pyxecm 2.0.0__py3-none-any.whl → 2.0.1__py3-none-any.whl

pyxecm/otawp.py

@@ -8,37 +8,63 @@ __email__ = "mdiefenb@opentext.com"
 
 import json
 import logging
+import platform
 import re
+import sys
 import time
 import uuid
-import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
+from http import HTTPStatus
+from importlib.metadata import version
 
 import requests
 
+from pyxecm.helper.xml import XML
 from pyxecm.otds import OTDS
 
-default_logger = logging.getLogger("pyxecm.otawp")
+APP_NAME = "pyxecm"
+APP_VERSION = version("pyxecm")
+MODULE_NAME = APP_NAME + ".otawp"
 
-REQUEST_HEADERS = {
+PYTHON_VERSION = f"{sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor}.{sys.version_info.micro}"
+OS_INFO = f"{platform.system()} {platform.release()}"
+ARCH_INFO = platform.machine()
+REQUESTS_VERSION = requests.__version__
+
+USER_AGENT = (
+    f"{APP_NAME}/{APP_VERSION} ({MODULE_NAME}/{APP_VERSION}; "
+    f"Python/{PYTHON_VERSION}; {OS_INFO}; {ARCH_INFO}; Requests/{REQUESTS_VERSION})"
+)
+
+REQUEST_HEADERS_XML = {
+    "User-Agent": USER_AGENT,
     "Content-Type": "text/xml; charset=utf-8",
     "accept": "application/xml",
 }
 
 REQUEST_FORM_HEADERS = {
+    "User-Agent": USER_AGENT,
     "accept": "application/xml;charset=utf-8",
     "Content-Type": "application/x-www-form-urlencoded",
 }
 
 REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON = {
+    "User-Agent": USER_AGENT,
     "Content-Type": "application/json; charset=utf-8",
     "accept": "application/json",
 }
+
 REQUEST_TIMEOUT = 120
+REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES = 10
+REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY = 30
 SYNC_PUBLISH_REQUEST_TIMEOUT = 300
 
+default_logger = logging.getLogger(MODULE_NAME)
+
+SOAP_FAULT_INDICATOR = "Fault"
+
 
 class OTAWP:
-    """Class OTRAWP is used to automate settings in OpenText AppWorks Platform (OTAWP)."""
+    """Class OTAWP is used to automate settings in OpenText AppWorks Platform (OTAWP)."""
 
     logger: logging.Logger = default_logger
 
@@ -47,6 +73,241 @@ class OTAWP:
     _cookie = None
     _otawp_ticket = None
 
+    @classmethod
+    def resource_payload(
+        cls,
+        org_name: str,
+        username: str,
+        password: str,
+    ) -> dict:
+        """Create data structure for OTDS resource settings we need for AppWorks.
+
+        Args:
+            org_name (str):
+                The name of the organization.
+            username (str):
+                The user name.
+            password (str):
+                The password.
+
+        Returns:
+            dict:
+                AppWorks specific payload.
+
+        """
+
+        additional_payload = {}
+        additional_payload["connectorid"] = "rest"
+        additional_payload["resourceType"] = "rest"
+        user_attribute_mapping = [
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTExternalID1"],
+                "destAttr": "__NAME__",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["displayname"],
+                "destAttr": "DisplayName",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {"sourceAttr": ["mail"], "destAttr": "Email", "mappingFormat": "%s"},
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTTelephoneNumber"],
+                "destAttr": "Telephone",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTMobile"],
+                "destAttr": "Mobile",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTFacsimileTelephoneNumber"],
+                "destAttr": "Fax",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTStreetAddress,l,st,postalCode,c"],
+                "destAttr": "Address",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s%n%s %s %s%n%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTCompany"],
+                "destAttr": "Company",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["ds-pwp-account-disabled"],
+                "destAttr": "AccountDisabled",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTExtraAttr9"],
+                "destAttr": "IsServiceAccount",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["custom:proxyConfiguration"],
+                "destAttr": "ProxyConfiguration",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["c"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-CountryOrRegion",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["gender"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-Gender",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["displayName"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-DisplayName",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTStreetAddress"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-Address",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["l"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-City",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["mail"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-Email",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["givenName"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-FirstName",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["sn"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-LastName",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["initials"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-MiddleNames",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTMobile"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-Mobile",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["postalCode"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-PostalCode",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["st"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-StateOrProvince",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["title"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-title",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["physicalDeliveryOfficeName"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-physicalDeliveryOfficeName",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTFacsimileTelephoneNumber"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-oTFacsimileTelephoneNumber",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["notes"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-notes",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTCompany"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-oTCompany",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTDepartment"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-oTDepartment",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["birthDate"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-Birthday",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["cn"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-UserName",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["Description"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-UserDescription",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["oTTelephoneNumber"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-Phone",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["displayName"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-IdentityDisplayName",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+        ]
+        additional_payload["userAttributeMapping"] = user_attribute_mapping
+        group_attribute_mapping = [
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["cn"],
+                "destAttr": "__NAME__",
+                "mappingFormat": '%js:function format(name) { return name.replace(/&/g,"-and-"); }',
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["description"],
+                "destAttr": "Description",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["description"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-Description",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+            {
+                "sourceAttr": ["displayName"],
+                "destAttr": "Identity-DisplayName",
+                "mappingFormat": "%s",
+            },
+        ]
+        additional_payload["groupAttributeMapping"] = group_attribute_mapping
+        additional_payload["connectorName"] = "REST (Generic)"
+        additional_payload["pcCreatePermissionAllowed"] = "true"
+        additional_payload["pcModifyPermissionAllowed"] = "true"
+        additional_payload["pcDeletePermissionAllowed"] = "false"
+        additional_payload["connectionParamInfo"] = [
+            {
+                "name": "fBaseURL",
+                "value": "http://appworks:8080/home/" + org_name + "/app/otdspush",
+            },
+            {"name": "fUsername", "value": username},
+            {"name": "fPassword", "value": password},
+        ]
+
+        return additional_payload
+
+    # end method definition
+
     def __init__(
         self,
         protocol: str,
@@ -54,14 +315,9 @@ class OTAWP:
         port: int,
         username: str | None = None,
         password: str | None = None,
+        organization: str | None = None,
         otawp_ticket: str | None = None,
-        otcs_partition_name: str | None = None,
-        otds_admin_partition_mame: str | None = None,
         config_map_name: str | None = None,
-        otcs_resource_id: str | None = None,
-        otds_url: str | None = None,
-        otcs_url: str | None = None,
-        otcs_base_path: str | None = None,
         license_file: str | None = None,
         product_name: str | None = None,
         product_description: str | None = None,
@@ -70,23 +326,30 @@ class OTAWP:
         """Initialize OTAWP (AppWorks Platform) object.
 
         Args:
-            protocol (str): #TODO _description_
-            hostname (str): #TODO _description_
-            port (int): #TODO _description_
-            username (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            password (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            otawp_ticket (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            otcs_partition_name (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            otds_admin_partition_mame (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            config_map_name (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            otcs_resource_id (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            otds_url (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            otcs_url (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            otcs_base_path (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            license_file (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            product_name (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            product_description (str | None, optional): #TODO _description_. Defaults to None.
-            logger (logging.Logger, optional): #TODO: _description_. Defaults to default_logger.
+            protocol (str):
+                Either http or https.
+            hostname (str):
+                The hostname of Extended ECM server to communicate with.
+            port (int):
+                The port number used to talk to the Extended ECM server.
+            username (str, optional):
+                The admin user name of OTAWP. Optional if otawp_ticket is provided.
+            password (str, optional):
+                The admin password of OTAWP. Optional if otawp_ticket is provided.
+            organization (str, optional):
+                The AppWorks organization. Used in LDAP strings and base URL.
+            otawp_ticket (str, optional):
+                The authentication ticket of OTAWP.
+            config_map_name (str | None, optional):
+                The AppWorks Kubernetes Config Map name. Defaults to None.
+            license_file (str | None, optional):
+                The file name and path to the license file for AppWorks. Defaults to None.
+            product_name (str | None, optional):
+                The product name for OTAWP used in the OTDS license. Defaults to None.
+            product_description (str | None, optional):
+                The product description in the OTDS license. Defaults to None.
+            logger (logging.Logger, optional):
+                The logging object to use for all log messages. Defaults to default_logger.
 
         """
 
@@ -102,94 +365,32 @@ class OTAWP:
         otawp_config["port"] = port if port else 8080
         otawp_config["username"] = username if username else "sysadmin"
         otawp_config["password"] = password if password else ""
-        otawp_config["otcs_partition_name"] = otcs_partition_name if otcs_partition_name else ""
-        otawp_config["otds_admin_partition_mame"] = otds_admin_partition_mame if otds_admin_partition_mame else ""
-        otawp_config["config_map_name"] = config_map_name if config_map_name else ""
-        otawp_config["otcs_resource_id"] = otcs_resource_id if otcs_resource_id else ""
-        otawp_config["otds_url"] = otds_url if otds_url else ""
-        otawp_config["otcs_url"] = otcs_url if otcs_url else ""
-        otawp_config["otcs_base_path"] = otcs_base_path if otcs_base_path else ""
-        otawp_config["license_file"] = license_file if license_file else ""
-        otawp_config["product_name"] = product_name if product_name else "APPWORKS_PLATFORM"
-        otawp_config["product_description"] = (
+        otawp_config["organization"] = organization if organization else "system"
+        otawp_config["configMapName"] = config_map_name if config_map_name else ""
+        otawp_config["licenseFile"] = license_file if license_file else ""
+        otawp_config["productName"] = product_name if product_name else "APPWORKS_PLATFORM"
+        otawp_config["productDescription"] = (
             product_description if product_description else "OpenText Appworks Platform"
         )
 
         if otawp_ticket:
+            self._otawp_ticket = otawp_ticket
             self._cookie = {"defaultinst_SAMLart": otawp_ticket}
 
-        server = "{}://{}".format(protocol, otawp_config["hostname"])
+        server_url = "{}://{}".format(protocol, otawp_config["hostname"])
         if str(port) not in ["80", "443"]:
-            server += f":{port}"
-
-        otawp_base_url = server + "/home/system"
-
-        otawp_config["server"] = server if server else "http://appworks"
-
-        otawp_config["gatewayAuthenticationUrl"] = (
-            otawp_base_url
-            + "/com.eibus.web.soap.Gateway.wcp?organization=o=system,cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net"
-        )
-
-        otawp_config["soapGatewayUrl"] = (
-            otawp_base_url
-            + "/com.eibus.web.soap.Gateway.wcp?organization=o=system,cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net&defaultinst_ct=abcd"
-        )
+            server_url += ":{}".format(port)
 
-        otawp_config["createPriority"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Priority?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
-        )
-        otawp_config["getAllPriorities"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Priority/lists/PriorityList"
-        )
-
-        otawp_config["createCustomer"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Customer?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
-        )
-        otawp_config["getAllCustomers"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Customer/lists/CustomerList"
-        )
-
-        otawp_config["createCaseType"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/CaseType?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
-        )
-        otawp_config["getAllCaseTypes"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/CaseType/lists/AllCaseTypes"
-        )
-
-        otawp_config["createCategory"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
-        )
-        otawp_config["getAllCategories"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/lists/CategoryList"
-        )
-
-        otawp_config["createSource"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Source"
-        )
-
-        otawp_config["getAllSources"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Source/lists/AllSources"
-        )
-
-        otawp_config["getAllSubCategories"] = (
-            otawp_base_url
-            + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/childEntities/SubCategory/lists/AllSubcategories"
-        )
+        otawp_config["serverUrl"] = server_url
 
-        otawp_config["baseurl"] = otawp_base_url + ""
-        otawp_config["createLoan"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Case?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
-        )
-        otawp_config["getAllLoans"] = (
-            otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Case/lists/AllCasesList"
-        )
         self._config = otawp_config
 
+        self.set_organization(otawp_config["organization"])
+
     # end method definition
 
-    def server(self) -> str:
-        """Return server information.
+    def server_url(self) -> str:
+        """Return AppWorks server information.
 
         Returns:
             str:
@@ -202,193 +403,154 @@ class OTAWP:
     # end method definition
 
     def set_organization(self, organization: str) -> None:
-        """Set the organization context.
+        """Set the AppWorks organization context.
+
+        This requires to also update all URLs that are including
+        the organization.
 
         Args:
             organization (str):
-                Organization name.
+                The AppWorks organization name.
 
         """
 
-        otawp_base_url = f"/home/{organization}"
-        otawp_url = self.server() + otawp_base_url
-        ldap_root = (
-            f"com.eibus.web.soap.Gateway.wcp?organization=o={organization},cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net"
+        self._config["organization"] = organization
+
+        otawp_base_url = self._config["serverUrl"] + "/home/{}".format(self._config["organization"])
+        self._config["baseUrl"] = otawp_base_url
+
+        ldap_root = "organization=o={},cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net".format(self._config["organization"])
+        self._config["gatewayAuthenticationUrl"] = otawp_base_url + "/com.eibus.web.soap.Gateway.wcp?" + ldap_root
+
+        self._config["soapGatewayUrl"] = self._config["gatewayAuthenticationUrl"] + "&defaultinst_ct=abcd"
+
+        self._config["entityUrl"] = otawp_base_url + "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities"
+
+        self._config["priorityUrl"] = self._config["entityUrl"] + "/Priority"
+        self._config["priorityListUrl"] = self._config["priorityUrl"] + "/lists/PriorityList"
+
+        self._config["customerUrl"] = self._config["entityUrl"] + "/Customer"
+        self._config["customerListUrl"] = self._config["customerUrl"] + "/lists/CustomerList"
+
+        self._config["caseTypeUrl"] = self._config["entityUrl"] + "/CaseType"
+        self._config["caseTypeListUrl"] = self._config["caseTypeUrl"] + "/lists/AllCaseTypes"
+
+        self._config["categoryUrl"] = self._config["entityUrl"] + "/Category"
+        self._config["categoryListUrl"] = self._config["categoryUrl"] + "/lists/CategoryList"
+
+        self._config["subCategoryListUrl"] = (
+            self._config["categoryUrl"] + "/childEntities/SubCategory/lists/AllSubcategories"
         )
 
-        # Assign to self._config if that's where you store configuration data
-        self._config["gatewayAuthenticationUrl"] = otawp_url + f"/com.eibus.web.soap.Gateway.wcp?{ldap_root}"
+        self._config["sourceUrl"] = self._config["entityUrl"] + "/Source"
+        self._config["sourceListUrl"] = self._config["sourceUrl"] + "/lists/AllSources"
 
-        self._config["soapGatewayUrl"] = otawp_url + f"/com.eibus.web.soap.Gateway.wcp?{ldap_root}&defaultinst_ct=abcd"
+        self._config["caseUrl"] = self._config["entityUrl"] + "/Case"
+        self._config["caseListUrl"] = self._config["caseUrl"] + "/lists/AllCasesList"
 
-        self.logger.info("Organization set to '%s'.", organization)
+        self.logger.info("AppWorks organization set to -> '%s'.", organization)
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def baseurl(self) -> str:
-        """Return the configuration dictionary.
+    def base_url(self) -> str:
+        """Return the base URL of AppWorks.
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                Base URL of AppWorks Platform.
+                The base URL of AppWorks Platform.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["baseurl"]
+        return self.config()["baseUrl"]
 
     # end method definition
 
     def license_file(self) -> str:
-        """Return the license_file.
+        """Return the AppWorks license file.
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                Returns license_file
+                The name (including path) of the AppWorks license file.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["license_file"]
+        return self.config()["licenseFile"]
 
     # end method definition
 
     def product_name(self) -> str:
-        """Return the product_name.
+        """Return the AppWorks product name as used in the OTDS license.
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                Returns product_name
+                The AppWorks product name.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["product_name"]
+        return self.config()["productName"]
 
     # end method definition
 
     def product_description(self) -> str:
-        """Return the product_description.
+        """Return the AppWorks product description as used in the OTDS license.
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                Returns product_description
+                The AppWorks product description.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["product_description"]
+        return self.config()["productDescription"]
 
     # end method definition
 
     def hostname(self) -> str:
-        """Return hostname.
+        """Return the AppWorks hostname.
 
