---
title: "A complete request, end to end · Builder's guide · Chappell AI"
description: "Posting a manual journal: create the draft, then post it."
url: https://chappellai.us/guide/a-a-complete-request-end-to-end/
---

Builder's guide · Appendix A

# A complete request, end to end

Posting a manual journal: create the draft, then post it.

```
# 1. Create a draft (no balance changes yet)
curl -X POST https://books.internal.example/v1/ledger/manual-journals \
  -H 'X-Source-System: console' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AK_WRITER_KEY" \
  -H 'Idempotency-Key: 5d7f6a0e-2c1b-4c39-9a9e-3e0b6f1f9a11' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{ "company_id": "…", "entry_type": "adjusting",
        "posting_date": "2026-11-06", "description": "Accrue November rent",
        "prepared_by": "Sam Ortiz",
        "lines": [ { "gl_account_id": "…rent expense…", "debit_amount": "900.00" },
                   { "gl_account_id": "…accrued liabilities…", "credit_amount": "900.00" } ] }'

# 2. Post it, after the person confirms (a new key: this is a new action)
curl -X POST https://books.internal.example/v1/ledger/manual-journals/<id>/post \
  -H 'X-Source-System: console' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $AK_WRITER_KEY" \
  -H 'Idempotency-Key: 9a2e1c44-7b0d-4f6e-8a51-c1d2e3f4a5b6'

# 3. Record in the console's audit table:
#    person, route, X-Request-Id, journal id, journal entry id
```

The fields follow `ManualJournalCreate` in `api/openapi.yaml` at version 0.1.0. No `journal_number` is sent because the company has a number series (section 7). Generate your client from the OpenAPI file rather than copying this example.

## The authentication checks, in order

| Step | Check | Failure |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | `X-Source-System` present | `400 SOURCE_SYSTEM_MISSING` |
| 2 | Bearer credential present | `401 AUTHENTICATION_REQUIRED` |
| 3 | Key well-formed and genuine | `401 CREDENTIAL_INVALID` |
| 4 | The writer code exists | `403 SOURCE_SYSTEM_UNKNOWN` |
| 5 | The header names the key's own writer | `403 SOURCE_SYSTEM_CREDENTIAL_MISMATCH` |
| 6 | The writer is active | `403 SOURCE_SYSTEM_INACTIVE` |
| 7 | Key not revoked or expired | `401 CREDENTIAL_INVALID` |
| 8 | The role allows the route | `403 OPERATION_NOT_PERMITTED` |
| 9 | The company is in scope | `403 COMPANY_NOT_IN_SCOPE` |