In the qbXML ItemQuery request , how do I get the description for a service item? - qbxml

Question

I am creating a tool that will synchronize our production database with QuickBooks (QB). I am trying to get a list of all the items in QB using ItemQuery and I want to get the description of each item as well. However, it seems that different types of items have different ways of specifying the description. Using IncludeRetElement, I am able to get the SalesDesc for ItemInventoryRet, but I am struggling with getting the description for ItemServiceRet (and a few others, but I think if I can figure this one out, I will be able to figure out the others).
Here is my request...
<?qbxml version="12.0"?>
<QBXML>
<QBXMLMsgsRq onError="stopOnError">
<ItemQueryRq requestID="2">
<IncludeRetElement>ListID</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>Name</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>FullName</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>ParentRef</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesAndPurchase_SalesDesc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesOrPurchase_Desc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>ItemDesc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesDesc</IncludeRetElement>
</ItemQueryRq>
</QBXMLMsgsRq>
</QBXML>
And here is the response I'm getting (shortened for clarity)...
<QBXML>
<QBXMLMsgsRs>
<ItemQueryRs requestID="2" statusCode="0" statusSeverity="Info" statusMessage="Status OK">
<ItemServiceRet>
<ListID>240000-1071531214</ListID>
<Name>Delivery</Name>
<FullName>Delivery</FullName>
</ItemServiceRet>
<ItemInventoryRet>
<ListID>270000-1071524193</ListID>
<Name>1/2" Line</Name>
<FullName>Irrigation Hose:1/2" Line</FullName>
<SalesDesc>1/2" Vinyl Irrigation Line</SalesDesc>
</ItemInventoryRet>
<ItemGroupRet>
<ListID>1E0000-934380927</ListID>
<Name>Walkway</Name>
<ItemDesc>Walkway lighting</ItemDesc>
</ItemGroupRet>
</ItemQueryRs>
</QBXMLMsgsRs>
</QBXML>
According to the documentation (pick ItemQuery from the dropdown), the description I think I want is ItemServiceRet > ORSalePurchase > SaleOrPurchase > Desc. The request includes one way I've tried, but I've tried quite a few other ways as well...
<IncludeRetElement>ORSalesPurchase:SalesOrPurchase:Desc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>ORSalesPurchase.SalesOrPurchase.Desc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>ORSalesPurchase_SalesOrPurchase_Desc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesOrPurchase:Desc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesOrPurchase.Desc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesOrPurchase_Desc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>Desc</IncludeRetElement>
So the question is, how do you retrieve sub elements in qbXML queries?
I have found that if I remove all the IncludeRetElements, I do get the values. But I would like to learn how to only get the data I care about. We have a HUGE QB database so this could be a major performance issue if I have to get everything.
As a note, I switched to using QBFC10Lib instead of creating the XML myself hoping it would help me solve this issue, but it didn't. I am still having the exact same issue. I'm guessing that an answer to one will resolve both qbXML and QBFC.

Answer 1

I figured it out. You have to add each level separately, like this...
<?qbxml version="12.0"?>
<QBXML>
<QBXMLMsgsRq onError="stopOnError">
<ItemQueryRq requestID="2">
<IncludeRetElement>ListID</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>Name</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>FullName</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>ItemDesc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesDesc</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>ORSalesPurchase</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesOrPurchase</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>SalesAndPurchase</IncludeRetElement>
<IncludeRetElement>Desc</IncludeRetElement>
</ItemQueryRq>
</QBXMLMsgsRq>
</QBXML>
I had tried this earlier, but I think I missed a level. Anyway, hopefully this answer will help somebody else from wasting half their day :).