         Returns:
-            str: Returns hostname
+            str:
+                The AppWorks hostname.
 
         """
 
         return self.config()["hostname"]
 
     def username(self) -> str:
-        """Return username.
+        """Return the AppWorks username.
 
         Returns:
-            str: Returns username
+            str:
+                The AppWorks username
 
         """
+
         return self.config()["username"]
 
     # end method definition
 
     def password(self) -> str:
-        """Return password.
-
-        Returns:
-            str: Returns password
-
-        """
-        return self.config()["password"]
-
-    # end method definition
-
-    def otcs_partition_name(self) -> str:
-        """Return OTCS partition name.
-
-        Returns:
-            str: Returns OTCS partition name
-
-        """
-        return self.config()["otcs_partition_name"]
-
-    # end method definition
-
-    def otds_admin_partition_mame(self) -> str:
-        """Return OTDS admin partition name.
+        """Return the AppWorks password.
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                Returns OTDS admin partition mame.
+                The AppWorks password.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["otds_admin_partition_mame"]
+        return self.config()["password"]
 
     # end method definition
 
     def config_map_name(self) -> str:
-        """Return config map name.
-
-        Returns:
-            str:
-                Returns config map name
-
-        """
-        return self.config()["config_map_name"]
-
-    # end method definition
-
-    def otcs_resource_id(self) -> str:
-        """Return OTCS resource ID.
-
-        Returns:
-            str:
-                Returns otcs resource id
-
-        """
-        return self.config()["otcs_resource_id"]
-
-    # end method definition
-
-    def otcs_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return OTCS URL.
-
-        Returns:
-            str:
-                Returns the OTCS URL.
-
-        """
-        return self.config()["otcs_url"]
-
-    # end method definition
-
-    def otds_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return the OTDS URL.
+        """Return AppWorks Kubernetes config map name.
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                Returns otds url
+                The Kubernetes config map name of AppWorks.
 
         """
-        return self.config()["otds_url"]
-
-    # end method definition
 
-    def otcs_base_path(self) -> str:
-        """Return the OTCS base path.
-
-        Returns:
-            str: Returns otcs base path
-
-        """
-        return self.config()["otcs_base_path"]
+        return self.config()["configMapName"]
 
     # end method definition
 
@@ -461,10 +623,11 @@ class OTAWP:
     # end method definition
 
     def credential_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return the Credentials URL of OTAWP.
+        """Return the credentials URL of OTAWP.
 
         Returns:
-            str: Credentials URL
+            str:
+                The AppWorks credentials URL.
 
         """
 
@@ -477,7 +640,7 @@ class OTAWP:
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                The SOAP gateway URL.
+                The AppWorks SOAP gateway URL.
 
         """
 
@@ -485,32 +648,33 @@ class OTAWP:
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_priority_url(self) -> str:
+    def get_create_priority_url(self) -> str:
         """Return create priority URL of OTAWP.
 
         Returns:
-            str: createPriority  URL
+            str:
+                The create priority URL.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["createPriority"]
+        return self.config()["priorityUrl"] + "?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_priorities_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return get all priorities URL of OTAWP.
+    def get_priorities_list_url(self) -> str:
+        """Get OTAWP URL to retrieve a list of all priorities.
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                The getAllPriorities URL of OTAWP.
+                The AppWorks URL to get a list of all priorities.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["getAllPriorities"]
+        return self.config()["priorityListUrl"]
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_customer_url(self) -> str:
+    def get_create_customer_url(self) -> str:
         """Return create customer URL of OTAWP.
 
         Returns:
@@ -519,24 +683,24 @@ class OTAWP:
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["createCustomer"]
+        return self.config()["customerUrl"] + "?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_customeres_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return get all customers URL of OTAWP.
+    def get_customers_list_url(self) -> str:
+        """Get OTAWP URL to retrieve a list of all customers.
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                The get all customers URL.
+                The AppWorks URL to get a list of all customers.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["getAllCustomers"]
+        return self.config()["customerListUrl"]
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_casetype_url(self) -> str:
+    def get_create_casetype_url(self) -> str:
         """Return create case type URL of OTAWP.
 
         Returns:
@@ -545,12 +709,12 @@ class OTAWP:
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["createCaseType"]
+        return self.config()["caseTypeUrl"] + "?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_case_types_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return get all case types URL of OTAWP.
+    def get_casetypes_list_url(self) -> str:
+        """Get OTAWP URL to retrieve a list of all case types.
 
         Returns:
             str:
@@ -558,12 +722,12 @@ class OTAWP:
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["getAllCaseTypes"]
+        return self.config()["caseTypeListUrl"]
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_category_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return create category URL of OTAWP.
+    def get_create_category_url(self) -> str:
+        """Get OTAWP URL to create a category.
 
         Returns:
             str:
@@ -571,12 +735,12 @@ class OTAWP:
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["createCategory"]
+        return self.config()["categoryUrl"] + "?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_categories_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return the get all categories URL of OTAWP.
+    def get_categories_list_url(self) -> str:
+        """Get OTAWP URL to retrieve a list of all categories.
 
         Returns:
             str:
@@ -584,60 +748,65 @@ class OTAWP:
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["getAllCategories"]
+        return self.config()["categoryListUrl"]
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_loans_url(self) -> str:
-        """Return get all loans URL of OTAWP.
+    def get_create_case_url(self) -> str:
+        """Get OTAWP URL to create a case (e.g. a loan).
 
         Returns:
             str:
-                The get all loans URL.
+                The create case URL.
 
         """
 
-        return self.config()["getAllLoans"]
+        return self.config()["caseUrl"] + "?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def remove_namespace(self, tag: str) -> str:
-        """Remove namespace from XML tag."""
+    def get_cases_list_url(self) -> str:
+        """Return get all loans URL of OTAWP.
+
+        Returns:
+            str:
+                The get all loans URL.
+
+        """
 
-        return tag.split("}", 1)[-1]
+        return self.config()["caseListUrl"]
 
     # end method definition
 
     def parse_xml(self, xml_string: str) -> dict:
-        """Parse XML string and return a dictionary without namespaces."""
-
-        def element_to_dict(element) -> dict:  # noqa: ANN001
-            """Convert XML element to dictionary."""
-            tag = self.remove_namespace(element.tag)
-            children = list(element)
-            if children:
-                return {
-                    tag: {self.remove_namespace(child.tag): element_to_dict(child) for child in children},
-                }
-            return {tag: element.text.strip() if element.text else None}
+        """Parse XML string and return a dictionary without namespaces.
+
+        Args:
+            xml_string (str):
+                The XML string to process.
+
+        Returns:
+            dict:
+                The XML structure converted to a dictionary.
 
-        root = ET.fromstring(xml_string)
+        """
 
-        return element_to_dict(root)
+        return XML.xml_to_dict(xml_string=xml_string)
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def find_key(self, data: dict | list, target_key: str) -> str:
+    def find_key(self, data: dict | list, target_key: str) -> str | None:
         """Recursively search for a key in a nested dictionary and return its value.
 
         Args:
             data (dict | list):
-                TODO: _description_
+                The data structure to find a key in.
             target_key (str):
-                TODO: _description_
+                The key to find.
 
         Returns:
-            _type_: _description_
+            str:
+                The value for the key.
 
         """
 
@@ -658,6 +827,157 @@ class OTAWP:
 
     # end method definition
 
+    def get_soap_element(self, soap_response: str, soap_tag: str) -> str | None:
+        """Retrieve an element from the XML SOAP response.
+
+        Args:
+            soap_response (str):
+                The unparsed XML string of the SOAP response.
+            soap_tag (str):
+                The XML tag name (without namespace) of the element
+                incuding the text to be returned.
+
+        Returns:
+            str | None:
+                SOAP message if found in the SOAP response or NONE otherwise.
+
+        """
+
+        soap_data = self.parse_xml(soap_response)
+        soap_string = self.find_key(data=soap_data, target_key=soap_tag)
+
+        return soap_string
+
+    # end method definition
+
+    def do_request(
+        self,
+        url: str,
+        method: str = "GET",
+        headers: dict | None = None,
+        cookies: dict | None = None,
+        data: dict | None = None,
+        json_data: dict | None = None,
+        files: dict | None = None,
+        timeout: int | None = REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+        show_error: bool = True,
+        show_warning: bool = False,
+        warning_message: str = "",
+        failure_message: str = "",
+        success_message: str = "",
+        parse_request_response: bool = True,
+        verify: bool = True,
+    ) -> dict | None:
+        """Call an AppWorks REST API in a safe way.
+
+        Args:
+            url (str):
+                The URL to send the request to.
+            method (str, optional):
+                HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.). Defaults to "GET".
+            headers (dict | None, optional):
+                Request Headers. Defaults to None.
+            cookies (dict | None, optional):
+                Request cookies. Defaults to None.
+            data (dict | None, optional):
+                Request payload. Defaults to None
+            json_data (dict | None, optional):
+                Request payload for the JSON parameter. Defaults to None.
+            files (dict | None, optional):
+                Dictionary of {"name": file-tuple} for multipart encoding upload.
+                The file-tuple can be a 2-tuple ("filename", fileobj) or a 3-tuple ("filename", fileobj, "content_type")
+            timeout (int | None, optional):
+                Timeout for the request in seconds. Defaults to REQUEST_TIMEOUT.
+            show_error (bool, optional):
+                Whether or not an error should be logged in case of a failed REST call.
+                If False, then only a warning is logged. Defaults to True.
+            show_warning (bool, optional):
+                Whether or not an warning should be logged in case of a
+                failed REST call.
+                If False, then only a warning is logged. Defaults to True.
+            warning_message (str, optional):
+                Specific warning message. Defaults to "". If not given the error_message will be used.
+            failure_message (str, optional):
+                Specific error message. Defaults to "".
+            success_message (str, optional):
+                Specific success message. Defaults to "".
+            parse_request_response (bool, optional):
+                If True the response.text will be interpreted as json and loaded into a dictionary.
+                True is the default.
+            user_credentials (bool, optional):
+                Defines if admin or user credentials are used for the REST API call.
+                Default = False = admin credentials
+            verify (bool, optional):
+                Specify whether or not SSL certificates should be verified when making an HTTPS request.
+                Default = True
+
+        Returns:
+            dict | None:
+                Response of OTDS REST API or None in case of an error.
+
+        """
+
+        # In case of an expired session we reauthenticate and
+        # try 1 more time. Session expiration should not happen
+        # twice in a row:
+        retries = 0
+
+        while True:
+            try:
+                response = requests.request(
+                    method=method,
+                    url=url,
+                    data=data,
+                    json=json_data,
+                    files=files,
+                    headers=headers,
+                    cookies=cookies,
+                    timeout=timeout,
+                    verify=verify,
+                )
+
+            except requests.RequestException as req_exception:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "%s; error -> %s",
+                    failure_message if failure_message else "Request to -> %s failed",
+                    str(req_exception),
+                )
+                return None
+
+            if response.ok:
+                if success_message:
+                    self.logger.info(success_message)
+                if parse_request_response:
+                    return self.parse_request_response(response_object=response, show_error=show_error)
+                else:
+                    return response
+            # Check if Session has expired - then re-authenticate and try once more
+            elif response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
+                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
+                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
+                retries += 1
+                continue
+            elif show_error:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "%s; status -> %s/%s; error -> %s",
+                    failure_message,
+                    response.status_code,
+                    HTTPStatus(response.status_code).phrase,
+                    response.text,
+                )
+            elif show_warning:
+                self.logger.warning(
+                    "%s; status -> %s/%s; warning -> %s",
+                    warning_message if warning_message else failure_message,
+                    response.status_code,
+                    HTTPStatus(response.status_code).phrase,
+                    response.text,
+                )
+            return None
+        # end while True
+
+    # end method definition
+
     def parse_request_response(
         self,
         response_object: object,
@@ -706,207 +1026,540 @@ class OTAWP:
             else:
                 self.logger.warning(message)
             return None
+
         return dict_object
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def authenticate(self, revalidate: bool = False) -> dict | None:
-        """Authenticate at AppWorks.
+    def get_entity_value(self, entity: dict, key: str, show_error: bool = True) -> str | int | None:
+        """Read an entity value from the REST API response.
 
         Args:
-            revalidate (bool, optional):
-                Determine if a re-authentication is enforced
-                (e.g. if session has timed out with 401 error).
+            entity (dict):
+                An entity - typically consisting of a dictionary with a "_links" and "Properties" keys. Example:
+                {
+                    '_links': {
+                        'item': {...}
+                    },
+                    'Properties': {
+                        'Name': 'Test 1',
+                        'Description': 'Test 1 Description',
+                        'CasePrefix': 'TEST',
+                        'Status': 1
+                    }
+                }
+            key (str):
+                Key to find (e.g., "id", "name"). For key "id" there's a special
+                handling as the ID is only provided in the 'href' in the '_links'
+                sub-dictionary.
+            show_error (bool, optional):
+                Whether an error or just a warning should be logged.
 
         Returns:
-            dict:
-                Cookie information. Also stores cookie information in self._cookie
+            str | None:
+                Value of the entity property with the given key, or None if no value is found.
 
