The Launch External URL callout gives clients and developers a platform to extend the functionality of Concur providing a means to deliver custom user interactions, or access functionality found in an external system. The client can arrange to add an Expense Entry form field that is configured to use the Launch External URL callout to a Concur Expense Entry form. Concur Expense will display this field with an attached button that launches a separate window when clicked. The window is controlled by an application connector, created by a third-party developer, the client, or Concur. The application connector is a web server that presents information in the window.
The application connector can access Concur data through the web services, or can access data in an external system. Once the user has completed their actions in the window (such as performing a search or completing a wizard), he/she clicks a button such as “Done” that indicates the user has concluded their work in the window. The application connector then closes the window.
The application connector can use web services to send information to Concur to update field values on the expense entry form or other form types. The application connector may send the updates before or after the user closes the window. When the user returns to Concur, the page refreshes and he/she sees the updated values.
This callout differs from the standard Concur web services in the following ways:
This callout is not supported in the Concur mobile application.
Concur products are highly configurable, and not all clients will have access to all features.
Partner developers must determine which configurations are required for their solution prior to the review process.
Existing clients can work with Concur Advantage Technical Services to create custom applications that work with their configuration.
Information on how to download, install, and configure the application connector is included in Callouts and Application Connectors.
The configuration process has the following steps:
Once the configuration is complete, the callout uses the following process:
Concur will make calls to the application connector’s endpoint using SSL. During configuration, Concur will connect to the application connector to validate that its hostname and access credentials are valid.
In the code Concur provides for a sample application connector, credentials are stored in a web configuration file that varies by platform, such as web.xml or web.config. However, if you are hosting the connector, you can customize where and how the credentials are stored by customizing HTTPBasicAuth.java or Authentication.cs.
Expense will not be able to connect to the application connector until a certificate signed by a Certificate Authority (CA) is installed in the application connector. You will need to install the signed certificate before Concur can access the connector.
Concur sends requests to the application connector using anonymous authorization (no username and password are provided) over HTTPS.
The application connector can validate the authenticity of the query by generating a signature hash from the provided variables and comparing it with the passed in values, including the signature hash that Concur supplies. Two of the required variables for the signature hash are username and password, which are entered in Concur on the Register Application Connector page in Web Services under Administration. The application connector must use the same username and password pair to generate it’s validation signature hash.
An Expense text form field must be configured as the Launch URL control type and the form field must be added to the desired form before this callout can be used. The Launch URL control type will not appear in the list until a partner application using the Launch External URL API has been registered and enabled for the company. The administrator must select either a single-line or a multi-line control type, depending on the data that will be placed in the field.
Notes:
Refer to the HTTP Codes page for details of the common responses and errors.