OAuth requires the authenticating user to interact with Exact Online using the browser. The driver facilitates this in various ways as described below.

Embedded Credentials

Desktop Applications

See Embedded Credentials to connect with the driver's embedded credentials and skip creating a custom OAuth app.

Headless Machines

See Headless Machines to skip creating a custom OAuth app and authenticate an application running on a headless server or another machine where the driver is not authorized to open a browser.

Custom Credentials

Instead of connecting with the driver's embedded credentials, you can register an app to obtain the OAuthClientId and OAuthClientSecret.

When to Create a Custom OAuth App

Web Applications

You need to create a custom OAuth app in the web flow.

Desktop Applications

Creating a custom OAuth app is optional as the driver is already registered with Exact Online and you can connect with its embedded credentials. You might want to create a custom OAuth app to change the information displayed when users log into the Exact Online OAuth endpoint to grant permissions to the driver.

Headless Machines

Creating a custom OAuth app is optional to authenticate a headless machine; the driver is already registered with Exact Online and you can connect with its embedded credentials. In the headless OAuth flow, users need to authenticate via a browser on another machine. You might want to create a custom OAuth app to change the information displayed when users log into the Exact Online OAuth endpoint to grant permissions to the driver.

Creating a Custom OAuth App

See Creating a Custom OAuth App for a procedure.