         """
 
-        self.logger.info("SAMLart generation started")
-        if self._cookie and not revalidate:
-            self.logger.debug(
-                "Session still valid - return existing cookie -> %s",
-                str(self._cookie),
-            )
-            return self._cookie
+        if not entity or "Properties" not in entity:
+            return None
 
-        otawp_ticket = "NotSet"
+        properties = entity["Properties"]
 
-        response = None
-        try:
-            self.credentials()
-            response = requests.post(
-                url=self.credential_url(),
-                data=self.credentials(),
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS,
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as exception:
-            self.logger.warning(
-                "Unable to connect to OTAWP authentication endpoint -> %s; error -> %s",
-                self.credential_url(),
-                str(exception),
-            )
-            self.logger.warning("OTAWP service may not be ready yet.")
+        if key not in properties and key != "id":
+            if show_error:
+                self.logger.error("Key -> '%s' not found in entity -> '%s'!", key, str(entity))
             return None
 
-        if response.ok:
-            self.logger.info("SAMLart generated successfully")
-            authenticate_dict = self.parse_xml(response.text)
-            if not authenticate_dict:
+        # special handling of IDs which we extract from the self href:
+        if key == "id" and "_links" in entity:
+            links = entity["_links"]
+            if "item" in links:
+                links = links["item"]
+            self_link = links.get("href")
+            match = re.search(r"/(\d+)(?=[^/]*$)", self_link)
+            if not match:
                 return None
-            assertion_artifact_dict = self.find_key(
-                authenticate_dict,
-                "AssertionArtifact",
-            )
-            if isinstance(assertion_artifact_dict, dict):
-                otawp_ticket = assertion_artifact_dict.get("AssertionArtifact")
-                self.logger.debug("SAML token -> %s", otawp_ticket)
-        else:
-            self.logger.error(
-                "Failed to request an OTAWP ticket; error -> %s",
-                response.text,
-            )
-            return None
-
-        self._cookie = {"defaultinst_SAMLart": otawp_ticket, "defaultinst_ct": "abcd"}
-        self._otawp_ticket = otawp_ticket
+            return int(match.group(1))
 
-        return self._cookie
+        return properties[key]
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_workspace(self, workspace_name: str, workspace_id: str) -> dict | None:
-        """Create a workspace in cws.
+    def get_result_value(
+        self,
+        response: dict,
+        entity_type: str,
+        key: str,
+        index: int = 0,
+        show_error: bool = True,
+    ) -> str | int | None:
+        """Read an item value from the REST API response.
 
         Args:
-            workspace_name (str):
-                The name of the workspace.
-            workspace_id (str):
-                The ID of the workspace.
+            response (dict):
+                REST API response object.
+            entity_type (str):
+                Name of the sub-dictionary holding the actual values.
+                This typically stands for the type of the AppWorks entity.
+            key (str):
+                Key to find (e.g., "id", "name").
+            index (int, optional):
+                Index to use if a list of results is delivered (1st element has index 0).
+                Defaults to 0.
+            show_error (bool, optional):
+                Whether an error or just a warning should be logged.
 
         Returns:
-            dict | None:
-                Response dictionary or error text
+            str | None:
+                Value of the item with the given key, or None if no value is found.
 
         """
 
-        self.logger.info(
-            "Create workspace -> '%s' (%s)...",
-            workspace_name,
-            workspace_id,
-        )
-        unique_id = uuid.uuid4()
+        if not response:
+            return None
 
-        license_post_body_json = f"""<SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
-    <SOAP:Body>
-        <createWorkspace xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/runtime/types/workspace/creation/DevelopmentWorkspaceCreator/1.0" async="false" workspaceID="__CWS System__" xmlns:c="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/1.0">
-            <instance>
-                <c:Document s="T" path="D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB5D652">
-                    <c:Header>
-                        <c:System>
-                            <c:TypeID>001A6B1E-0C0C-11DF-F5E9-866B84E5D671</c:TypeID>
-                            <c:ID>D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB5D652</c:ID>
-                            <c:Name>D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB5D652</c:Name>
-                            <c:Description>D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB5D652</c:Description>
-                        </c:System>
-                    </c:Header>
-                    <c:Content>
-                        <DevelopmentWorkspaceCreator type="com.cordys.cws.runtime.types.workspace.creation.DevelopmentWorkspaceCreator" runtimeDocumentID="D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB61652">
-                            <Workspace>
-                                <uri id="{workspace_id}"/>
-                            </Workspace>
-                        </DevelopmentWorkspaceCreator>
-                    </c:Content>
-                </c:Document>
-            </instance>
-            <__prefetch>
-                <Document xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/1.0" path="{workspace_name}" s="N" isLocal="IN_LOCAL">
-                    <Header>
-                        <System>
-                            <ID>{workspace_id}</ID>
-                            <Name>{workspace_name}</Name>
-                            <TypeID>{{4CE11E00-2D97-45C0-BC6C-FAEC1D871026}}</TypeID>
-                            <ParentID/>
-                            <Description>{workspace_name}</Description>
-                            <CreatedBy>sysadmin</CreatedBy>
-                            <CreationDate/>
-                            <LastModifiedBy>sysadmin</LastModifiedBy>
-                            <LastModifiedDate>2021-04-21T06:52:34.254</LastModifiedDate>
-                            <FQN/>
-                            <Annotation/>
-                            <ParentID/>
-                            <OptimisticLock/>
-                        </System>
-                    </Header>
-                    <Content>
-                        <DevelopmentWorkspace xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/runtime/types/workspace/DevelopmentWorkspace/1.0" runtimeDocumentID="D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB59652" type="com.cordys.cws.runtime.types.workspace.DevelopmentWorkspace">
-                            <ExternalID/>
-                            <OrganizationName/>
-                            <SCMAdapter>
-                                <uri id="{unique_id}"/>
-                            </SCMAdapter>
-                            <UpgradedTo/>
-                            <LastWorkspaceUpgradeStep/>
-                            <Metaspace/>
-                        </DevelopmentWorkspace>
-                    </Content>
-                </Document>
-                <Document xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/1.0" path="{workspace_name}/Untitled No SCM adapter" s="N" isLocal="IN_LOCAL">
-                    <Header>
-                        <System>
-                            <ID>{unique_id}</ID>
-                            <Name>Untitled No SCM adapter</Name>
-                            <TypeID>{{E89F3F62-8CA3-4F93-95A8-F76642FD5124}}</TypeID>
-                            <ParentID>{workspace_id}</ParentID>
-                            <Description>Untitled No SCM adapter</Description>
-                            <CreatedBy>sysadmin</CreatedBy>
-                            <CreationDate/>
-                            <LastModifiedBy>sysadmin</LastModifiedBy>
-                            <LastModifiedDate>2021-04-21T06:52:34.254</LastModifiedDate>
-                            <FQN/>
-                            <Annotation/>
-                            <OptimisticLock/>
-                        </System>
-                    </Header>
-                    <Content>
-                        <NullAdapter xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/runtime/types/teamdevelopment/NullAdapter/1.0" runtimeDocumentID="D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB51652" type="com.cordys.cws.runtime.types.teamdevelopment.NullAdapter">
-                            <Workspace>
-                                <uri id="{workspace_id}"/>
-                            </Workspace>
-                        </NullAdapter>
-                    </Content>
-                </Document>
-            </__prefetch>
-        </createWorkspace>
-    </SOAP:Body>
-</SOAP:Envelope>"""
+        if "_embedded" not in response:
+            return None
 
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.post(
-                url=self.gateway_url(),
-                data=license_post_body_json,
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+        embedded_data = response["_embedded"]
+
+        if entity_type not in embedded_data:
+            if show_error:
+                self.logger.error("Entity type -> '%s' is not included in response!", entity_type)
+            return None
+
+        entity_list = embedded_data[entity_type]
+
+        try:
+            entity = entity_list[index]
+        except KeyError:
+            if show_error:
+                self.logger.error("Response does not have an entity at index -> %d", index)
+            return None
+
+        return self.get_entity_value(entity=entity, key=key, show_error=show_error)
+
+    # end method definition
+
+    def get_result_values(
+        self,
+        response: dict,
+        entity_type: str,
+        key: str,
+        show_error: bool = True,
+    ) -> list | None:
+        """Read an values from the REST API response.
+
+        Args:
+            response (dict):
+                REST API response object.
+            entity_type (str):
+                Name of the sub-dictionary holding the actual values.
+                This typically stands for the type of the AppWorks entity.
+            key (str):
+                Key to find (e.g., "id", "name").
+            show_error (bool, optional):
+                Whether an error or just a warning should be logged.
+
+        Returns:
+            list | None:
+                Values of the items with the given key, or [] if the list
+                of values is empty, or None if the response is not in the
+                expected format.
+
+        """
+
+        results = []
+
+        if not response:
+            return None
+
+        if "_embedded" not in response:
+            return None
+
+        embedded_data = response["_embedded"]
+
+        if entity_type not in embedded_data:
+            if show_error:
+                self.logger.error("Entity type -> '%s' is not included in response!", entity_type)
+            return None
+
+        entity_list = embedded_data[entity_type]
+
+        for entity in entity_list or []:
+            entity_value = self.get_entity_value(entity=entity, key=key, show_error=show_error)
+            if entity_value:
+                results.append(entity_value)
+
+        return results
+
+    # end method definition
+
+    def get_result_item(
+        self,
+        response: dict,
+        entity_type: str,
+        key: str,
+        value: str,
+        show_error: bool = True,
+    ) -> dict | None:
+        """Check existence of key / value pair in the response properties of an REST API call.
+
+        Args:
+            response (dict):
+                REST response from an AppWorks REST Call.
+                Name of the sub-dictionary holding the actual values.
+                This typically stands for the type of the AppWorks entity.
+            entity_type (str):
+                Name of the sub-dictionary holding the actual values.
+                This typically stands for the type of the AppWorks entity.
+            key (str):
+                The property name (key).
+            value (str):
+                The value to find in the item with the matching key.
+            show_error (bool, optional):
+                Whether an error or just a warning should be logged.
+
+        Returns:
+            dict | None:
+                Entity data or None in case entity with key/value was not found.
+
+        """
+
+        if not response:
+            return None
+
+        if "_embedded" not in response:
+            return None
+
+        embedded_data = response["_embedded"]
+
+        if entity_type not in embedded_data:
+            if show_error:
+                self.logger.error("Entity type -> '%s' is not included in response!", entity_type)
+            return None
+
+        entity_list = embedded_data[entity_type]
+
+        for entity in entity_list:
+            if "Properties" not in entity:
+                continue
+
+            properties = entity["Properties"]
+
+            if key not in properties:
+                if show_error:
+                    self.logger.error("Key -> '%s' is not in properties of entity -> '%s'!", key, str(entity))
+                continue
+            if properties[key] == value:
+                return entity
+
+        return None
+
+    # end method definition
+
+    def authenticate(self, revalidate: bool = False) -> dict | None:
+        """Authenticate at AppWorks.
+
+        Args:
+            revalidate (bool, optional):
+                Determine if a re-authentication is enforced
+                (e.g. if session has timed out with 401 error).
+
+        Returns:
+            dict | None:
+                Cookie information. Also stores cookie information in self._cookie.
+                None in case of an error.
+
+        Example:
+        {
+            'defaultinst_SAMLart': 'e0pBVkEtQUVTL0...tj5m6w==',
+            'defaultinst_ct': 'abcd'
+        }
+
+        """
+
+        self.logger.info("Authenticate at AppWorks organization -> '%s'...", self.config()["organization"])
+
+        if self._cookie and not revalidate:
+            self.logger.debug(
+                "Session still valid - return existing cookie -> %s",
+                str(self._cookie),
             )
+            return self._cookie
+
+        otawp_ticket = "NotSet"
+
+        request_url = self.credential_url()
+
+        retries = 0
+        response = None  # seems to be necessary here
+
+        while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
+            try:
+                response = requests.post(
+                    url=request_url,
+                    data=self.credentials(),
+                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_XML,
+                    timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+                )
+            except requests.exceptions.RequestException as exception:
+                self.logger.warning(
+                    "Unable to connect to OTAWP authentication endpoint -> %s; error -> %s",
+                    self.credential_url(),
+                    str(exception),
+                )
+                self.logger.warning("OTAWP service may not be ready yet. Retry in %d seconds...", REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+                time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+                retries += 1
+                continue
+
+            if response.ok:
+                soap_response = self.parse_xml(xml_string=response.text)
+                if not soap_response:
+                    self.logger.error("Failed to parse the SOAP response with the authentication data!")
+                    self.logger.debug("SOAP message -> %s", response.text)
+                    return None
+                otawp_ticket = self.find_key(
+                    data=soap_response,
+                    target_key="AssertionArtifact",
+                )
+                if otawp_ticket:
+                    self.logger.info(
+                        "Successfully authenticated at AppWorks organization -> '%s' with URL -> %s and user -> '%s'.",
+                        self.config()["organization"],
+                        self.credential_url(),
+                        self.config()["username"],
+                    )
+                    self.logger.debug("SAML token -> %s", otawp_ticket)
+                    self._cookie = {"defaultinst_SAMLart": otawp_ticket, "defaultinst_ct": "abcd"}
+                    self._otawp_ticket = otawp_ticket
+
+                    return self._cookie
+                else:
+                    self.logger.error(
+                        "Cannot retrieve OTAWP ticket! Received corrupt authentication data -> %s",
+                        response.text,
+                    )
+                    return None
+            else:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Failed to request an OTAWP ticket at authentication URL -> %s with user -> '%s'!%s",
+                    self.credential_url(),
+                    self.config()["username"],
+                    " Reason -> '{}'".format(response.reason) if response.reason else "",
+                )
+                return None
+
+        self.logger.error(
+            "Authentication at AppWorks platform failed after %d retries. %sBailing out.",
+            REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES,
+            "{}. ".format(response.text) if response and response.text else "",
+        )
+        return None
+
+    # end method definition
+
+    def create_workspace(
+        self, workspace_name: str, workspace_id: str, show_error: bool = True
+    ) -> tuple[dict | None, bool]:
+        """Create a workspace in cws.
+
+        Args:
+            workspace_name (str):
+                The name of the workspace.
+            workspace_id (str):
+                The ID of the workspace.
+            show_error (bool, optional):
+                Whether to show an error or a warning instead.
+
+        Returns:
+            dict | None:
+                Response dictionary or error text.
+            bool:
+                True, if a new workspace has been created, False if the workspace did already exist.
+
+        """
+
+        self.logger.info(
+            "Create workspace -> '%s' (%s)...",
+            workspace_name,
+            workspace_id,
+        )
+
+        unique_id = uuid.uuid4()
+
+        create_workspace_data = f"""
+        <SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
+            <SOAP:Body>
+                <createWorkspace xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/runtime/types/workspace/creation/DevelopmentWorkspaceCreator/1.0" async="false" workspaceID="__CWS System__" xmlns:c="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/1.0">
+                    <instance>
+                        <c:Document s="T" path="D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB5D652">
+                            <c:Header>
+                                <c:System>
+                                    <c:TypeID>001A6B1E-0C0C-11DF-F5E9-866B84E5D671</c:TypeID>
+                                    <c:ID>D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB5D652</c:ID>
+                                    <c:Name>D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB5D652</c:Name>
+                                    <c:Description>D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB5D652</c:Description>
+                                </c:System>
+                            </c:Header>
+                            <c:Content>
+                                <DevelopmentWorkspaceCreator type="com.cordys.cws.runtime.types.workspace.creation.DevelopmentWorkspaceCreator" runtimeDocumentID="D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB61652">
+                                    <Workspace>
+                                        <uri id="{workspace_id}"/>
+                                    </Workspace>
+                                </DevelopmentWorkspaceCreator>
+                            </c:Content>
+                        </c:Document>
+                    </instance>
+                    <__prefetch>
+                        <Document xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/1.0" path="{workspace_name}" s="N" isLocal="IN_LOCAL">
+                            <Header>
+                                <System>
+                                    <ID>{workspace_id}</ID>
+                                    <Name>{workspace_name}</Name>
+                                    <TypeID>{{4CE11E00-2D97-45C0-BC6C-FAEC1D871026}}</TypeID>
+                                    <ParentID/>
+                                    <Description>{workspace_name}</Description>
+                                    <CreatedBy>sysadmin</CreatedBy>
+                                    <CreationDate/>
+                                    <LastModifiedBy>sysadmin</LastModifiedBy>
+                                    <LastModifiedDate>2021-04-21T06:52:34.254</LastModifiedDate>
+                                    <FQN/>
+                                    <Annotation/>
+                                    <ParentID/>
+                                    <OptimisticLock/>
+                                </System>
+                            </Header>
+                            <Content>
+                                <DevelopmentWorkspace xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/runtime/types/workspace/DevelopmentWorkspace/1.0" runtimeDocumentID="D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB59652" type="com.cordys.cws.runtime.types.workspace.DevelopmentWorkspace">
+                                    <ExternalID/>
+                                    <OrganizationName/>
+                                    <SCMAdapter>
+                                        <uri id="{unique_id}"/>
+                                    </SCMAdapter>
+                                    <UpgradedTo/>
+                                    <LastWorkspaceUpgradeStep/>
+                                    <Metaspace/>
+                                </DevelopmentWorkspace>
+                            </Content>
+                        </Document>
+                        <Document xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/1.0" path="{workspace_name}/Untitled No SCM adapter" s="N" isLocal="IN_LOCAL">
+                            <Header>
+                                <System>
+                                    <ID>{unique_id}</ID>
+                                    <Name>Untitled No SCM adapter</Name>
+                                    <TypeID>{{E89F3F62-8CA3-4F93-95A8-F76642FD5124}}</TypeID>
+                                    <ParentID>{workspace_id}</ParentID>
+                                    <Description>Untitled No SCM adapter</Description>
+                                    <CreatedBy>sysadmin</CreatedBy>
+                                    <CreationDate/>
+                                    <LastModifiedBy>sysadmin</LastModifiedBy>
+                                    <LastModifiedDate>2021-04-21T06:52:34.254</LastModifiedDate>
+                                    <FQN/>
+                                    <Annotation/>
+                                    <OptimisticLock/>
+                                </System>
+                            </Header>
+                            <Content>
+                                <NullAdapter xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/runtime/types/teamdevelopment/NullAdapter/1.0" runtimeDocumentID="D43B04C1-CD0B-A1EB-A898-53C71DB51652" type="com.cordys.cws.runtime.types.teamdevelopment.NullAdapter">
+                                    <Workspace>
+                                        <uri id="{workspace_id}"/>
+                                    </Workspace>
+                                </NullAdapter>
+                            </Content>
+                        </Document>
+                    </__prefetch>
+                </createWorkspace>
+            </SOAP:Body>
+        </SOAP:Envelope>"""
+
+        error_messages = [
+            "Collaborative Workspace Service Container is not able to handle the SOAP request",
+            "Service Group Lookup failure",
+        ]
+
+        exist_messages = [
+            "Object already exists",
+            "createWorkspaceResponse",
+        ]
+
+        request_url = self.gateway_url()
+
+        retries = 0
+
+        while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
+            try:
+                response = requests.post(
+                    url=request_url,
+                    data=create_workspace_data,
+                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_XML,
+                    cookies=self.cookie(),
+                    timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+                )
+            except requests.RequestException as req_exception:
+                self.logger.warning(
+                    "Request to create workspace -> '%s' failed with error -> %s. Retry in %d seconds...",
+                    workspace_name,
+                    str(req_exception),
+                    REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY,
+                )
+                time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+                retries += 1
+                continue
+
             if response.ok:
                 self.logger.info(
-                    "Successfully created workspace -> '%s' with ID -> %s",
+                    "Successfully created workspace -> '%s' (%s).",
                     workspace_name,
                     workspace_id,
                 )
-                return response.text
+                # True indicates that a new workspaces has been created.
+                return (self.parse_xml(response.text), True)
+
             # Check if Session has expired - then re-authenticate and try once more
             if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
+                self.logger.warning("Session expired. Re-authenticating...")
                 self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
                 retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return response.text
+                continue
+
+            # Check if the workspace does exist already:
+            if any(exist_message in response.text for exist_message in exist_messages):
+                self.logger.info("Workspace -> '%s' with ID -> '%s' already exists!", workspace_name, workspace_id)
+                self.logger.debug("SOAP message -> %s", response.text)
+
+                # False indicates that a new workspaces has NOT been created.
+                return (self.parse_xml(response.text), False)
+
+            # Check if any error message is in the response:
+            if any(error_message in response.text for error_message in error_messages):
+                self.logger.warning(
+                    "Workspace service error, waiting %d seconds to retry... (Retry %d of %d)",
+                    REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY,
+                    retries + 1,
+                    REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES,
+                )
+                self.logger.debug("SOAP message -> %s", response.text)
+                time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+                retries += 1
+
+        # end while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
+
+        # After max retries, log and return the response or handle as needed
+        if show_error:
+            self.logger.error(
+                "Max retries reached for workspace -> '%s', unable to create workspace.",
+                workspace_name,
+            )
+        else:
+            self.logger.warning(
+                "Max retries reached for workspace -> '%s', unable to create workspace.",
+                workspace_name,
+            )
+
+        return (None, False)
 
