What is SuiteScript in NetSuite? First, let us tell you about NetSuite. NetSuite is a software application companies use to handle different processes of the organization’s activities, including accounting and customer service. It can be compared to one’s virtual toolbox, which has all the sections with all the tools one needs for business. So, if those compartments are not large enough to contain all that is required? That is where SuiteScript comes into play.
NetSuite can perhaps be compared to SuiteScript in that it is a set of special instructions for Netsuite. It’s basically a scripting language; however, in plain English, it can be explained that it is used to modify the operation of NetSuite according to the capabilities of the user. SuiteScript code can be written to modify NetSuite’s features and integrate it to perform certain tasks for your business while at the same time creating new aspects and sub-features from the existing ones. It’s like coming out with advanced models of tools to your toolbox, or in this case, your business.
What is SuiteScript?
Have you used SuiteScript? What is SuiteScript, and is it challenging to learn? SuiteScript is the programming language used to expand NetSuite’s features. Because it is built on JavaScript, it communicates in a language that many developers understand. They utilize SuiteScript to create scripts that automate processes, customize forms and workflows, interact with external systems, and conduct a variety of additional NetSuite operations to meet a wide range of business needs.
How does SuiteScript work?
What is SuiteScript compared to other customization tools? NetSuite SuiteScript provides full-featured application-level scripting capabilities, including advanced procedural logic on both the client and server sides. In addition, the language includes a SuiteScript Debugger, which gives you complete control over how you use NetSuite and all available data.
For example, you could create a script that runs whenever a new purchase order is added to NetSuite. This script could quickly send an email to the purchase order approver. You can also schedule scripts to run at particular intervals, such as daily or weekly. For example, you can write and run a script daily to track your inventory levels. The script may automatically produce a purchase order if the levels are low.
Benefits of SuiteScript
You might be wondering what is SuiteScript in NetSuite and what benefits it can offer to your business. Here are some important ones:
Customization
SuiteScript allows you to customize NetSuite’s functionality to meet your requirements. SuiteScript enables you to automate laborious operations, create custom workflows, and integrate NetSuite with external apps.
JavaScript Expertise
SuiteScript is built on JavaScript, so developers familiar with the language will find it easy to learn. This shortens the learning curve and enables you to use existing development resources for NetSuite modification.
Productivity
Automating operations with SuiteScript can dramatically increase efficiency. Repetitive manual processes can be reduced, freeing up valuable time for your team to work on more strategic objectives.
User-friendly
SuiteScript allows you to design user-friendly interfaces in NetSuite. This can result in a more straightforward and user-friendly experience for your staff, increasing data entry accuracy and system adoption.
Better Integration
SuiteScript enables smooth integration between NetSuite with external apps. This enables you to integrate your ERP system with CRM tools, payment gateways, and other business-critical technologies, resulting in a more uniform data flow.
Modern API
SuiteScript 2.0 provides a new API architecture, including intelligent dependency management and a more familiar JavaScript syntax. This encourages cleaner, more maintainable code and improves communication amongst development teams.
Functionality
SuiteScript enables features that are not available in the normal NetSuite. SuiteScript 2.0, for example, adds functionality like as asynchronous processing, map/reduce scripts for huge datasets, and SFTP file transfer capabilities, broadening NetSuite’s possible applications.
SuiteScript 2.0 vs 1.0
SuiteScript 2.0 vs. 1.0: Code Management
SuiteScript 1.0 lacked built-in support for modularity and encapsulation. Developers managed code and dependencies, resulting in large monolithic scripts that were not easy to maintain and debug.
SuiteScript 2.0 follows a module pattern based on CommonJS module organization. Pankaj specifies that developers can encapsulate script logic into modules and state the dependence of one module on another using the define function. This makes code reusable, readable, and maintainable, enabling programmers to handle large applications competently.
SuiteScript 2.0 vs. 1.0: Dependency Management
SuiteScript 1.0 did not have its own mechanisms of dependency resolution, and the developers were left with the responsibility of managing them. This often constituted challenging scripting processes, which in turn caused more complications, problems, and error occurrences during running processes.
