How to retrieve trackingDataId from bookingAppointment with Graph API?

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Summary

The issue at hand is the inability to retrieve the trackingDataId from a bookingAppointment object using the Microsoft Graph API. This field is present in the appointment object when created via the standard booking sites with a URL parameter, but it is not included in the response when retrieving the booking appointment through the Graph API.

Root Cause

The root cause of this issue is due to the following reasons:

  • The trackingDataId field is not a standard property of the bookingAppointment object in the Microsoft Graph API.
  • The field is only present in the appointment object when created via specific URL parameters, but it is not persisted or exposed through the Graph API.
  • The official documentation does not list trackingDataId as a property of the bookingAppointment object, indicating that it may not be a supported or intended field for retrieval.

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue occurs in real systems due to:

  • Inconsistent data models: The data model used when creating appointments via the standard booking sites may differ from the data model used by the Graph API.
  • Limited API exposure: The Graph API may not expose all fields or properties of the underlying data model, leading to inconsistencies in what data is available.
  • Lack of documentation: Insufficient or outdated documentation can lead to confusion about what fields are supported and how to access them.

Real-World Impact

The impact of this issue includes:

  • Inability to track appointments: Without access to the trackingDataId, it may be difficult to track or associate appointments with external systems or workflows.
  • Limited integration capabilities: The lack of access to this field may limit the ability to integrate the booking appointment system with other tools or services.
  • Increased complexity: Workarounds or alternative solutions may need to be implemented, adding complexity and potential maintenance overhead.

Example or Code

import requests

# Example of retrieving a booking appointment using the Graph API
url = "https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/bookingBusinesses/{businessId}/appointments/{appointmentId}"
response = requests.get(url)

# The response will not include the trackingDataId field
print(response.json())

How Senior Engineers Fix It

Senior engineers can address this issue by:

  • Reviewing the API documentation: Carefully reviewing the official documentation to understand what fields are supported and how to access them.
  • Using alternative approaches: Exploring alternative approaches, such as using a different API endpoint or querying a different data source.
  • Implementing workarounds: Developing workarounds or custom solutions to retrieve or track the required data.

Why Juniors Miss It

Junior engineers may miss this issue due to:

  • Lack of experience: Limited experience working with the Graph API or similar systems.
  • Insufficient documentation review: Failing to thoroughly review the official documentation or missing key details.
  • Overreliance on code examples: Relying too heavily on code examples or tutorials, rather than understanding the underlying data models and API capabilities.