     # end method definition
 
@@ -925,13 +1578,17 @@ class OTAWP:
 
         """
 
-        self.logger.info(
-            "Starting synchronization of workspace -> '%s'...",
-            workspace_name,
-        )
+        if not workspace_id:
+            self.logger.error(
+                "Cannot synchronize workspace%s without a workspace ID!",
+                " -> '{}'".format(workspace_name) if workspace_name else "",
+            )
+            return None
+
+        self.logger.info("Starting synchronization of workspace -> '%s' (%s)...", workspace_name, workspace_id)
 
         # SOAP request body
-        license_post_body_json = f"""
+        sync_workspace_data = f"""
         <SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
             <SOAP:Body>
                 <Synchronize workspaceID="{workspace_id}" xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/synchronize/1.0">
@@ -942,47 +1599,62 @@ class OTAWP:
         </SOAP:Envelope>
         """
 
+        request_url = self.gateway_url()
+
+        self.logger.debug(
+            "Synchronize workspace -> '%s' (%s); calling -> '%s'",
+            workspace_name,
+            workspace_id,
+            request_url,
+        )
+
         retries = 0
-        max_retries = 6
-        retry_delay = 60
 
-        while retries < max_retries:
+        while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
             try:
                 response = requests.post(
-                    url=self.gateway_url(),
-                    data=license_post_body_json,
-                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS,
+                    url=request_url,
+                    data=sync_workspace_data,
+                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_XML,
                     cookies=self.cookie(),
                     timeout=SYNC_PUBLISH_REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
                 )
+            except requests.RequestException as req_exception:
+                self.logger.warning(
+                    "Request to synchronize workspace -> '%s' failed with error -> %s. Retry in %d seconds...",
+                    workspace_name,
+                    str(req_exception),
+                    REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY,
+                )
+                time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+                retries += 1
+                continue
 
-                if response.ok:
-                    self.logger.info(
-                        "Workspace -> '%s' synchronized successfully.",
-                        workspace_name,
-                    )
-                    return self.parse_xml(response.text)
+            if response.ok:
+                self.logger.info("Successfully synchronized workspace -> '%s' (%s).", workspace_name, workspace_id)
+                return self.parse_xml(response.text)
 
-                if response.status_code == 401:
-                    self.logger.warning("Session expired. Re-authenticating...")
-                    self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                    retries += 1
-                    continue
+            # Check if Session has expired - then re-authenticate and try once more
+            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
+                self.logger.warning("Session expired. Re-authenticating...")
+                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
+                retries += 1
+                continue
 
-                if "faultcode" in response.text or "FaultDetails" in response.text:
-                    self.logger.warning("SOAP fault occurred: %s", response.text)
-                    retries += 1
-                    time.sleep(retry_delay)
-                    continue
+            if SOAP_FAULT_INDICATOR in response.text:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Workspace synchronization failed with error -> '%s' when calling -> %s!",
+                    self.get_soap_element(soap_response=response.text, soap_tag="faultstring"),
+                    self.get_soap_element(soap_response=response.text, soap_tag="faultactor"),
+                )
+                self.logger.debug("SOAP message -> %s", response.text)
+                return None
 
-                self.logger.error("Unexpected error during sync: %s", response.text)
-                time.sleep(retry_delay)
-                retries += 1
+            self.logger.error("Unexpected error during workspace synchronization -> %s", response.text)
+            time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+            retries += 1
 
-            except requests.RequestException:
-                self.logger.error("Sync failed with error. Proceeding with retry...")
-                time.sleep(retry_delay)
-                retries += 1
+        # end while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
 
         self.logger.error(
             "Synchronization failed for workspace -> '%s' after %d retries.",
@@ -996,30 +1668,55 @@ class OTAWP:
     def publish_project(
         self,
         workspace_name: str,
-        project_name: str,
         workspace_id: str,
+        project_name: str,
         project_id: str,
-    ) -> dict | bool:
+    ) -> bool:
         """Publish the workspace project.
 
         Args:
-            workspace_name (str): The name of the workspace.
-            project_name (str): The name of the project.
-            workspace_id (str): The workspace ID.
-            project_id (str): The project ID.
+            workspace_name (str):
+                The name of the workspace.
+            workspace_id (str):
+                The workspace ID.
+            project_name (str):
+                The name of the project.
+            project_id (str):
+                The project ID.
 
         Returns:
-            dict | bool: Request response (dictionary) if successful, False if it fails after retries.
+            bool:
+                True if successful, False if it fails after retries.
 
         """
 
         self.logger.info(
-            "Publish project -> '%s' in workspace -> '%s'...",
+            "Publish project -> '%s' (%s) in workspace -> '%s' (%s)...",
             project_name,
+            project_id,
             workspace_name,
+            workspace_id,
         )
 
-        project_publish = f"""<SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
+        # Validation of parameters:
+        required_fields = {
+            "workspace": workspace_name,
+            "workspace ID": workspace_id,
+            "project": project_name,
+            "project ID": project_id,
+        }
+
+        for name, value in required_fields.items():
+            if not value:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Cannot publish project%s without a %s!",
+                    " -> '{}'".format(project_name) if project_name else "",
+                    name,
+                )
+                return None
+
+        project_publish_data = f"""
+        <SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
             <SOAP:Body>
                 <deployObject xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/internal/buildhelper/BuildHelper/1.0" async="false" workspaceID="{workspace_id}" xmlns:c="http://schemas.cordys.com/cws/1.0">
                     <object>
@@ -1027,62 +1724,72 @@ class OTAWP:
                     </object>
                 </deployObject>
             </SOAP:Body>
-        </SOAP:Envelope>"""
+        </SOAP:Envelope>
+        """
 
         # Initialize retry parameters
-        max_retries = 10
         retries = 0
         success_indicator = "deployObjectResponse"
 
-        while retries < max_retries:
+        while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
             try:
                 response = requests.post(
                     url=self.gateway_url(),
-                    data=project_publish,
-                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS,
+                    data=project_publish_data,
+                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_XML,
                     cookies=self.cookie(),
                     timeout=SYNC_PUBLISH_REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
                 )
+            except requests.RequestException as req_exception:
+                self.logger.warning(
+                    "Request to publish project -> '%s' (%s) failed with error -> %s. Retry in %d seconds...",
+                    project_name,
+                    project_id,
+                    str(req_exception),
+                    REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY,
+                )
+                retries += 1
+                time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+                continue
 
-                # Check if the response is successful
-                if response.ok:
-                    if success_indicator in response.text:
-                        self.logger.info(
-                            "Successfully published project -> '%s' in workspace -> '%s'",
-                            project_name,
-                            workspace_name,
-                        )
-                        return True
-                    else:
-                        self.logger.warning(
-                            "Expected success indicator -> '%s' but it was not found in response. Retrying in 30 seconds... (Attempt %d of %d)",
-                            success_indicator,
-                            retries + 1,
-                            max_retries,
-                        )
-                elif response.status_code == 401:
-                    # Check for session expiry and retry authentication
-                    self.logger.warning("Session has expired - re-authenticating...")
-                    self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
+            # Check if the response is successful
+            if response.ok:
+                if success_indicator in response.text:
+                    self.logger.info(
+                        "Successfully published project -> '%s' (%s) in workspace -> '%s' (%s)",
+                        project_name,
+                        project_id,
+                        workspace_name,
+                        workspace_id,
+                    )
+                    return True
                 else:
-                    self.logger.error(
-                        "Unexpected error (status code %d). Retrying in 30 seconds... (Attempt %d of %d)",
-                        response.status_code,
+                    self.logger.warning(
+                        "Expected success indicator -> '%s' but it was not found in response. Retrying in 30 seconds... (Attempt %d of %d)",
+                        success_indicator,
                         retries + 1,
-                        max_retries,
+                        REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES,
                     )
-                    self.logger.error(
-                        "Error details: %s",
-                        response.text,
-                    )
-                self.sync_workspace(workspace_name, workspace_id)
-                retries += 1
-                time.sleep(30)
+            elif response.status_code == 401:
+                # Check for session expiry and retry authentication
+                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - re-authenticating...")
+                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
+            else:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Unexpected error (status code -> %d). Retrying in 30 seconds... (Attempt %d of %d)",
+                    response.status_code,
+                    retries + 1,
+                    REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES,
+                )
+                self.logger.debug(
+                    "SOAP message -> %s",
+                    response.text,
+                )
+            self.sync_workspace(workspace_name=workspace_name, workspace_id=workspace_id)
+            retries += 1
+            time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
 
-            except requests.RequestException:
-                self.logger.error("Sync failed with error. Proceeding with retry...")
-                retries += 1
-                time.sleep(30)
+        # end while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
 
         # After reaching the maximum number of retries, log failure and return False
         self.logger.error(
@@ -1090,376 +1797,185 @@ class OTAWP:
             project_name,
             workspace_name,
         )
+
         return False
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_priority(self, name: str, description: str, status: int) -> dict | None:
-        """Create Priority entity instances.
+    def create_priority(self, name: str, description: str = "", status: int = 1) -> dict | None:
+        """Create Priority entity instance.
 
         Args:
-            name (str): name
-            description (str): description
-            status (int): status
+            name (str):
+                The name of the priority.
+            description (str, optional):
+                The description of the priority.
+            status (int, optional):
+                The status of the priority. Default is 1.
 