SuiteScript 2.0 promotes declaring the specific dependencies that a component needs at compile time. This makes it possible to have well-solved dependencies, eliminating problems that accompany dependency conflicts or failure to run the right DLL during runtime.
SuiteScript 2.0 vs. 1.0: Syntax & Programming
SuiteScript 1.0 is primarily based on a functional programming paradigm in which functions are first-class citizens that can be supplied as arguments or returned by other functions. This approach is ideal for simple scripts and procedural workflows.
SuiteScript 2.0 adheres to object-oriented programming principles, enabling developers to create custom classes, methods, and attributes. This allows developers to write more structured and maintainable code that better encapsulates and abstracts data and functions.
SuiteScript 2.0 vs. 1.0: Capabilities
SuiteScript 1.0 included basic scripting tools for customizing and expanding NetSuite functionality. It enabled developers to construct simple scripts for automating business operations, customizing forms, and improving user interfaces.
SuiteScript 2.0 enables access to a broader range of NetSuite APIs, including as SuiteScript REST APIs, SuiteTalk web services, SuiteAnalytics, and SuiteFlow. This enables developers to interface with NetSuite data, conduct advanced procedures, and more effectively integrate NetSuite with external systems.
Getting Started with SuiteScript
These steps will help you get started with SuiteScript:
Enable the Feature
Navigate to the toolbar Setup tab, select Company, scroll down, and click on the Enable Features tab. Look for and run SuiteScript.
Create A Script File
Start a text editor to create a new JavaScript file. The name is usually plain, such as helloWorld.js.
Upload the Script File
To create a script in NetSuite, go to the Customization tab and Scripting tab. Then, you will find the Scripts tab, and there is a New tab. Here, you can upload the script file.
Create Script Record & Deployment
This process step sets out the manner and location of the script’s execution. In the creation screen of the Script record, choose the file you uploaded as the script and define the deployment parameters. This includes defining how the script is run and which record types or events cause the script to run.
Test the Script
Switch to testing mode after saving the script record and carrying out the deployment. Perform an action likely to invoke your script with NetSuite and see the response to confirm how it operates.
Top Features of SuiteScript
SuiteScript Automation
SuiteScript helps enterprises automate difficult business procedures. SuiteScript allows developers to construct bespoke scripts that automate tedious operations, trigger events based on specified criteria, and streamline department processes.
Comprehensive APIs
NetSuite SuiteScript includes a complete collection of APIs (application programming interfaces) for integrating and enhancing NetSuite capabilities. From SuiteTalk web services to SuiteCommerce APIs, SuiteScript provides developers with a wide range of APIs for interacting with NetSuite data, allowing businesses to extend NetSuite’s capabilities to fit their individual needs.
Debugging & Testing
SuiteScript’s built-in logging tools enable developers to track script execution, providing high-quality, error-free code and resolving issues in real time. SuiteScript also supports unit testing frameworks, which allow developers to create and run automated tests to check script functionality and avoid regressions.
SuiteScript Development Framework
The SuiteScript Development Framework (SDF) offers developers advanced tools and approaches for managing SuiteScript customizations. SDF includes capabilities like version control, code deployment automation, and project management tools, which allow developers to track changes across environments, accelerating development cycles and lowering deployment risks.
Custom Solutions
SuiteScript has been essential in assisting firms from various industries in developing tailored solutions to handle their specific issues and requirements. From e-commerce connectors to financial reporting dashboards, SuiteScript has helped businesses create creative solutions that increase efficiency, visibility, and decision-making. Case studies demonstrate how firms have used SuiteScript to automate processes, streamline operations, and achieve their business objectives, highlighting the platform’s versatility and flexibility.
Types of Suitescripts
Bundle Installation Script Type
Bundle installation scripts carry out specific tasks in target accounts as part of the bundle installation, update, or removal. These operations may include setup, configuration, and data management duties normally done by NetSuite account administrators. A bundle installation script can be linked to several bundles.
