From NewHaven Software Wiki

NewHaven Software has created an optional Magento Extension to expand the core capabilities of the Magento API and improve integration with CMS. For basic Magento deployments this extension is optional but it is required for products configured to use attributes (e.g. size and color) and Magento custom fields for data like ad code.

Contents 1 Magento version requirements 1.1 Minimum 1.2 Maximum 1.3 Magento 2.x 2 Current capabilities of the base Magento Plug-in 2.1 Order Downloads 2.2 Order Status Updates 2.3 Product Data Uploads

Magento version requirements

Minimum

• Enterprise 1.12.0.x
• Community 1.7.0.x
• Go 1.1.2.x (limited support)

Maximum

Latest tested version is 1.9.3.6

Magento 2.x

Magento 2.x is a significant departure for 1.x both for the site and the API that CMS communicates with. There is not a good transition path to get to 1.x to 2.x for either your site or our integration so plan accordingly before deciding to jump to 2.x. Be sure to explore what is involved to get your new site created and coordinate with us on our timeline for support for 2.x.

Magento 1.x is still a supported product and currently does not have a date set for its end of life (EoL). Magento is aware that there is not an easy transition from 1.x to 2.x so they are maintaining support for 1.x for some time. They have stated that they will provide at least 18 months lead time on any EoL date they announce. As such 1.x will remain a viable solution for some time.

We are exploring our integration options for 2.x but at this moment do not have a scheduled date. Be advised, due to the complexity of the integration and how much has to be done from scratch, it is possible that 2.x support may not come until 2019.

In the mean time we have explored other options for CMS users moving to Magento 2.x in advance of our support for it. There is a company called Xtento that produces Magento extensions (for both 1.x and 2.x, Community and Enterprise) that looks promising. We've reviewed our XML requirements with them and they seem quite capable of delivering. We're working with a pilot client now to try this solution out.

Perhaps most interesting about Xtento's solution is that it allows CMS to work with Magento in a non-synchronizing mode, for better or worse. In other words, instead of synchronizing invoices and packages with Magento which allows them to process the payments, it operates more like a standard integration where the order download into CMS with the credit card info so that CMS can handle payment processing, particularly beneficial for back order and future ship (split order) processing and simplifying the integration. To accomplish this you'd need to use three of Xtento's extensions:

• Magento Order Export Module
• Magento Saved Credit Cards Module - Enabling Magento to pass credit card data to CMS for processing
• Magento Tracking Number Import Module - Import shipped item data with tracking numbers to update status in Magento
• Magento Stock Import Module (optional) - For uploading updated stock levels

Current capabilities of the base Magento Plug-in

Order Downloads

• Credit card payments are processed in Magento via Authorize.net CIM. CMS will provide Magento with shipped item data to facilitate related captures, include split and delayed shipments (back order or future ship.) These updates take place as part of the invoice creation process which takes place during order status updates.
  • Credit card data is not available from Magento hosted solutions (Go and Enterprise) due to PCI concerns on their side. In a future version of CMS we will add support for downloading credit card data from their user-hosted solutions (Community and Professional.) This is currently scheduled to be included with our next submission of CMS for PA-DSS validation Q4 2013.
• Shipcode mapping from Magento codes to CMS codes
• Order level gift messages
• Supports Magento’s coupon codes (imported as ad code)
• Magento order-level custom field support (requires the NHS Extension, see the NHS Magento Setup Guide for more info)

Order Status Updates

• Invoice creation (facilitates Magento’s payment processing)
• Support for back order invoicing
• Global support for billing delayed items now
• Status updates
• Shipment updates with tracking numbers

Product Data Uploads

• Support for Simple and Configurable products
• Creation of new products and updates to existing
  • Product code/sku
  • Descriptions
  • Pricing
  • Inventory
  • Weight
  • Status (enabled/disabled)
  • Attributes (requires the NHS Extension)