API Introduction
About the API
The CATS API (Application Programming Interface) allows for programmatic retrieval and manipulation of CATS data.
API requests are sent over HTTP 1.1 and can be accessed by just about any programming language or
platform—or even without a programming language simply by typing a URL string into your
browser.
Accessing your data
API requests use a "transaction code" instead of your CATS username and password.
Transaction codes are generated by the site administrator and serve as a password along with the company ID which
serves as a username. Transaction codes should be kept secret!
There is little difference between a CATS user and a CATS API user. When the CATS API performs an action
such as adding a record, the notes explaining who performed that action will be linked to that user.
Permissions also work the same, although read-only users are not allowed to
access API functions.
Creating a transaction code
Create and manage transaction codes from the "Web Services (API)" section of the "User Management" screen in CATS.
Request limits
API requests are limited to 100 per hour per user license. Please contact support if your application needs to make
requests exceeding this limit.
Getting help
The CATS API Google Group
is a great place to ask questions and find answers.
Public Libraries
Download a library in your development language to speed up implementation. Make direct
calls to CATS API functions in your language of choice. These libraries are automatically
updated when additional functions are available.