Suitelet Basics: Introduction to Building Custom Integrations in NetSuite

Suitelets are a powerful tool within the NetSuite platform that allow developers to create custom user interfaces and server-side scripts. Suitelets extend the capabilities of NetSuite by providing a way to interact with external systems, collect input, display data, or create custom processes that aren’t available through standard NetSuite functionality.

In this article, we’ll explore the fundamentals of Suitelet architecture, their common use cases, and the process for building a basic Suitelet for data integration. Additionally, we’ll walk through a hands-on example of developing a simple Suitelet to expose NetSuite data.

1. Overview of Suitelet Architecture and Use Cases

Suitelets are server-side scripts that allow you to build custom endpoints and applications within NetSuite. They can be used to display HTML pages, interact with user inputs, generate PDF documents, or serve as endpoints for third-party applications. Suitelets provide a high degree of customization and are well-suited for use cases such as:

• Custom User Interfaces: Creating pages that collect data from users or display information in a specific way.
• Data Integration: Acting as an integration layer to exchange data with external systems, allowing seamless communication.
• Custom Process Automation: Implementing workflows that require more control than what NetSuite’s standard functionality provides.

Suitelets can be accessed either internally, through the NetSuite UI, or externally, via a publicly accessible URL, making them flexible tools for both internal and external use.

2. Building a Basic Suitelet for Data Integration

Building a Suitelet involves defining a script that runs in the NetSuite environment. Suitelets can handle both GET and POST requests, allowing developers to manage incoming data and return appropriate responses.

To create a basic Suitelet for data integration:

1. Define the Suitelet: Using SuiteScript 2.0, you create a script file that includes a onRequest function to handle incoming requests.
2. Add Logic for Data Handling: Based on the request type, the Suitelet can either display a form to the user or interact with NetSuite records for data integration.
3. Deploy the Suitelet: Deploy the script in NetSuite, configure the deployment settings, and determine whether it should be available internally, externally, or both.

3. Hands-on: Develop a Simple Suitelet to Expose NetSuite Data

Let’s develop a simple Suitelet that exposes data from NetSuite. For this example, we’ll create a Suitelet that returns a list of customers in JSON format.

• Step 1: Create a new script file in SuiteScript 2.0 and define the Suitelet module.
• Step 2: In the onRequest function, use NetSuite’s search module to retrieve a list of customer records.
• Step 3: Format the retrieved data as JSON and send it as the response.

Here’s a basic snippet of what the code might look like:

/**
 * @NApiVersion 2.x
 * @NScriptType Suitelet
 */
define(['N/search'], function(search) {
    function onRequest(context) {
        if (context.request.method === 'GET') {
            let customerSearch = search.create({
                type: search.Type.CUSTOMER,
                columns: ['entityid', 'email']
            });
            let results = [];
            customerSearch.run().each(function(result) {
                results.push({
                    id: result.id,
                    name: result.getValue('entityid'),
                    email: result.getValue('email')
                });
                return true;
            });
            context.response.write(JSON.stringify(results));
        }
    }
    return {
        onRequest: onRequest
    };
});

This Suitelet handles a GET request and responds with a list of customers, which can be used for integration purposes.

4. Resources: Suitelet Documentation

To further explore Suitelets and deepen your understanding, consider the following resources:

• NetSuite SuiteScript 2.0 API Documentation: NetSuite Help Center
• SuiteAnswers: NetSuite’s support site that provides numerous examples and articles on Suitelets.
• NetSuite Developer Network (NSDN): Contains best practices, forums, and additional resources for NetSuite development.

Suitelets offer an incredibly versatile way to extend NetSuite’s capabilities, whether you’re creating user interfaces or building integrations with external systems. By mastering the basics, you can create powerful tools that enhance the functionality of your NetSuite implementation.