Create Orders Api v2 doesn't show total without specifying items through PHP

[Nimja]

Very strange issue, if I do this request through PHP, using: 

$request = new \PayPalCheckoutSdk\Orders\OrdersCreateRequest();
$request->prefer('return=minimal');
$request->body = [
    "intent" => "CAPTURE",
    "purchase_units" => [
        [
            'description' => 'Example request',
            'soft_descriptor' => 'Example',
            'amount' => [
                "currency_code" => "USD",
                'value' => "3.00",
            ],
        ]
    ],
];

Like so: NOTICE: The total is NOT there!

However, if I do the same request in JavaScript, it goes as I expect:

return actions.order.create({
    purchase_units: [
        {
            description: "Example request.",
            amount: {
                currency_code: "USD",
                value: "3.00"
            }
        }
    ]
});

Notice; TOTAL is there, and clicking on it shows the description.

And if I specify the FULL message with items (but not nice) it also shows the amount.

$request = new \PayPalCheckoutSdk\Orders\OrdersCreateRequest();
$request->prefer('return=minimal');
$request->body = [
    "intent" => "CAPTURE",
    "purchase_units" => [
        [
            'description' => 'Example request',
            'soft_descriptor' => 'Example',
            'amount' => [
                "currency_code" => "USD,
                'value' => "3.00",
                'breakdown' => [
                    'item_total' => [
                        "currency_code" => "USD,
                        'value' => "3.00",
                    ],
                ],
            ],
            'items' => [
                [
                    'name' => "Item",
                    'description' => 'Example item',
                    'quantity' => 1,
                    'unit_amount' => [
                        "currency_code" => "USD,
                        'value' => "3.00",
                    ],
                ]
            ],
        ]
    ],
];

But the result is not very nice (notice the multiple lines basically saying the same):

NOTICE: Total is there, but also with (unnecessary) item details.

 

I doubt this is intentional? Does anyone know why the total does NOT show with the minimal request?

[Nimja]

Doing some effort myself, I think I found out when and how this happens.

If I take the token from the JS request and use it in the standard url: https://www.sandbox.paypal.com/checkoutnow?token=XXXX

The same issue occurs for the minimal JS request. I wonder if this is only an issue on test or also on Live.

[rahul-dighe · Accepted solution]

This issue has to do with whether the user_action = PAY_NOW or CONTINUE

when you use a clients SDK (Payments SDK)- it defaults it to PAY_NOW hence anytime you use it with a JS - it shows up as a PAY_NOW in which case the amount is shown.

if you use it through an SDK directly the default is 'CONTINUE' and as such for that we do not show an amount (when no items are present) - this is a bug that we hope to resolve. 

happy to answer any questions you guys may have but it's something we are looking to correct/improve.

[Nimja]

Thank you very much, this is indeed what it was.

Example of functional request that will show the total:

$request = new \PayPalCheckoutSdk\Orders\OrdersCreateRequest();
$request->prefer('return=minimal');
$request->body = [
    "intent" => "CAPTURE",
    "purchase_units" => [
        [
            'description' => 'Example description',
            'soft_descriptor' => 'Soft description',
            'amount' => [
                "currency_code" => 'USD',
                'value' => '1.23',
            ],
        ]
    ],
    "application_context" => [
        "cancel_url" => "URL",
        "return_url" => "URL",
        "shipping_preference" => "NO_SHIPPING",
        "user_action" => "PAY_NOW",
    ],
];