         Returns:
             dict:
                 Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails
 
-        """
-        create_priority = {
-            "Properties": {"Name": name, "Description": description, "Status": status},
-        }
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.post(
-                url=self.create_priority_url(),
-                json=create_priority,
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                self.logger.info("Priority created successfully")
-                return self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
-
-    # end method definition
-
-    def get_all_priorities(self) -> dict | None:
-        """Get all priorities from entity.
-
-        Args:
-            None
-
-        Returns:
-            dict:
-                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
-
-        """
-
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.get(
-                url=self.get_all_priorities_url(),
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                authenticate_dict = self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-                if not authenticate_dict:
-                    return None
-                return authenticate_dict
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
-
-    # end method definition
-
-    def create_customer(
-        self,
-        customer_name: str,
-        legal_business_name: str,
-        trading_name: str,
-    ) -> dict | None:
-        """Create customer entity instance.
-
-        Args:
-            customer_name (str):
-                The name of the customer.
-            legal_business_name (str):
-                The legal business name.
-            trading_name (str):
-                The trading name.
-
-        Returns:
-            dict:
-                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
-
-        """
-
-        create_customer = {
-            "Properties": {
-                "CustomerName": customer_name,
-                "LegalBusinessName": legal_business_name,
-                "TradingName": trading_name,
+        Example:
+        {
+            'Identity': {
+                'Id': '327681'
             },
+            '_links': {
+                'self': {
+                    'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Priority/items/327681'
+                }
+            }
         }
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.post(
-                url=self.create_customer_url(),
-                json=create_customer,
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                self.logger.info("Customer record created successfully")
-                return self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
-
-    # end method definition
-
-    def get_all_customers(self) -> dict | None:
-        """Get all customer entity imstances.
-
-        Args:
-            None
-
-        Returns:
-            dict:
-                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails
 
         """
 
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.get(
-                url=self.get_all_customeres_url(),
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                authenticate_dict = self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-                if not authenticate_dict:
-                    return None
-                return authenticate_dict
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
+        # Sanity checks as the parameters come directly from payload:
+        if not name:
+            self.logger.error("Cannot create a priority without a name!")
             return None
 
-    # end method definition
-
-    def create_case_type(self, name: str, description: str, status: int) -> dict | None:
-        """Create case type entity instances.
-
-        Args:
-            name (str):
-                The name of the case type.
-            description (str):
-                The description of the case type.
-            status (str): status
-
-        Returns:
-            dict:
-                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
-
-        """
-
-        create_case_type = {
+        create_priority_data = {
             "Properties": {"Name": name, "Description": description, "Status": status},
         }
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.post(
-                url=self.create_casetype_url(),
-                json=create_case_type,
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                self.logger.info("Case type created successfully")
-                return self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
+
+        request_url = self.get_create_priority_url()
+
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="POST",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            json_data=create_priority_data,
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to create priority -> '{}' failed".format(name),
+        )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_case_type(self) -> dict | None:
-        """Get all case type entty instances.
+    def get_priorities(self) -> dict | None:
+        """Get all priorities from entity.
 
         Args:
             None
 
         Returns:
             dict:
-                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
+                Request response (dictionary with priority values) or None if the REST call fails.
+
+        Example:
+        {
+            'page': {
+                'skip': 0,
+                'top': 0,
+                'count': 4,
+                'ftsEnabled': False
+            },
+            '_links': {
+                'self': {
+                    'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Priority/lists/PriorityList'
+                },
+                'first': {
+                    'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Priority/lists/PriorityList'
+                }
+            },
+            '_embedded': {
+                'PriorityList': {
+                    'PriorityList': [
+                        {
+                            '_links': {
+                                'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Priority/items/1'
+                            },
+                            'Properties': {
+                                'Name': 'High',
+                                'Description': 'High',
+                                'Status': 1
+                            }
+                        },
+                        {
+                            '_links': {'item': {...}},
+                            'Properties': {'Name': 'Medium', 'Description': 'Medium', 'Status': 1}
+                        },
+                        {
+                            '_links': {'item': {...}},
+                            'Properties': {'Name': 'Low', 'Description': 'Low', 'Status': 1}
+                        },
+                        {
+                            '_links': {'item': {...}},
+                            'Properties': {'Name': 'Marc Test 1', 'Description': 'Marc Test 1 Description', 'Status': 1}
+                        }
+                    ]
+                }
+            }
+        }
 
         """
 
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.get(
-                url=self.get_all_case_types_url(),
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                authenticate_dict = self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-                if not authenticate_dict:
-                    return None
-                return authenticate_dict
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
+        request_url = self.get_priorities_list_url()
 
-    # end method definition
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="GET",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to get priorities failed",
+        )
 
-    def create_category(
-        self,
-        case_prefix: str,
-        description: str,
-        name: str,
-        status: int,
-    ) -> dict | None:
-        """Create category entity instance.
+    # end method definition
+
+    def get_priority_by_name(self, name: str) -> dict | None:
+        """Get priority entity instance by its name.
 
         Args:
-            case_prefix (str):
-                The prefix for the case.
-            description (str):
-                The description for the category.
             name (str):
-                The name of the case.
-            status (int):
-                The status code.
+                The name of the priority.
 
         Returns:
-            dict:
-                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
+            dict | None:
+                Returns the priority item or None if it does not exist.
 
         """
 
-        create_categoty = {
-            "Properties": {
-                "CasePrefix": case_prefix,
-                "Description": description,
-                "Name": name,
-                "Status": status,
-            },
-        }
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.post(
-                url=self.create_category_url(),
-                json=create_categoty,
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                self.logger.info("Category created successfully")
-                return self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
+        priorities = self.get_priorities()
+
+        return self.get_result_item(response=priorities, entity_type="PriorityList", key="Name", value=name)
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_categories(self) -> dict | None:
-        """Get all categories entity intances.
+    def get_priority_ids(self) -> list:
+        """Get all priority entity instances IDs.
 
         Args:
             None
         Returns:
-            dict:
-                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
+            list:
+                A list with all priority IDs.
 
         """
 
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.get(
-                url=self.get_all_categories_url(),
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                authenticate_dict = self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-                if not authenticate_dict:
-                    return None
-                return authenticate_dict
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
+        priorities = self.get_priorities()
+
+        return self.get_result_values(response=priorities, entity_type="PriorityList", key="id") or []
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_sub_categoy(
+    def create_customer(
         self,
-        name: str,
-        description: str,
-        status: int,
-        parent_id: int,
+        customer_name: str,
+        legal_business_name: str,
+        trading_name: str,
     ) -> dict | None:
-        """Create sub categoy entity instances.
+        """Create customer entity instance.
 
         Args:
-            name (str):
-                The name of the sub-category.
-            description (str):
-                The description for the sub-category.
-            status (int):
-                The status ID.
-            parent_id (int):
-                The parent ID of the category.
+            customer_name (str):
+                The name of the customer.
+            legal_business_name (str):
+                The legal business name.
+            trading_name (str):
+                The trading name.
 
         Returns:
             dict:
@@ -1467,786 +1983,810 @@ class OTAWP:
 
         """
 
-        create_sub_categoty = {
-            "Properties": {"Name": name, "Description": description, "Status": status},
-        }
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            base_url = self.baseurl()
-            endpoint = "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/items/"
-            child_path = "/childEntities/SubCategory?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
-            response = requests.post(
-                url=base_url + endpoint + str(parent_id) + child_path,
-                json=create_sub_categoty,
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                self.logger.info("Sub category created successfully")
-                return self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
+        # Sanity checks as the parameters come directly from payload:
+        if not customer_name:
+            self.logger.error("Cannot create a customer without a name!")
             return None
 
+        create_customer_data = {
+            "Properties": {
+                "CustomerName": customer_name,
+                "LegalBusinessName": legal_business_name,
+                "TradingName": trading_name,
+            },
+        }
+
+        request_url = self.get_create_customer_url()
+
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="POST",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            json_data=create_customer_data,
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to create customer -> '{}' failed".format(customer_name),
+        )
+
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_sub_categeries(self, parent_id: int) -> dict | None:
-        """Get all sub categeries entity instances.
+    def get_customers(self) -> dict | None:
+        """Get all customer entity instances.
 
         Args:
-            parent_id (int):
-                The parent ID of the sub categories.
+            None
 
         Returns:
-            dict:
+            dict | None:
                 Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
 
+        Example:
+        {
+            'page': {
+                'skip': 0,
+                'top': 0,
+                'count': 4,
+                'ftsEnabled': False
+            },
+            '_links': {
+                'self': {
+                    'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Customer/lists/CustomerList'
+                },
+                'first': {...}
+            },
+            '_embedded': {
+                'CustomerList': [
+                    {
+                        '_links': {
+                            'item': {
+                                'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Customer/items/1'
+                            }
+                        },
+                        'Properties': {
+                            'CustomerName': 'InaPlex Limited',
+                            'LegalBusinessName': 'InaPlex Limited',
+                            'TradingName': 'InaPlex Limited'
+                        }
+                    },
+                    {
+                        '_links': {...},
+                        'Properties': {...}
+                    },
+                    ...
+                ]
+            }
+        }
+
         """
 
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            base_url = self.baseurl()
-            endpoint = "/app/entityRestService/api/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/items/"
-            child_path = "/childEntities/SubCategory"
-            response = requests.get(
-                url=base_url + endpoint + str(parent_id) + child_path,
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                authenticate_dict = self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-                if not authenticate_dict:
-                    return None
-                return authenticate_dict
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
+        request_url = self.get_customers_list_url()
+
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="GET",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to get customers failed",
+        )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_loan(
-        self,
-        subject: str,
-        description: str,
-        loan_amount: str,
-        loan_duration_in_months: str,
-        category: str,
-        subcategory: str,
-        priority: str,
-        service: str,
-        customer: str,
-    ) -> dict | None:
-        """Create loan entity instance.
+    def get_customer_by_name(self, name: str) -> dict | None:
+        """Get customer entity instance by its name.
 
         Args:
-            subject (str): subject
-            description (str): description
-            loan_amount (str): loan_amount
-            loan_duration_in_months (str): loan_duration_in_months
-            category (str): category
-            subcategory (str): subcategory
-            priority (str): priority
-            service (str): service
-            customer (str): customer
-        Returns:
-            dict: Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails
-
-        """
-
-        create_loan = f"""<SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP=\"http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/\">\r\n
-  <SOAP:Body>\r\n
-    <CreateCase xmlns=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Case/operations\">\r\n
-      <ns0:Case-create xmlns:ns0=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Case\">\r\n
-        <ns0:Subject>{subject}</ns0:Subject>\r\n
-        <ns0:Description>{description}</ns0:Description>\r\n
-        <ns0:LoanAmount>{loan_amount}</ns0:LoanAmount>\r\n
-        <ns0:LoanDurationInMonths>{loan_duration_in_months}</ns0:LoanDurationInMonths>\r\n
-        \r\n
-        <ns0:CaseType>\r\n
-          <ns1:CaseType-id xmlns:ns1=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/CaseType\">\r\n
-            <ns1:Id>{service}</ns1:Id>\r\n
-          </ns1:CaseType-id>\r\n
-        </ns0:CaseType>\r\n
-        \r\n
-        <ns0:Category>\r\n
-          <ns2:Category-id xmlns:ns2=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Category\">\r\n
-            <ns2:Id>{category}</ns2:Id>\r\n
-          </ns2:Category-id>\r\n
-        </ns0:Category>\r\n
-        \r\n
-        <ns0:SubCategory>\r\n
-          <ns5:SubCategory-id xmlns:ns5=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Category.SubCategory\">\r\n
-            <ns5:Id>{category}</ns5:Id>\r\n
-            <ns5:Id1>{subcategory}</ns5:Id1>\r\n
-          </ns5:SubCategory-id>\r\n
-        </ns0:SubCategory>\r\n
-        \r\n
-        <ns0:Priority>\r\n
-          <ns3:Priority-id xmlns:ns3=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Priority\">\r\n
-            <ns3:Id>{priority}</ns3:Id>\r\n
-          </ns3:Priority-id>\r\n
-        </ns0:Priority>\r\n
-\r\n
-        <ns0:ToCustomer>\r\n
-          <ns9:Customer-id xmlns:ns9=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Customer\">\r\n
-            <ns9:Id>{customer}</ns9:Id>\r\n
-          </ns9:Customer-id>\r\n
-        </ns0:ToCustomer>\r\n
-\r\n
-      </ns0:Case-create>\r\n
-    </CreateCase>\r\n
-  </SOAP:Body>\r\n
-</SOAP:Envelope>"""
+            name (str):
+                The name of the customer.
 
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.post(
-                url=self.gateway_url(),
-                data=create_loan,
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                self.logger.info("Loan created successfully")
-                return self.parse_xml(response.text)
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            self.logger.error(response.text)
-            return None
+        Returns:
+            dict | None:
+                Returns the customer data or None if no customer with the given name exists.
+
+        """
+
+        customers = self.get_customers()
+
+        return self.get_result_item(response=customers, entity_type="CustomerList", key="CustomerName", value=name)
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_all_loan(self) -> dict | None:
-        """Get all loan entity instances.
+    def get_customer_ids(self) -> list:
+        """Get all customer entity instances IDs.
 
         Args:
-           None
-
+            None
         Returns:
-            dict:
-                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
+            list:
+                A list of all customer IDs.
 
         """
 
-        retries = 0
-        while True:
-            response = requests.get(
-                url=self.get_all_loans_url(),
-                headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
-                cookies=self.cookie(),
-                timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
-            )
-            if response.ok:
-                authenticate_dict = self.parse_request_response(
-                    response_object=response,
-                    additional_error_message="This can be normal during restart",
-                    show_error=False,
-                )
-                if not authenticate_dict:
-                    return None
-                return authenticate_dict
-            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
-                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                retries += 1
-            else:
-                self.logger.error(response.text)
-                return None
+        customers = self.get_customers()
+
+        return self.get_result_values(response=customers, entity_type="CustomerList", key="id") or []
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def validate_workspace_response(self, response: str, workspace_name: str) -> bool:
-        """Verify if the workspace exists or was created successfully.
+    def create_case_type(self, name: str, description: str = "", status: int = 1) -> dict | None:
+        """Create case type entity instances.
 
         Args:
-            response (str): response to validate
-            workspace_name (str): The name of the workspace.
+            name (str):
+                The name of the case type.
+            description (str, optional):
+                The description of the case type.
+            status (int, optional): status
 
         Returns:
-            bool: True if the workspace exists or was created successfully, else False.
+            dict:
+                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
 
         """
 
-        if "Object already exists" in response or "createWorkspaceResponse" in response:
-            self.logger.info(
-                "The workspace already exists or was created with the name -> '%s'",
-                workspace_name,
-            )
-            return True
+        # Sanity checks as the parameters come directly from payload:
+        if not name:
+            self.logger.error("Cannot create a case type without a name!")
+            return None
 
-        self.logger.info(
-            "The workspace -> '%s' does not exist or was not created. Please verify configurtion!",
-            workspace_name,
+        create_case_type_data = {
+            "Properties": {"Name": name, "Description": description, "Status": status},
+        }
+
+        request_url = self.get_create_casetype_url()
+
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="POST",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            json_data=create_case_type_data,
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to create case type -> '{}' failed".format(name),
         )
-        return False
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def is_workspace_already_exists(self, response: str, workspace_name: str) -> bool:
-        """Verify if workspace exists.
+    def get_case_types(self) -> dict | None:
+        """Get all case type entity instances.
 
