Using the REST Library: Difference between revisions
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The simple example of a [[RESTful Service Theory|RESTful service]] set out in the article [[A Simple RESTful Service]] involved quite a bit of work to produce an API for only one table. | The simple example of a [[RESTful Service Theory|RESTful service]] set out in the article [[A Simple RESTful Service]] involved quite a bit of work to produce an API for only one table. | ||
An alternative approach is to use the REST library I ([[user:mikepeat|Mike]]) have created, which can be downloaded from [[File:RESTLibrary.zip]]. | An alternative approach is to use the REST library I ([[user:mikepeat|Mike]]) have created, which can be downloaded from <s>[[File:RESTLibrary.zip]]</s> (that one now obsolete) [https://github.com/DataFlexCode/UIG-REST-Library here] on [https://github.com/DataFlexCode GitHub/DataFlexCode]. | ||
To use it, unzip that file into some directory, then, from the workspace you are developing in, use that as a library; in the Studio do: Tools --> Maintain Libraries... --> Add Library, then navigate to where you unzipped it and within it select the "RESTLibrary.sws" file. | To use it, <s>unzip that file</s> download it (via a Git "pull" request) into some directory, then, from the workspace you are developing in, use that as a library; in the Studio do: Tools --> Maintain Libraries... --> Add Library, then navigate to where you <s>unzipped</s> downloaded it and within it select the "RESTLibrary.sws" file. | ||
That will add a new section to the Studio's Class Palette entitled "REST". | That will add a new section to the Studio's Class Palette entitled "REST". | ||
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Then again do: File --> New --> Other --> DataFlex Source File, this time naming it '''ApiCustomersHandler'''. Into that blank file drag an object of the cRestResourceHandler class. Change the object's name to oApiCustomersHandler and set its psInterfacePath property (an empty string by default) to "'''customers'''". | Then again do: File --> New --> Other --> DataFlex Source File, this time naming it '''ApiCustomersHandler'''. Into that blank file drag an object of the cRestResourceHandler class. Change the object's name to oApiCustomersHandler and set its psInterfacePath property (an empty string by default) to "'''customers'''". | ||
Then in the DDO Explorer pane (lower-right in the Studio by default) click the "+" book icon (Add DDO) and select the cCustomerDataDictionary. | Then in the DDO Explorer pane (lower-right in the Studio by default) click the "<font color="green">+</font>" book icon (Add DDO: [[File:Add DD.jpg|15px]]) and select the cCustomerDataDictionary. | ||
Drag a cRESTApiObject from the class palette to below the comment "''Add your cRESTApiObjects here''". Rename it to "oCustomers". Set its phoDD property to oCustomer_DD, its psCollName (collection name) property to "'''customers'''" (plural) and its psInstName (instance name) property to "'''customer'''" (singular). | Drag a cRESTApiObject from the class palette to below the comment "''Add your cRESTApiObjects here''". Rename it to "oCustomers". Set its phoDD property to oCustomer_DD, its psCollName (collection name) property to "'''customers'''" (plural) and its psInstName (instance name) property to "'''customer'''" (singular). | ||
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</source> | </source> | ||
Now you can immediately see the saving: 81 lines (most of which were written for you and a couple of which are comments I have added for clarification) vs. the 574 lines in the [[A Simple RESTful Service|Simple]] example, while most of the functionality is essentially the same (a careful examination | Now you can immediately see the saving: 81 lines (most of which were written for you and a couple of which are comments I have added for clarification) vs. the 574 lines in the [[A Simple RESTful Service|Simple]] example, while most of the functionality is essentially the same (a careful examination will reveal a bit more "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HATEOAS ''HATEOAS'']"-type information in some of the returned JSON in the former). | ||
In addition this approach has much more generality and extensibility: additional cRESTApiObjects | In addition, this approach has much more generality and extensibility: additional cRESTApiObjects, and the corresponding DDOs, can be added to the cApiCustomersHandler to provide for dependant sub-collections (since customers have orders, and orders have details), while other cRESTResourceHandler objects can be added to handle other top-level collections (orders, vendors, inventory, salespeople and so on). | ||
The library (in the cRESTApiObjects) provides mechanisms to exclude specific fields from the interface (Send AddExcludeColumn ''Table.Column''), or mark them as read-only through it (Send AddReadOnlyColumn ''Table.Column''), include parent columns in collections or instances (through the AddListColumn and AddInstanceColumn procedures) and even provide calculated pseudo-columns (AddListFunctionColumn and AddInstanceFunctionColumn). Entire collections can be set as read-only (pbReadOnly), no-update (pbNoUpdate) or no-delete (pbNoDelete). | The library (in the cRESTApiObjects) provides mechanisms to exclude specific fields from the interface (Send AddExcludeColumn ''Table.Column''), or mark them as read-only through it (Send AddReadOnlyColumn ''Table.Column''), include parent columns in collections or instances (through the AddListColumn and AddInstanceColumn procedures) and even provide calculated pseudo-columns (AddListFunctionColumn and AddInstanceFunctionColumn). Entire collections can be set as read-only (pbReadOnly), no-update (pbNoUpdate) or no-delete (pbNoDelete). | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[REST]] | |||
*[[RESTful Service Theory]] | *[[RESTful Service Theory]] | ||
*[[RESTful Services in DataFlex]] | *[[RESTful Services in DataFlex]] | ||
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*[[Creating RESTful Services in DataFlex]] | *[[Creating RESTful Services in DataFlex]] | ||
*[[A Simple RESTful Service]] | *[[A Simple RESTful Service]] | ||
* https://github.com/DataFlexCode/UIG-REST-Library | |||
[[Category:REST]] | [[Category:REST]][[Category:Web Services]] | ||