#Rob.Clayton
inner python
Hi, I'd recommend that you have one account and just toggle between live and test as it makes things much easier. No confusion in mixing up API keys and account settings etc.
stuck bridge
That isn't good for our testing, however, because once we are in production we can't go to test mode, really
inner python
What do you mean that you can't 'go back to test mode'?
stuck bridge
I assume that if test mode is enabled, all the product functionality is put on hold?
inner python
No, you can toggle between live and test mode using the test/mode API keys: https://stripe.com/docs/keys
stuck bridge
ahhh, i see
I'll look into that
Another question ... I'm working on invoicing.
We dont' want to automatically deduct payment from the customer, so I'm looking at automated invoices sent to the customer.
Is there a way to configure the templates for the email and the pdf and payment link?
Ah, I see we can include whether there is a link to the default payment page in the test invoice page ...
Can we configure that default payment link if required?
inner python
Can you share what document you're looking at here?
stuck bridge
of course 🙂
hang on...
When I create this test, it was automatically "paid" because the due amount was $0
Is there a way to simulate an outstanding amount so the email with the payment link is generated?
Even if it can't actually be paid in test mode
inner python
You can use our test cards, https://stripe.com/docs/testing#cards-responses.
stuck bridge
but can I configure the test invoice to have a charge > 0 ?
Apologies for these questions, I'm leading the delivery of Stripe for our company
I've created code that exports our customers and existing subscriptions into Stripe, and webhooks for changes to subscriptions, but I'm looking ahead to us charging, and also for self serve
So I'm just trying to create a "round trip" of testing.
I create the data, and then I want to simulate a customer's subscription coming up for expiry, and us sending them an email with payment information.
we're basically confirmed we are using Stripe, but I do need to validate the e2e for my boss.
inner python
Why would you want to charge a negative amount?
stuck bridge
I didn't make myself clear.
Sorry, I want to simulate an invoice that is for an amount that will generate a payment link in my test email
ah, I just had to add an item to the test invoice 🙂
now there is a payment link
inner python
You should be able to create an invoice with any amount greater than 0, then specify the collection mention: https://stripe.com/docs/api/invoices/create#create_invoice-collection_method to send_invoice. This will generate the invoice hosted page for your customer to make the payment. You can also play with this settings, https://dashboard.stripe.com/settings/billing/invoice to add a 'default memo' for instance. You can then use your Dashboard to locate this customer's invoice and find the hosted URL.
The tricky part is that Stripe does not send emails in test mode.
But you can fund the link in the Dashboard
stuck bridge
Can we put data tags in areas such as the "memo" to embed our own payment link if we want to, with customer id linked in, for instance?
inner python
You can pass in a metadata: https://stripe.com/docs/api/invoices/create#create_invoice-metadata when you create the invoice. The metadata takes in key values pairs and it's attached to the invoice object. To learn more about metadata, you can visit here: https://stripe.com/docs/api/metadata
wooden geyserBOT
stuck bridge
can the meta data be inserted into the template ala moustache style?
unborn badger
i'm afraid i'm not familiar with what you're referring to?
stuck bridge
oh, sorry, I mean can I say Dear customer {meta_data_key}, go to this link {meta_data_url_key}
unborn badger
no that's not possible.
stuck bridge
So if I don't show the stripe hosted payment link, I'd need to insert a standard link without any embedded targetted key values, for instance?
unborn badger
a standard link to....?
stuck bridge
A custom version of the "Pay this invoice" link
unborn badger
generally, you would have created the Invoice with a metadata
stuck bridge
I guess I need to investigate how the metadata works in this area
I've been attaching metadata to our objects, but don't know how they apply in this scenario
stuck bridge
generally, you would have created the Invoice with a metadata
Where would we configure this?
stuck bridge
That's for manual creation, but I'm looking at the automated invoice creation (by default 7 days before renewal due)
unborn badger
you can add metadata to almost all objects. it sounds like you have a Subscription. When you create it, you can add it in : https://stripe.com/docs/api/subscriptions/create#create_subscription-metadata
It will show in the Subscription's Invoice line items : https://stripe.com/docs/api/invoices/line_item#invoice_line_item_object-metadata
stuck bridge
Right ... but can I utilize that data in the standard invoice generated by Stripe (by default 7 days before subscription is due)?