         Args:
-            response (str):
-                The response.
-            workspace_name (str):
-                The name of the workspace.
+            None
 
         Returns:
-            bool:
-                Return True if workspace exist else return false.
+            dict:
+                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
+
+        Example:
+        {
+            'page': {
+                'skip': 0,
+                'top': 0,
+                'count': 5,
+                'ftsEnabled': False
+            },
+            '_links': {
+                'self': {
+                    'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/CaseType/lists/AllCaseTypes'
+                },
+                'first': {...}
+            },
+            '_embedded': {
+                'AllCaseTypes': [
+                    {
+                        '_links': {
+                            'item': {
+                                'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/CaseType/items/1'
+                            }
+                        },
+                        'Properties': {
+                            'Name': 'Query',
+                            'Description': 'Query',
+                            'Status': 1
+                        }
+                    },
+                    {
+                        '_links': {...},
+                        'Properties': {...}
+                    },
+                    ...
+                ]
+            }
+        }
 
         """
 
-        if "Object already exists" in response:
-            self.logger.info(
-                "The workspace already exists with the name -> '%s'",
-                workspace_name,
-            )
-            return True
-        self.logger.info(
-            "The Workspace has been created with the name -> '%s'",
-            workspace_name,
+        request_url = self.get_casetypes_list_url()
+
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="GET",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to get case types failed",
         )
-        return False
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_workspace_with_retry(
-        self,
-        workspace_name: str,
-        workspace_gui_id: str,
-    ) -> dict | None:
-        """Call create_workspace and retries if the response contains specific error messages.
-
-        Retries until the response does not contain the errors or a max retry limit is reached.
+    def get_case_type_by_name(self, name: str) -> dict | None:
+        """Get case type entity instance by its name.
 
         Args:
-            workspace_name (str):
-                The workspace name.
-            workspace_gui_id (str):
-                The workspace GUI ID.
+            name (str):
+                The name of the case type.
 
         Returns:
             dict | None:
-                The response of the workspace creation or None in case an error occured.
+                Returns the case type data or None if no case type with the given name exists.
 
         """
 
-        max_retries = 20  # Define the maximum number of retries
-        retries = 0
-        error_messages = [
-            "Collaborative Workspace Service Container is not able to handle the SOAP request",
-            "Service Group Lookup failure",
-        ]
-
-        while retries < max_retries:
-            response = self.create_workspace(workspace_name, workspace_gui_id)
-
-            # Check if any error message is in the response
-            if any(error_message in response for error_message in error_messages):
-                self.logger.info(
-                    "Workspace service error, waiting 60 seconds to retry... (Retry %d of %d)",
-                    retries + 1,
-                    max_retries,
-                )
-                time.sleep(60)
-                retries += 1
-            else:
-                self.logger.info("Collaborative Workspace Service Container is ready")
-                return response
+        case_types = self.get_case_types()
 
-        # After max retries, log and return the response or handle as needed
-        self.logger.error(
-            "Max retries reached for workspace -> '%s', unable to create successfully.",
-            workspace_name,
-        )
-        return response
+        return self.get_result_item(response=case_types, entity_type="AllCaseTypes", key="Name", value=name)
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def loan_management_runtime(self) -> dict | None:
-        """Create all runtime objects for loan management application.
+    def get_case_type_ids(self) -> list:
+        """Get All CaseType entity instances IDs.
 
         Args:
             None
+
         Returns:
-            None
+            list:
+                List of all case type IDs.
 
         """
 
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> Category instance creation started ........ ")
-        category_resp_dict = []
-        if not self.verify_category_exists("Short Term Loan"):
-            self.create_category("LOAN", "Short Term Loan", "Short Term Loan", 1)
-        if not self.verify_category_exists("Long Term Loan"):
-            self.create_category("LOAN", "Long Term Loan", "Long Term Loan", 1)
-        if not self.verify_category_exists("Flexi Loan"):
-            self.create_category("LOAN", "Flexi Loan", "Flexi Loan", 1)
-        category_resp_dict = self.get_category_lists()
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> Category instance creation ended")
+        case_types = self.get_case_types()
 
-        ############################# Sub category
-        self.logger.debug(
-            " RUNTIME -->> Sub Category instance creation started ........",
-        )
-        stl = 0
-        ltl = 0
-        fl = 0
-        if not self.verify_sub_category_exists("Business", 0, category_resp_dict):
-            response_dict = self.create_sub_categoy(
-                "Business",
-                "Business",
-                1,
-                category_resp_dict[0],
-            )
-            stl = response_dict["Identity"]["Id"]
-            self.logger.info("Sub category id stl:  %s ", stl)
-        else:
-            stl = self.return_sub_category_exists_id("Business", 0, category_resp_dict)
-            self.logger.info("Sub category id stl -> %s ", stl)
-
-        if not self.verify_sub_category_exists("Business", 1, category_resp_dict):
-            response_dict = self.create_sub_categoy(
-                "Business",
-                "Business",
-                1,
-                category_resp_dict[1],
-            )
-            ltl = response_dict["Identity"]["Id"]
-            self.logger.info("Sub category id ltl -> %s ", ltl)
-        else:
-            ltl = self.return_sub_category_exists_id(name="Business", index=1, category_resp_dict=category_resp_dict)
-            self.logger.info("Sub category id ltl -> %s ", ltl)
-        if not self.verify_sub_category_exists(name="Business", index=2, category_resp_dict=category_resp_dict):
-            response_dict = self.create_sub_categoy(
-                "Business",
-                "Business",
-                1,
-                category_resp_dict[2],
-            )
-            fl = response_dict["Identity"]["Id"]
-            self.logger.info("Sub category id fl -> %s ", fl)
-        else:
-            fl = self.return_sub_category_exists_id(name="Business", index=2, category_resp_dict=category_resp_dict)
-            self.logger.info("Sub category id fl -> %s ", fl)
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> Sub Category instance creation ended")
-
-        ############################# Case Types
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> Case Types instance creation started ........")
-        case_type_list = []
-
-        if not self.vverify_case_type_exists("Query"):
-            self.create_case_type("Query", "Query", 1)
-        if not self.vverify_case_type_exists("Help"):
-            self.create_case_type("Help", "Help", 1)
-        if not self.vverify_case_type_exists("Update Contact Details"):
-            self.create_case_type("Update Contact Details", "Update Contact Details", 1)
-        if not self.vverify_case_type_exists("New Loan Request"):
-            self.create_case_type("New Loan Request", "New Loan Request", 1)
-        if not self.vverify_case_type_exists("Loan Closure"):
-            self.create_case_type("Loan Closure", "Loan Closure", 1)
-        case_type_list = self.get_case_type_lists()
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> Case Types instance creation ended")
-
-        ############################# CUSTMOR
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> Customer instance creation stated ........")
-        customer_list = []
-        if not self.verify_customer_exists("InaPlex Limited"):
-            self.create_customer(
-                "InaPlex Limited",
-                "InaPlex Limited",
-                "InaPlex Limited",
-            )
+        return self.get_result_values(response=case_types, entity_type="AllCaseTypes", key="id") or []
 
-        if not self.verify_customer_exists("Interwoven, Inc"):
-            self.create_customer(
-                "Interwoven, Inc",
-                "Interwoven, Inc",
-                "Interwoven, Inc",
-            )
+    # end method definition
+
+    def create_category(
+        self,
+        case_prefix: str,
+        name: str,
+        description: str,
+        status: int = 1,
+    ) -> dict | None:
+        """Create category entity instance.
+
+        Args:
+            case_prefix (str):
+                The prefix for the case.
+            description (str):
+                The description for the category.
+            name (str):
+                The name of the category.
+            status (int):
+                The status code.
+
+        Returns:
+            dict:
+                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
+
+        Example:
+        {
+            'Identity': {
+                'Id': '327681'
+            },
+            '_links': {
+                'self': {
+                    href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/items/327681'
+                }
+            }
+        }
 
-        if not self.verify_customer_exists("Jones Lang LaSalle"):
-            self.create_customer(
-                "Jones Lang LaSalle",
-                "Jones Lang LaSalle",
-                "Jones Lang LaSalle",
-            )
+        """
 
-        if not self.verify_customer_exists("Key Point Consulting"):
-            self.create_customer(
-                "Key Point Consulting",
-                "Key Point Consulting",
-                "Key Point Consulting",
-            )
+        # Sanity checks as the parameters come directly from payload:
+        if not name:
+            self.logger.error("Cannot create a category without a name!")
+            return None
 
-        customer_list = self.get_customer_lists()
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> Customer instance creation ended")
-
-        ######################################## PRIORITY
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> priority instance creation started ........")
-        prioity_list = []
-        if not self.verify_priority_exists("High"):
-            self.create_priority("High", "High", 1)
-        if not self.verify_priority_exists("Medium"):
-            self.create_priority("Medium", "Medium", 1)
-        if not self.verify_priority_exists("Low"):
-            self.create_priority("Low", "Low", 1)
-        prioity_list = self.get_priority_lists()
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> priority instance creation ended")
-
-        ############################# LOAN
-        loan_for_business = "Loan for Business1"
-        loan_for_corporate_business = "Loan for Corporate Business1"
-        loan_for_business_loan_request = "Loan for Business Loan Request1"
-
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> loan instance creation started ........")
-        loan_resp_dict = self.get_all_loan()
-        names = [item["Properties"]["Subject"] for item in loan_resp_dict["_embedded"]["AllCasesList"]]
-        if loan_for_business in names:
-            self.logger.info("Customer record Loan_for_business exists")
-        else:
-            self.logger.info("Creating customer Record with Loan_for_business ")
-            response_dict = self.create_loan(
-                subject=loan_for_business,
-                description=loan_for_business,
-                loan_amount=1,
-                loan_duration_in_months=2,
-                category=category_resp_dict[0],
-                subcategory=stl,
-                priority=prioity_list[0],
-                service=case_type_list[0],
-                customer=customer_list[0],
-            )
+        create_category_data = {
+            "Properties": {
+                "CasePrefix": case_prefix,
+                "Description": description,
+                "Name": name,
+                "Status": status,
+            },
+        }
 
-        if loan_for_corporate_business in names:
-            self.logger.info("Customer record Loan_for_Corporate_Business exists")
-        else:
-            self.logger.info(
-                "Creating customer Record with Loan_for_Corporate_Business ",
-            )
-            response_dict = self.create_loan(
-                subject=loan_for_corporate_business,
-                description=loan_for_corporate_business,
-                loan_amount=1,
-                loan_duration_in_months=2,
-                category=category_resp_dict[1],
-                subcategory=ltl,
-                priority=prioity_list[1],
-                service=case_type_list[1],
-                customer=customer_list[1],
-            )
+        request_url = self.get_create_category_url()
 
-        if loan_for_business_loan_request in names:
-            self.logger.info("Customer record Loan_for_business_Loan_Request exists")
-        else:
-            self.logger.info(
-                "Creating customer Record with loan_for_business_loan_request",
-            )
-            response_dict = self.create_loan(
-                subject=loan_for_business_loan_request,
-                description=loan_for_business_loan_request,
-                loan_amount=1,
-                loan_duration_in_months=2,
-                category=category_resp_dict[2],
-                subcategory=fl,
-                priority=prioity_list[2],
-                service=case_type_list[2],
-                customer=customer_list[2],
-            )
-        self.logger.debug(" RUNTIME -->> loan instance creation ended")
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="POST",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            json_data=create_category_data,
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to create category -> '{}' failed".format(name),
+        )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_category_lists(self) -> list:
-        """Get All category entty instances id's.
+    def get_categories(self) -> dict | None:
+        """Get all categories entity instances.
 
         Args:
             None
         Returns:
-            list: list of category IDs
+            dict | None:
+                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
+
+        Example:
+        {
+            'page': {
+                'skip': 0,
+                'top': 0,
+                'count': 3,
+                'ftsEnabled': False
+            },
+            '_links': {
+                'self': {
+                    'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/lists/CategoryList'
+                },
+                'first': {...}
+            },
+            '_embedded': {
+                'CategoryList': [
+                    {
+                        '_links': {
+                            'item': {
+                                'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/items/1'
+                            }
+                        },
+                        'Properties': {
+                            'Name': 'Short Term Loan',
+                            'Description': 'Short Term Loan',
+                            'CasePrefix': 'LOAN',
+                            'Status': 1
+                        }
+                    },
+                    {
+                        '_links': {...},
+                        'Properties': {...}
+                    },
+                    {
+                        '_links': {...},
+                        'Properties': {...}
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+        }
 
         """
 
-        category_resp_dict = []
-        categoy_resp_dict = self.get_all_categories()
-        for item in categoy_resp_dict["_embedded"]["CategoryList"]:
-            first_item_href = item["_links"]["item"]["href"]
-            integer_value = int(re.search(r"\d+", first_item_href).group())
-            self.logger.info("Category created with ID -> %d", integer_value)
-            category_resp_dict.append(integer_value)
-        self.logger.info("All extracted category IDs -> %s", category_resp_dict)
+        request_url = self.get_categories_list_url()
 
-        return category_resp_dict
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="GET",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to get categories failed",
+        )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_case_type_lists(self) -> list:
-        """Get All CaseType entity instances IDs.
+    def get_category_by_name(self, name: str) -> dict | None:
+        """Get category entity instance by its name.
+
+        The category ID is only provided by the 'href' in '_links' / 'item'.
 
         Args:
-            None
+            name (str):
+                The name of the category.
 
         Returns:
-            list:
-                List of all case type IDs.
+            dict | None:
+                Returns the category item or None if a category with the given name does not exist.
+
+        Example:
+        {
+            '_links': {
+                'item': {
+                    'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/items/327681'
+                }
+            },
+            'Properties': {
+                'Name': 'Test 1',
+                'Description': 'Test 1 Description',
+                'CasePrefix': 'TEST',
+                'Status': 1
+            }
+        }
 
         """
 
-        case_type_list = []
-        casetype_resp_dict = self.get_all_case_type()
-        for item in casetype_resp_dict["_embedded"]["AllCaseTypes"]:
-            first_item_href = item["_links"]["item"]["href"]
-            integer_value = int(re.search(r"\d+", first_item_href).group())
-            self.logger.info("Case type created with ID -> %d", integer_value)
-            case_type_list.append(integer_value)
-        self.logger.info("All extracted case type IDs -> %s", case_type_list)
+        categories = self.get_categories()
 
-        return case_type_list
+        return self.get_result_item(response=categories, entity_type="CategoryList", key="Name", value=name)
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_customer_lists(self) -> list:
-        """Get all customer entity instances id's.
+    def get_category_ids(self) -> list:
+        """Get All category entity instances IDs.
 
