB036 INVALID_REQUEST
          plan_id ERRSUB037 INVALID_REQUEST
          plan_id ERRSUB038 INVALID_REQUEST
          plan_id ERRSUB039 UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
          plan_id ERRSUB040 UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Activate subscriptions

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/subscriptions/{test_value}/activate.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB066/activate INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB067/activate NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB068/activate RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB069/activate UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB070/activate UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Get subscription

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at GET /v1/billing/subscriptions/{test_value}.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB044 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB045 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB046 RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND

          Update subscription

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at PATCH /v1/billing/subscriptions/{test_value}.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB047 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB048 NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB049 RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB050 INVALID_REQUEST
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB051 UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB052 UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Revise subscription

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/subscriptions/{test_value}/revise.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB053/revise INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB054/revise NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB055/revise INVALID_REQUEST
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB056/revise UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Suspend subscription

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/subscriptions/{test_value}/suspend.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB059/suspend INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB060/suspend NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB061/suspend INVALID_REQUEST
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB062/suspend UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY

          Capture subscription

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/subscriptions/{test_value}/capture.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB071/capture INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB072/capture NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB073/capture RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB074/capture INVALID_REQUEST
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB075/capture INVALID_REQUEST

          Get subscription transaction

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at GET /v1/billing/subscriptions/{test_value}/transactions.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB076/transactions INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB076/transactions NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB076/transactions RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB076/transactions INVALID_REQUEST

          Cancel subscription

          Negative response test values

          Use the path parameter in the request URI method to simulate the following error responses at POST /v1/billing/subscriptions/{test_value}/cancel.

          Trigger or test value Simulated error response
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB063/cancel INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB064/cancel NOT_AUTHORIZED
          /v1/billing/subscriptions/ERRSUB065/cancel RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND

          Error handling

          An error includes:

          • The error name and description.
          • A link to error-related documentation.
          • A debug ID.
          • Error details.

          API errors

          HTTP status code Error name Message Details
          400 INVALID_REQUEST Request is not well-formed, syntactically incorrect, or violates schema. A required field is missing.
          401 AUTHENTICATION_FAILURE Authorization error occurred. Authorization error occurred. Check your credentials.
          403 NOT_AUTHORIZED Authorization failed due to insufficient permissions. You do not have permission to access or perform operations on this resource.
          404 RESOURCE_NOT_FOUND The specified resource does not exist. Requested resource ID was not found.
          422 UNPROCESSABLE_ENTITY The requested action could not be performed, semantically incorrect, or failed business validation. Invalid plan status for activate action; plan status should be either inactive or created.
          500 INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR An internal server error has occurred. Resend the request at another time. If this error continues, contact PayPal Merchant Technical Support.

          Sample error response

            1{
            2 "name": "INVALID_REQUEST",
            3 "message": "Request is not well-formed, syntactically incorrect, or violates schema",
            4 "debug_id": "6u3y6fca61718",
            5 "details": [{
            6 "field": "/plan_id",
            7 "issue": "MISSING_REQUIRED_PARAMETER",
            8 "description": "A required field is missing.",
            9 "location": "body"
            10 }],
            11 "links": [{
            12 "href": "https://developer.paypal.com/docs/api/v2/payments/#INVALID_REQUEST",
            13 "rel": "information_link",
            14 "method": "GET"
            15 }]
            16}

            Go live

            1. Change the base URL for all your REST API calls from https://api-m.sandbox.paypal.com to https://api-m.paypal.com.
            2. Change the references to your sandbox API credentials to the live credentials. To get live API credentials, create a live REST API.

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