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Code examples

This article shows practical examples on how to use the different features of the Web API in coded projects. These examples are written in C# and use third party libraries like RestSharp as rest client.

Authentication

A token is required for authentication to the Spider Web API, which must be included in every request.

The authentication token can be obtained via a GET request using basic authentication. The token is then returned in the server response header.

Example: GetToken

 

private string GetUserTokenExample()  {
// The Url of the Spider Web API
var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";
// Spider Username
var username = "YourSpiderUsername";
//Spider Password
var password = "YourSpiderPassword";
// Create a BasicAuthenticator RestClient with your API Url, user and Password 
// The rest Client is an restsharp Client in the example

  RestClient client = new RestClient {
      BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl),
      Authenticator = new HttpBasicAuthenticator(username, password)
     };

    // Create a Rest request and pass the API resource Name 'token'
    RestRequest request = new RestRequest {Resource = "token"};

    // Optional, trust the security certificate
    ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback +=
                (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

    // Send request to the Web API
    IRestResponse response = client.Execute<HttpResponseMessage>(request);

    // Optional: Exception handling 
     if (response.ErrorException != null){
    const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
     var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
    throw yourException;
    }
     // Get the token from the headers of the response 
     string yourSpiderAPiToken = "";
     if (response?.Headers == null) return "";
	  
     // The token is located in a http Header with name 'Token'
     foreach (Parameter header in response.Headers.ToList())
          switch (header?.Name){
               case "Token":
                      if (header.Value != null) yourSpiderAPiToken = header.Value.ToString();
                      break;
               default: continue;
               }

    //Return the Token
    return yourSpiderAPiToken;
  }

 

Entities

The entity scope enables data operations such as creating, reading, modifying and deleting entities (CRUD).

Example: Read an Entity

 

private void GetEntityExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the web api help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/entity/asset/{entityid}";
	// example 0/entity/Asset/1

	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// the token you have from the first Token example, and you will use this token in every request

	// Create a Rest Clien
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json
	};
	
	//Format Header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");
	//Authentication add your token as an Authentication  to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null)
	{
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

Example: Create an Entity

 

private void CreateEntityExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the web api help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/entity/{entity}/";
	// example 0/entity/tablet
	// json to create the asset
	//{
	//    "fields":
	//    {
	//        "hostname":"Test Hostname",
	//        "Mandator":0,
	//        "assetNo": "Test no",
	//        "name": "Test Asset name",
	//        "assetStatusID": 1,
	//        "commentStatus": "comment test",
	//        "serialNo": "123456",
	//        "modelName": "Latitude E6320",
	//    }
	//}
	// Escape the " with \ in your create entity json

	var jsonToSend = "{\"fields\":\r\n {\r\n\"hostname\":\"Test Hostname\",\r\n\"Mandator\":0,\r\n\"assetNo\": \"Test no\",\r\n\"name\": \"Test Asset name\",\r\n\"assetStatusID\": 1,\r\n\"commentStatus\": \"comment test\",\r\n\"serialNo\": \"123456\",\r\n\"modelName\": \"Latitude E6320\",\r\n}\r\n}";
	
        // The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// the token you have from the first Token example, and you will use this token in every request

	// Create a Rest Client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request set the http post method
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json,
		Method = Method.POST
	};
	
	//Format Header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");
	
	//Authentication add your token as an Authentication  to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Set the body of the request
	if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(jsonToSend))
	{
		request.AddParameter("application/json; charset=utf-8", jsonToSend, ParameterType.RequestBody);
	}

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);
	
	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null)
	{
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

Example: Update an Entity

 

private void UpdateEntityExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the Web API help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/entity/{entity}/";
	// example 0/entity/tablet

	// Escape the " with \ in your update entity json
	var jsonToSend = " {\"fields\":{\"hostname\":\" New Hostname\"}";

	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// the token you have from the first Token example, and you will use this token in every request

	// Create a Rest Client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request set the http post metho
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json,
		Method = Method.PUT
	};
	
	//Format Header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");
	//Authentication add your token as an Authentication  to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Set the body of the request
	if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(jsonToSend))
	{
		request.AddParameter("application/json; charset=utf-8", jsonToSend, ParameterType.RequestBody);
	}

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null)
	{
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

Example: Delete an Entity

 

private void DeleteEntityExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the web api help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/entity/asset/{entityid}";
	// example 0/entity/Asset/1

	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// Create a Rest Client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json,
		Method = Method.DELETE
	};
	
	//Format Header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");
	//Authentication add your token as an Authentication to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

    // Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null)
	{
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

Object Search

The object search functions are used to search, filter and find spider entities.