         Args:
             None
         Returns:
-            list:
-                A list of all customer IDs.
+            list: list of category IDs
 
         """
 
-        customer_list = []
-        customer_resp_dict = self.get_all_customers()
-        for item in customer_resp_dict["_embedded"]["CustomerList"]:
-            first_item_href = item["_links"]["item"]["href"]
-            integer_value = int(re.search(r"\d+", first_item_href).group())
-            self.logger.info("Customer created with ID -> %d", integer_value)
-            customer_list.append(integer_value)
-        self.logger.info("All extracted Customer IDs -> %s ", customer_list)
+        categories = self.get_categories()
 
-        return customer_list
+        return self.get_result_values(response=categories, entity_type="CategoryList", key="id") or []
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def get_priority_lists(self) -> list:
-        """Get all priority entity instances IDs.
+    def create_sub_category(
+        self,
+        parent_id: int,
+        name: str,
+        description: str = "",
+        status: int = 1,
+    ) -> dict | None:
+        """Create sub categoy entity instances.
 
         Args:
-            None
+            parent_id (int):
+                The parent ID of the category.
+            name (str):
+                The name of the sub-category.
+            description (str, optional):
+                The description for the sub-category.
+            status (int, optional):
+                The status ID. Default is 1.
+
         Returns:
-            list:
-                A list with all priority IDs.
+            dict:
+                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
 
         """
 
-        prioity_list = []
-        authenticate_dict = self.get_all_priorities()
-        for item in authenticate_dict["_embedded"]["PriorityList"]:
-            first_item_href = item["_links"]["item"]["href"]
-            integer_value = int(re.search(r"\d+", first_item_href).group())
-            self.logger.info("Priority created with ID -> %d", integer_value)
-            prioity_list.append(integer_value)
-        self.logger.info("All extracted priority IDs -> %s  ", prioity_list)
+        # Sanity checks as the parameters come directly from payload:
+        if not name:
+            self.logger.error("Cannot create a sub-category without a name!")
+            return None
+        if not parent_id:
+            self.logger.error("Cannot create a sub-category -> '%s' without a parent category ID!", name)
+            return None
+
+        create_sub_category_data = {
+            "Properties": {"Name": name, "Description": description, "Status": status},
+        }
+
+        request_url = (
+            self.config()["categoryUrl"] + "/items/" + str(parent_id) + "/childEntities/SubCategory?defaultinst_ct=abcd"
+        )
 
-        return prioity_list
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="POST",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            json_data=create_sub_category_data,
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to create sub-category -> '{}' with parent category ID -> {} failed".format(
+                name, parent_id
+            ),
+        )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def verify_category_exists(self, name: str) -> bool:
-        """Verify category entity instance already exists.
+    def get_sub_categories(self, parent_id: int) -> dict | None:
+        """Get all sub categeries entity instances.
 
         Args:
-            name (str):
-                The name of the category.
+            parent_id (int):
+                The parent ID of the sub categories.
 
         Returns:
-            bool:
-                Returns True if already record exists with same name, else returns False.
+            dict | None:
+                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
+
+        Example:
+        {
+            'page': {
+                'skip': 0,
+                'top': 10,
+                'count': 1
+            },
+            '_links': {
+                'self': {...},
+                'first': {...}
+            },
+            '_embedded': {
+                'SubCategory': [
+                    {
+                        '_links': {...},
+                        'Identity': {'Id': '1'},
+                        'Properties': {'Name': 'Business', 'Description': 'Business', 'Status': 1},
+                        'ParentCategory': {
+                            '_links': {
+                                'self': {'href': '/OpentextCaseManagement/entities/Category/items/1/childEntities/SubCategory/items/1'}
+                            },
+                            'Properties': {
+                                'CasePrefix': 'LOAN',
+                                'Description': 'Short Term Loan',
+                                'Name': 'Short Term Loan',
+                                'Status': 1
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                ]
+            }
+        }
 
         """
 
-        categoy_resp_dict = self.get_all_categories()
-        names = [item["Properties"]["Name"] for item in categoy_resp_dict["_embedded"]["CategoryList"]]
-        if name in names:
-            self.logger.info("Category record -> '%s' already exists", name)
-            return True
-        self.logger.info("Creating category record -> '%s'", name)
+        request_url = self.config()["categoryUrl"] + "/items/" + str(parent_id) + "/childEntities/SubCategory"
 
-        return False
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="GET",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to get sub-categories for parent category with ID -> {} failed".format(parent_id),
+        )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def vverify_case_type_exists(self, name: str) -> bool:
-        """Verify case type entity instance already exists.
+    def get_sub_category_by_parent_and_name(self, parent_id: int, name: str) -> dict | None:
+        """Get sub category entity instance by its name.
 
         Args:
+            parent_id (int):
+                The ID of the parent category.
             name (str):
-                The name of the case type.
+                The name of the sub category.
 
         Returns:
-            bool:
-                Returns True if already record exists with same name, else returns False.
+            dict | None:
+                Returns the sub-category item or None if the sub-category with this name
+                does not exist in the parent category with the given ID.
 
         """
 
-        casetype_resp_dict = self.get_all_case_type()
-        names = [item["Properties"]["Name"] for item in casetype_resp_dict["_embedded"]["AllCaseTypes"]]
-        if name in names:
-            self.logger.info("Case type record -> '%s' already exists", name)
-            return True
-        self.logger.info("Creating case type record -> '%s'", name)
+        # Get all sub-categories under a given category provided by the parent ID:
+        sub_categories = self.get_sub_categories(parent_id=parent_id)
 
-        return False
+        return self.get_result_item(response=sub_categories, entity_type="SubCategory", key="Name", value=name)
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def verify_customer_exists(self, name: str) -> bool:
-        """Verify cusomer entty instance already exists.
+    def get_sub_category_id(self, parent_id: int, name: str) -> int | None:
+        """Get the sub category entity instance ID.
 
         Args:
+            parent_id (int):
+                ID of the parent category.
             name (str):
-                The name of the customer.
+                The name of the sub-category.
 
         Returns:
-            bool:
-                Returns True if already record exists with same name, else returns False
+            int | None:
+                Returns the sub-category ID if it exists with the given name in a given parent category.
+                Else returns None.
 
         """
 
-        customer_resp_dict = self.get_all_customers()
-        names = [item["Properties"]["CustomerName"] for item in customer_resp_dict["_embedded"]["CustomerList"]]
-        if name in names:
-            self.logger.info("Customer -> '%s' already exists", name)
-            return True
-        self.logger.info("Creating customer -> '%s'", name)
-        return False
+        sub_cat = self.get_sub_category_by_parent_and_name(parent_id=parent_id, name=name)
+        if not sub_cat or "Identity" not in sub_cat:
+            return None
+
+        return sub_cat["Identity"].get("Id")
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def verify_priority_exists(self, name: str) -> bool:
-        """Verify priority entity instance already exists.
+    def create_case(
+        self,
+        subject: str,
+        description: str,
+        loan_amount: str,
+        loan_duration_in_months: str,
+        category_id: str,
+        sub_category_id: str,
+        priority_id: str,
+        case_type_id: str,
+        customer_id: str,
+    ) -> dict | None:
+        """Create a case entity instance.
+
+        The category, priority, case type and customer entities are
+        referred to with their IDs. These entities need to be created
+        beforehand.
+
+        TODO: This is currently hard-coded for loan cases. Need to be more generic.
 
         Args:
-            name (str):
-                The name of the priority.
+            subject (str):
+                The subject of the case.
+            description (str):
+                The description of the case.
+            loan_amount (str):
+                The loan amount of the case.
+            loan_duration_in_months (str):
+                The loan duration of the case (in number of months).
+            category_id (str):
+                The category ID of the case.
+            sub_category_id (str):
+                The sub-category ID of the case.
+            priority_id (str):
+                The priority ID of the case.
+            case_type_id (str):
+                The case type (service) ID of the case.
+            customer_id (str):
+                The ID of the customer for the case.
 
         Returns:
-            bool:
-                Returns True if already record exists with same name, else returns False
+            dict | None:
+                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails
 
         """
 
-        authenticate_dict = self.get_all_priorities()
-        names = [item["Properties"]["Name"] for item in authenticate_dict["_embedded"]["PriorityList"]]
-        if name in names:
-            self.logger.info("Priority -> '%s' already exists", name)
-            return True
-        self.logger.info("Creating priority -> '%s'", name)
+        # Validation of parameters:
+        required_fields = {
+            "subject": subject,
+            "category ID": category_id,
+            "sub-category ID": sub_category_id,
+            "priority ID": priority_id,
+            "case type ID": case_type_id,
+            "customer ID": customer_id,
+        }
 
-        return False
+        for name, value in required_fields.items():
+            if not value:
+                self.logger.error("Cannot create a case without a %s!", name)
+                return None
+
+        create_case_data = f"""
+        <SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP=\"http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/\">
+            <SOAP:Body>
+                <CreateCase xmlns=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Case/operations\">
+                    <ns0:Case-create xmlns:ns0=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Case\">
+                        <ns0:Subject>{subject}</ns0:Subject>
+                        <ns0:Description>{description}</ns0:Description>
+                        <ns0:LoanAmount>{loan_amount}</ns0:LoanAmount>
+                        <ns0:LoanDurationInMonths>{loan_duration_in_months}</ns0:LoanDurationInMonths>
+                        <ns0:CaseType>
+                            <ns1:CaseType-id xmlns:ns1=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/CaseType\">
+                                <ns1:Id>{case_type_id}</ns1:Id>
+                            </ns1:CaseType-id>
+                        </ns0:CaseType>
+                        <ns0:Category>
+                            <ns2:Category-id xmlns:ns2=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Category\">
+                                <ns2:Id>{category_id}</ns2:Id>
+                            </ns2:Category-id>
+                        </ns0:Category>
+                        <ns0:SubCategory>
+                            <ns5:SubCategory-id xmlns:ns5=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Category.SubCategory\">
+                                <ns5:Id>{category_id}</ns5:Id>
+                                <ns5:Id1>{sub_category_id}</ns5:Id1>
+                            </ns5:SubCategory-id>
+                        </ns0:SubCategory>
+                        <ns0:Priority>
+                            <ns3:Priority-id xmlns:ns3=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Priority\">
+                                <ns3:Id>{priority_id}</ns3:Id>
+                            </ns3:Priority-id>
+                        </ns0:Priority>
+                        <ns0:ToCustomer>
+                            <ns9:Customer-id xmlns:ns9=\"http://schemas/OpentextCaseManagement/Customer\">
+                                <ns9:Id>{customer_id}</ns9:Id>
+                            </ns9:Customer-id>
+                        </ns0:ToCustomer>
+                    </ns0:Case-create>
+                </CreateCase>
+            </SOAP:Body>
+        </SOAP:Envelope>
+        """
+
+        request_url = self.gateway_url()
+
+        self.logger.debug(
+            "Create case with subject -> '%s'; calling -> '%s'",
+            subject,
+            request_url,
+        )
+
+        retries = 0
+        while True:
+            try:
+                response = requests.post(
+                    url=request_url,
+                    data=create_case_data,
+                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_XML,
+                    cookies=self.cookie(),
+                    timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+                )
+            except requests.RequestException as req_exception:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Request to create case with subject -> '%s' failed with error -> %s",
+                    subject,
+                    str(req_exception),
+                )
+                return None
+
+            if response.ok:
+                return self.parse_xml(response.text)
+            elif response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
+                self.logger.warning("Session has expired - try to re-authenticate...")
+                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
+                retries += 1
+            else:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Failed to create case with subject -> '%s' for customer with ID -> '%s' with error -> '%s' when calling -> %s!",
+                    subject,
+                    customer_id,
+                    self.get_soap_element(soap_response=response.text, soap_tag="faultstring"),
+                    self.get_soap_element(soap_response=response.text, soap_tag="faultactor"),
+                )
+                self.logger.debug("SOAP message -> %s", response.text)
+                return None
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def verify_sub_category_exists(
-        self,
-        name: str,
-        index: int,
-        category_resp_dict: list,
-    ) -> bool:
-        """Verify sub category entity instance already exists.
+    def get_cases(self) -> dict | None:
+        """Get all case entity instances.
 
         Args:
-            name (str):
-                The name of the sub category.
-            index (int):
-                The index of the sub category.
-            category_resp_dict (list):
-                TODO: add description
+           None
 
         Returns:
-            bool:
-                Returns true if record already exists with same name, else returns false.
+            dict:
+                Request response (dictionary) or None if the REST call fails.
 
         """
 
-        subcategoy_resp_dict = self.get_all_sub_categeries(category_resp_dict[index])
-        names = [item["Properties"]["Name"] for item in subcategoy_resp_dict["_embedded"]["SubCategory"]]
-        stl = 0
-        if name in names:
-            self.logger.info("Sub category -> '%s' already exists", name)
-            for item in subcategoy_resp_dict["_embedded"]["SubCategory"]:
-                stl = item["Identity"]["Id"]
-                self.logger.info("Sub category created with ID -> %s", stl)
-                return True
-        self.logger.info("Creating sub category -> '%s'", name)
+        request_url = self.get_cases_list_url()
 
-        return False
+        return self.do_request(
+            url=request_url,
+            method="GET",
+            headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_JSON,
+            cookies=self.cookie(),
+            timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
+            failure_message="Request to get cases failed",
+        )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def return_sub_category_exists_id(
-        self,
-        name: str,
-        index: int,
-        category_resp_dict: list,
-    ) -> int:
-        """Verify sub category entity instance id already exists.
+    def get_case_by_name(self, name: str) -> dict | None:
+        """Get case instance by its name.
 
         Args:
             name (str):
-                The name of the sub-category.
-            index (int):
-                TODO: add description
-            category_resp_dict (list):
-                TODO: add description!
+                The name of the case.
 
         Returns:
-            bool:
-                Returns true if record already exists with same name, else returns false.
+            dict | None:
+                Returns the category item or None if a category with the given name does not exist.
 
         """
 
-        subcategoy_resp_dict = self.get_all_sub_categeries(category_resp_dict[index])
-        names = [item["Properties"]["Name"] for item in subcategoy_resp_dict["_embedded"]["SubCategory"]]
-        stl = 0
-        if name in names:
-            self.logger.info("Sub category record -> '%s' already exists", name)
-            for item in subcategoy_resp_dict["_embedded"]["SubCategory"]:
-                stl = item["Identity"]["Id"]
-                self.logger.info("Sub category created with ID -> %s", stl)
-                return stl
+        categories = self.get_cases()
 
-        return None
+        return self.get_result_item(response=categories, entity_type="AllCasesList", key="Name", value=name)
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_users_from_config_file(self, otawpsection: str, _otds: OTDS) -> None:
+    def create_users_from_config_file(self, otawpsection: str, otds_object: OTDS) -> None:
         """Read user information from customizer file and call create user method.
 
         Args:
             otawpsection (str):
-                YAML block related to appworks
-            _otds:
+                Payload section for AppWorks.
+            otds_object (OTDS):
                 The OTDS object.
 
