name: churchtools-api description: Apply when making API calls to ChurchTools, using churchtoolsClient methods, handling API responses, or working with Tags API. Covers correct HTTP method names, parameter structure, and response handling patterns.

ChurchTools API Patterns

Client HTTP Methods

Use the correct method names - delete is NOT available:

churchtoolsClient.get()       // GET requests
churchtoolsClient.post()      // POST requests  
churchtoolsClient.put()       // PUT requests
churchtoolsClient.deleteApi() // DELETE requests - NOT .delete()!
churchtoolsClient.patch()     // PATCH requests

Parameter Structure

Pass parameters directly as the second argument, NOT nested in a "params" object:

// Correct
churchtoolsClient.get('/api/endpoint', { param1: 'value1', param2: 'value2' })

// Wrong - will fail
churchtoolsClient.get('/api/endpoint', { params: { param1: 'value1' } })

Tags API

The Tags API returns data directly as an array, not nested in a "data" property:

// Correct
const response = await churchtoolsClient.get<Tag[]>('/tags/person')
const tags = Array.isArray(response) ? response : []

// Wrong - response.data is undefined
const tags = response.data

Supported tag domains: 'person' | 'song' | 'group' (NOT 'appointment')

Tag updates require ALL fields:

const tagData = {
  name: tag.name,
  description: tag.description || '',  // Required, use empty string
  color: tag.color || 'basic'          // Required, use default color
}
await churchtoolsClient.put(`/tags/${tagId}`, tagData)

API Documentation

Check your ChurchTools instance OpenAPI spec at /system/runtime/swagger/openapi.json for correct endpoints, methods, and schemas.

Standard API Pattern

try {
  loading.value = true
  const response = await churchtoolsClient.get('/api/endpoint', {
    param1: 'value1',
    param2: 'value2'
  })
  // Handle response
} catch (err) {
  error.value = 'Error message'
  console.error('API Error:', err)
} finally {
  loading.value = false
}