Example: Search

 

private void SearchExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the web api help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/search/Asset?Orderby=AssetNo&MaxRows=10&Firstrow=1";
	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	  // Create a Rest Client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json
	};
	
	//Format Header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");

	//Authentication add your token as an Authentication  to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null)
	{
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

Reports

The report area enables the generation, filtering and retrieval of reports stored in Spider.

Example: Querying a Report

 

private void GetReportsExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the web api help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/report/{reportid}";
	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// the token you have from the first Token example, and you will use this token in every request

	// Create a Rest Client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json
	};

	//Format Header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");
	//Authentication add your token as an Authentication  to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null)
	{
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

Meta area

The Spider Web API meta area provides information about the fields in search results and reports, as well as information about creating and editing entities.
In addition to the lists of available tenants, entities, searches, and reports, metadata contain additional information depending on the used function.

Example: Retrieving tenant (Mandator) information

 

private MandatorObject GetMandatorsExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the Web API Help
	var url = "meta/mandator";

	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// The token you have from the first token example, and you will use this token in each request

	// Create a Rest Client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize Rest Request
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		 Resource = url,
		 RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json
	};

	//Format the header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");

	//Authentication: Add your token as an Authentication header to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, trust the security certificate
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Send the Request 
	RestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null {
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
					throw yourException;
	}

	//you can finally deserialize the result in your own object 
	// As an example the  see below the MandatorObject definition
	MandatorObject result = new MandatorObject();
	if (response.StatusCode == HttpStatusCode.OK){
			result = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<MandatorObject>(response?.Content);
	}
	
	return result;
}

public class MandatorObject
{
	public System.Data.DataTable Result { get; set; }
	public string CultureCode { get; set; }
}

 

Example: Asset search information

 

private void GetMetaSearchAssetExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the web api help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/meta/search/asset";
	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// Create a Rest Client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json
	};
	
	//Format the header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");
	//Authentication: Add your token as an Authentication header to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null){
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

Example: Report information

 

private void GetMetaReportExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the web api help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/meta/report/{reporid}";

	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// the token you have from the first Token example, and you will use this token in every request

	// Create a Rest client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request

	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json
	};
	
	//Format the header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");

	//Authentication. add your token as an Authentication header to your request
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);	

	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null)
	{
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

Example: Entity information

 

private void GetMetaEntitiesExample(string token)
{
	// The url of mandator you from the web api help page
	var url = "{mandatorid}/meta/entities";
	// The Url of the Spider Web API
	var yourApiUrl = "http://yourWebServer/SpiderWebApi";

	// Create a Rest Client
	RestClient client = new RestClient {BaseUrl = new Uri(yourApiUrl)};

	// Initialize your Rest Request
	RestRequest request = new RestRequest
	{
		Resource = url,
		RequestFormat = DataFormat.Json
	};
	
	//Format the Header
	request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json, text/json");

	//Authentication add your token to your request object.
	request.AddHeader("Authorization", "Token " + token);

	//Optional, Trust the security certificate 
	//ServicePointManager.ServerCertificateValidationCallback += (sender, certificate, chain, sslPolicyErrors) => true;

	//Send the Request 
	IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);

	// Optional: Exception handling 
	if (response.ErrorException != null)
	{
		const string message = "Error retrieving response.  Check inner details for more info.";
		var yourException = new ApplicationException(message, response.ErrorException);
		throw yourException;
	}
}

 

 

 

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Last update:
‎Jan 18, 2022 10:48 AM
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