         Returns:
@@ -2259,7 +2799,7 @@ class OTAWP:
             users = otds.get("users", [])
             if users is not None:
                 for user in users:
-                    _otds.add_user(
+                    otds_object.add_user(
                         user.get("partition"),
                         user.get("name"),
                         user.get("description"),
@@ -2270,32 +2810,32 @@ class OTAWP:
                     roles = otds.get("roles", [])
                     if roles is not None:
                         for role in roles:
-                            _otds.add_user_to_group(
+                            otds_object.add_user_to_group(
                                 user.get("name") + "@" + user.get("partition"),
                                 role.get("name"),
                             )
                     else:
-                        self.logger.error(
-                            "Verifying Users section: roles section not presented in yaml for otds users",
+                        self.logger.warning(
+                            "Roles section not in payload for AppWorks users.",
                         )
             else:
                 self.logger.error(
-                    "Verifying Users section: user section not presented in yaml",
+                    "User section not in payload for AppWorks users.",
                 )
         else:
             self.logger.error(
-                "Verifying Users section: otds section not presented in yaml",
+                "OTDS section not in payload for AppWorks users.",
             )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_roles_from_config_file(self, otawpsection: str, _otds: OTDS) -> None:
+    def create_roles_from_config_file(self, otawpsection: str, otds_object: OTDS) -> None:
         """Read grop information from customizer file and call create grop method.
 
         Args:
             otawpsection (str):
-                YAML block related to appworks.
-            _otds (object):
+                Payload section for AppWorks.
+            otds_object (OTDS):
                 The OTDS object used to access the OTDS REST API.
 
         Returns:
@@ -2309,56 +2849,23 @@ class OTAWP:
             if roles is not None:
                 for role in roles:
                     # Add new group if it does not yet exist:
-                    if not _otds.get_group(group=role.get("name"), show_error=False):
-                        _otds.add_group(
+                    if not otds_object.get_group(group=role.get("name"), show_error=False):
+                        otds_object.add_group(
                             role.get("partition"),
                             role.get("name"),
                             role.get("description"),
                         )
             else:
                 self.logger.error(
-                    "Verifying roles section: roles section not presented in yaml",
+                    "Roles section not in payload for AppWorks roles/groups.",
                 )
         else:
             self.logger.error(
-                "Verifying roles section: otds section not presented in yaml",
+                "OTDS section not in payload for AppWorks roles/groups.",
             )
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def create_loanruntime_from_config_file(self, platform: str) -> None:
-        """Verify flag and call loan_management_runtime().
-
-        Args:
-            platform (str):
-                YAML block related to platform.
-
-        Returns:
-            None
-
-        """
-
-        runtime = platform.get("runtime", {})
-        if runtime is not None:
-            app_names = runtime.get("appNames", [])
-            if app_names is not None:
-                for app_name in app_names:
-                    if app_name == "loanManagement":
-                        self.loan_management_runtime()
-                    else:
-                        self.logger.error(
-                            "Verifying runtime section: loanManagement not exits in yaml entry",
-                        )
-            else:
-                self.logger.error(
-                    "Verifying runtime section: App name section is empty in yaml",
-                )
-        else:
-            self.logger.error(
-                "Verifying runtime section: Runtime section is empty in yaml",
-            )
-
-    # end method definition
     def create_cws_config(
         self,
         partition: str,
@@ -2368,18 +2875,21 @@ class OTAWP:
         """Create a workspace configuration in CWS.
 
         Args:
-            partition (str): The partition name for the workspace.
-            resource_name (str): The resource name.
-            otcs_url (str): The OTCS endpoint URL.
+            partition (str):
+                The partition name for the workspace.
+            resource_name (str):
+                The resource name.
+            otcs_url (str):
+                The OTCS endpoint URL.
 
         Returns:
-            dict | None: Response dictionary if successful, or None if the request fails.
+            dict | None:
+                Response dictionary if successful, or None if the request fails.
 
         """
-        self.logger.info("Creating CWS config for partition '%s' and resource '%s'...", partition, resource_name)
 
         # Construct the SOAP request body
-        cws_config_req_xml = f"""
+        cws_config_data = f"""
         <SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
             <SOAP:Header>
                 <header xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/General/1.0/">
@@ -2419,79 +2929,108 @@ class OTAWP:
         </SOAP:Envelope>
         """
 
-        retries = 0
-        max_retries = 20  # Maximum retry limit
         error_messages = [
             "Collaborative Workspace Service Container is not able to handle the SOAP request",
             "Service Group Lookup failure",
         ]
 
-        while retries < max_retries:
+        request_url = self.gateway_url()
+
+        self.logger.debug(
+            "Create CWS configuration with partition -> '%s', user -> '%s', and OTCS URL -> '%s'; calling -> '%s'",
+            partition,
+            resource_name,
+            otcs_url,
+            request_url,
+        )
+
+        retries = 0
+
+        while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
             try:
                 response = requests.post(
-                    url=self.gateway_url(),
-                    data=cws_config_req_xml,
-                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS,
+                    url=request_url,
+                    data=cws_config_data,
+                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_XML,
                     cookies=self.cookie(),
                     timeout=None,
                 )
 
-                # Handle successful response
-                if response.ok:
-                    if any(error_message in response.text for error_message in error_messages):
-                        self.logger.warning(
-                            "Service error detected, retrying in 60 seconds... (Retry %d of %d)",
-                            retries + 1,
-                            max_retries,
-                        )
-                        time.sleep(60)
-                        retries += 1
-                    else:
-                        self.logger.info("CWS config created successfully.")
-                        return response.text
+            except requests.RequestException as req_exception:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Request to create CWS config for partition -> '%s' failed with error -> %s. Retry in %d seconds...",
+                    partition,
+                    str(req_exception),
+                    REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY,
+                )
+                retries += 1
+                time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+                self.logger.info("Retrying... Attempt %d/%d", retries, REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES)
+                continue
 
-                # Handle session expiration
-                if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                    self.logger.warning("Session expired. Re-authenticating...")
-                    self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
+            # Handle successful response
+            if response.ok:
+                if any(error_message in response.text for error_message in error_messages):
+                    self.logger.warning(
+                        "Service error detected, retrying in %d seconds... (Retry %d of %d)",
+                        REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY,
+                        retries + 1,
+                        REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES,
+                    )
+                    time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
                     retries += 1
-                    continue
-
-                # Handle case where object has been changed by another user
-                if "Object has been changed by other user" in response.text:
-                    self.logger.info("CWS config already exists")
-                    return response.text
+                else:
+                    self.logger.info("Successfully created CWS configuration.")
+                    return self.parse_xml(response.text)
 
-                # Log errors for failed requests
-                self.logger.error("Failed to create CWS config: %s", response.text)
-                time.sleep(60)
+            # Handle session expiration
+            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
+                self.logger.warning("Session expired. Re-authenticating...")
+                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
                 retries += 1
+                continue
 
-            except requests.RequestException:
-                self.logger.error("Request failed during CWS config creation")
-                retries += 1
+            # Handle case where object has been changed by another user:
+            if "Object has been changed by other user" in response.text:
+                self.logger.info("CWS config already exists")
+                self.logger.debug("SOAP message -> %s", response.text)
+                return self.parse_xml(response.text)
+
+            # Log errors for failed requests
+            self.logger.error("Failed to create CWS config; error -> %s", response.text)
+            time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+            retries += 1
+        # end while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
 
         # Log when retries are exhausted
         self.logger.error("Retry limit exceeded. CWS config creation failed.")
         return None
 
     # end method definition
+
     def verify_user_having_role(self, organization: str, user_name: str, role_name: str) -> bool:
-        """Verify if the user has the specified role.
+        """Verify that the user has the specified role.
 
         Args:
-            organization(str): organization name
-            user_name (str): The username to verify.
-            role_name (str): The role to check for the user.
+            organization (str):
+                The organization name.
+            user_name (str):
+                The username to verify.
+            role_name (str):
+                The role to check for the user.
 
         Returns:
-            bool: True if the user has the role, False if not, or None if request fails.
+            bool:
+                True if the user has the role, False if not, or None if request fails.
 
         """
-        self.logger.info("Verifying user '%s' has role '%s' started.", user_name, role_name)
+
+        self.logger.info(
+            "Verify user -> '%s' has role -> '%s' in organization -> '%s'...", user_name, role_name, organization
+        )
 
         # Construct the SOAP request body
-        cws_config_req_xml = f"""
+        user_role_data = f"""
         <SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
             <SOAP:Header xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
                 <header xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/General/1.0/">
@@ -2516,69 +3055,89 @@ class OTAWP:
         """
 
         retries = 0
-        max_retries = 6  # Maximum retry limit
-        while retries < max_retries:
+
+        while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
             try:
                 response = requests.post(
                     url=self.gateway_url(),
-                    data=cws_config_req_xml,
-                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS,
+                    data=user_role_data,
+                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_XML,
                     cookies=self.cookie(),
                     timeout=None,
                 )
 
-                # Handle successful response
-                if response.ok:
-                    if (
-                        role_name in response.text
-                    ):  # Corrected syntax for checking if 'Developer' is in the response text
-                        self.logger.info("Verifyied user '%s' already has the role '%s'.", user_name, role_name)
-                        return True  # Assuming the user has the role if the response contains 'Developer'
-                    else:
-                        self.logger.info("Verifyied User '%s' not having  role '%s'.", user_name, role_name)
-                        return False
-                # Handle session expiration
-                if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
-                    self.logger.warning("Session expired. Re-authenticating...")
-                    self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
-                    retries += 1
-                    continue
-
-                # Log errors for failed requests
-                self.logger.error("Failed to verify user role: %s", response.text)
-                time.sleep(60)
+            except requests.RequestException:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Request failed during verification of user -> '%s' for role -> '%s'. Retry in %d seconds...",
+                    user_name,
+                    role_name,
+                    REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY,
+                )
                 retries += 1
+                time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+                self.logger.info("Retrying... Attempt %d/%d", retries, REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES)
+                continue
 
-            except requests.RequestException:
-                self.logger.error("Request failed during user role verification")
+            # Handle successful response
+            if response.ok:
+                if role_name in response.text:  # Corrected syntax for checking if 'Developer' is in the response text
+                    self.logger.info("Verified user -> '%s' already has the role -> '%s'.", user_name, role_name)
+                    return True  # Assuming the user has the role if the response contains 'Developer'
+                else:
+                    self.logger.info("Verified user -> '%s' does not yet have role -> '%s'.", user_name, role_name)
+                    return False
+
+            # Handle session expiration
+            if response.status_code == 401 and retries == 0:
+                self.logger.warning("Session expired. Re-authenticating...")
+                self.authenticate(revalidate=True)
                 retries += 1
+                continue
+
+            # Log errors for failed requests
+            self.logger.error(
+                "Failed to verify that user -> '%s' has role -> '%s'; error -> %s",
+                user_name,
+                role_name,
+                response.text,
+            )
+            time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
+            retries += 1
+            self.logger.info("Retrying... Attempt %d/%d", retries, REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES)
 
         # Log when retries are exhausted
         self.logger.error("Retry limit exceeded. User role verification failed.")
+
         return False  # Return False if the retries limit is exceeded
 
     # end method definition
 
-    def assign_developer_role_to_user(self, organization: str, user_name: str, role_name: str) -> bool:
-        """Assign the 'Developer' role to the user and verify the role assignment.
+    def assign_role_to_user(self, organization: str, user_name: str, role_name: str) -> bool:
+        """Assign a role to a user and verify the role assignment.
 
         Args:
-            organization (str): The organization name.
-            user_name (str): The username to verify.
-            role_name (str): The role to be assigned.
+            organization (str):
+                The organization name.
+            user_name (str):
+                The username to get the role.
+            role_name (str):
+                The role to be assigned.
 
         Returns:
-            bool: True if the user has the 'Developer' role, False otherwise.
+            bool:
+                True if the user received the role, False otherwise.
 
         """
-        self.logger.info("Assigning 'Developer' role to user '%s' in organization '%s'...", user_name, organization)
+        self.logger.info(
+            "Assign role -> '%s' to user -> '%s' in organization -> '%s'...", role_name, user_name, organization
+        )
 
         # Check if user already has the role before making the request
         if self.verify_user_having_role(organization, user_name, role_name):
             return True
 
         # Construct the SOAP request body
-        cws_config_req_xml = f"""\
+        developer_role_data = f"""\
         <SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
             <SOAP:Header xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
                 <header xmlns="http://schemas.cordys.com/General/1.0/">
@@ -2620,7 +3179,7 @@ class OTAWP:
                                     <string>cn=everyoneIn{organization},cn=organizational roles,o={organization},cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net</string>
                                     <string>cn=Administrator,cn=Cordys@Work,cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net</string>
                                     <string>cn=OTDS Push Service,cn=OpenText OTDS Platform Push Connector,cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net</string>
-                                    <string>cn=Developer,cn=Cordys@Work,cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net</string>
+                                    <string>cn={role_name},cn=Cordys@Work,cn=cordys,cn=defaultInst,o=opentext.net</string>
                                 </role>
                                 <description>
                                     <string>{user_name}</string>
@@ -2643,22 +3202,31 @@ class OTAWP:
             </SOAP:Body>
         </SOAP:Envelope>
         """
+
+        request_url = self.gateway_url()
+
+        self.logger.debug(
+            "Assign role -> '%s' to user -> '%s' in organization -> '%s'; calling -> '%s'",
+            role_name,
+            user_name,
+            organization,
+            request_url,
+        )
+
         retries = 0
-        max_retries = 6
-        retry_delay = 30  # Time in seconds
 
-        while retries < max_retries:
+        while retries < REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES:
             try:
                 response = requests.post(
-                    url=self.gateway_url(),
-                    data=cws_config_req_xml,
-                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS,
+                    url=request_url,
+                    data=developer_role_data,
+                    headers=REQUEST_HEADERS_XML,
                     cookies=self.cookie(),
-                    timeout=30,
+                    timeout=REQUEST_TIMEOUT,
                 )
 
                 if response.ok and role_name in response.text:
-                    self.logger.info("User '%s' successfully assigned the '%s' role.", user_name, role_name)
+                    self.logger.info("Successfully assigned the role -> '%s' to user -> '%s'.", role_name, user_name)
                     return True
 
                 # Handle session expiration
@@ -2670,18 +3238,19 @@ class OTAWP:
 
                 # Log failure response
                 self.logger.error(
-                    "Failed to assign role to user '%s': HTTP %s - %s",
+                    "Failed to assign role -> '%s' to user -> '%s'; error -> %s (%s)",
+                    role_name,
                     user_name,
                     response.status_code,
                     response.text,
                 )
 
-            except requests.RequestException:
-                self.logger.error("Request failed:")
+            except requests.RequestException as req_exception:
+                self.logger.error("Request failed; error -> %s", str(req_exception))
 
             retries += 1
-            self.logger.info("Retrying... Attempt %d/%d", retries, max_retries)
-            time.sleep(retry_delay)
+            self.logger.info("Retrying... Attempt %d/%d", retries, REQUEST_MAX_RETRIES)
+            time.sleep(REQUEST_RETRY_DELAY)
 
         self.logger.error("Retry limit exceeded. Role assignment failed for user '%s'.", user_name)
         return False