Client Script Type
Client scripts, as the name implies, run on the client side. They can check user-entered data and populate fields or sublists based on form events. These scripts are compatible with most basic NetSuite records, custom record types, and custom NetSuite pages, including Suitelets. Client scripts are executed in the user’s browser in response to predetermined event triggers, such as loading a form for editing, entering or modifying a value in a field (before and after it is entered), selecting a line item from a sublist, adding a line item (before and after it is entered), and saving a form.
Map/Reduce Script Type
Map/reduce scripts give a structured framework for processing large numbers of records or massive amounts of data. These scripts can be submitted either ahead of time or on demand. Map/Reduce is ideally suited to scenarios where data may be separated into small, independent chunks and handled separately. Some of the main characteristics of this script type are that processes can run in parallel, and the Map/Reduce framework will automatically yield the job and reschedule its work for a later time without disrupting the script’s work.
Mass Update Script Type
A mass update script is a server-side script that enables users to programmatically conduct bespoke updates to fields that are not accessible via normal mass updates. Mass update scripts can perform sophisticated calculations across records based on your specified parameters. They are executed on demand, and users cannot prioritize or schedule them to occur at certain times.
Portlet Script Type
Portlet scripts allow users to develop bespoke dashboard portlets. For example, users can use SuiteScript to design a dynamically supplied portlet with company messages based on system data. The FORM, HTML, LINKS, and LIST portlet script types are supported.
RESTlet Script Type
RESTlets can be used to create customized RESTful integrations with NetSuite. A RESTlet is a SuiteScript that users can make available for other programs to call, either externally or internally. When an application or another script invokes a RESTlet, the RESTlet script runs and, in some situations, delivers a value to the caller application. RESTlets can be handy for importing data from another system or extracting data from NetSuite. RESTlets can also be used in conjunction with other scripts to alter a NetSuite page’s behavior.
Scheduled Script Type
Scheduled scripts can be supplied either in advance or on demand. They are server-side scripts, and users can create scheduled scripts that can be run regularly if necessary. This script type has a much higher governance limit than other script types. Therefore, it can be used for bulk processing or long-running background tasks. The shortest interval for running a scheduled script is every 15 minutes. There is no automatic yielding for schedule scripts in 2.0 (like in 1.0). Developers should take care of implementing the code to handle yield scenarios so that the scheduling script can start processing where it left off owing to a large volume of data or hitting the governance limit.
Suitelet Script Type
Suitelets are SuiteScript API extensions that enable you to create customized NetSuite pages and backend code. Suitelets are server-side scripts that use the request-response model and are triggered by HTTP GET or POST requests to system-generated URLs. They can be used to create customized front and backends. Suitelets run on the server.
User Event Script Type
When users create, open, update, or save records in NetSuite, user event scripts are triggered, and data changes occur. These scripts can also perform further processing before entering records and validating entries, depending on other system data. User event scripts can execute various functions, including custom record validation, enforcing user-defined data integrity and business rules, validating user-defined permissions and limits, and so on.
Workflow Action Script Type
Workflow action scripts enable users to construct unique workflow actions based on workflow records. Workflows can have limited functionality, which is where this script type comes in. Workflows, for example, cannot interact with line items, but, workflow action scripts can. The process Action script type is meant to be invoked by a Workflow to provide scripting capability that the process itself cannot.
Wrapping Up
What is SuiteScript’s relevance for business? Concluding everything we mentioned above, SuiteScript links your business requirements and the capabilities of NetSuite’s ERP system. You can use SuiteScript’s customization options to automate activities, link NetSuite with external applications, and create a unique user experience for your business. The JavaScript basis makes SuiteScript accessible to developers who are familiar with the language, adding to its attractiveness.
If you want to maximize the chances of success of your company’s NetSuite implementation, consider bringing us on board to support your in-house team. Be confident because we have the expertise and experience for NetSuite integration with many clients.
You can contact us and check out our resources at Folio3.
