How to send a request in Data Exchange API

This document describes how to interact with databases using the Data Exchange API. The Data Exchange API lets you configure endpoints to interact with any database tables. In this document, we use the /dynamic-data/countries to interact with the spy_country and spy_tax_rate tables as an example.

Prerequisites

• Install the Data Exchange API
• Configure the Data Exchange API

The Data Exchange API is a non-resource-based API, and routes all specified endpoints directly to a controller. By default, all routes within the Data Exchange API are protected to ensure data security. To access the API, you need to obtain an access token by sending the POST /token/ request with the appropriate credentials:

POST /token/ HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
Accept: application/json
Content-Length: 67

grant_type=password&username={username}&password={password}

Retrieve a collection of fields

To retrieve a collection of countries, you need to send the GET https://glue.mysprykershop.com/dynamic-entity/countries request. The request needs to include the necessary headers, such as Content-Type, Accept, and Authorization, with the access token provided.

Pagination allows for efficient data retrieval by specifying the desired range of results. To use pagination, include the desired page limit and offset in the request:

GET /dynamic-entity/countries?page[offset]=1&page[limit]=2 HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}

Response sample:

{
  "data": [
      {
          "id_country": 2,
          "iso2_code": "AD",
          "iso3_code": "AND",
          "name": "Andorra",
          "postal_code_mandatory": true,
          "postal_code_regex": "AD\\d{3}"
      },
      {
          "id_country": 3,
          "iso2_code": "AE",
          "iso3_code": "ARE",
          "name": "United Arab Emirates",
          "postal_code_mandatory": false,
          "postal_code_regex": null
      }
  ]
}

The response contains all the columns from the spy_country table that are configured in spy_dynamic_entity_definition.definition. Each column is represented using the fieldVisibleName as the key, providing a comprehensive view of the table’s data in the API response. By default, the API GET request returns up to 20 records.

Filtering enables targeted data retrieval, refining the response to match the specified criteria. To apply filtering to the results based on specific fields, include the appropriate filter parameter in the request:

GET /dynamic-entity/countries?filter[country.iso2_code]=AA HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}

Response sample:

{
  "data": [
    {
      "id_country": 1,
      "iso2_code": "AA",
      "iso3_code": "UUD",
      "name": "Create",
      "postal_code_mandatory": false,
      "postal_code_regex": null
    }
  ]
}

It is also possible to supply multiple values for a field. They are filtered as IN condition:

GET /dynamic-entity/countries?filter[country.iso2_code]={"in": ["AC","AD", "AE"]} HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}

Response sample:

{
  "data": [
    {
      "id_country": 1,
      "iso2_code": "AC",
      "iso3_code": "ASC",
      "name": "Ascension Island",
      "postal_code_mandatory": false,
      "postal_code_regex": null
    },
    {
      "id_country": 2,
      "iso2_code": "AD",
      "iso3_code": "AND",
      "name": "Andorra",
      "postal_code_mandatory": true,
      "postal_code_regex": "AD\\d{3}"
    },
    {
      "id_country": 3,
      "iso2_code": "AE",
      "iso3_code": "ARE",
      "name": "United Arab Emirates",
      "postal_code_mandatory": false,
      "postal_code_regex": null
    }
  ]
}

To retrieve a country by a specific ID, send a GET request with the following parameters:

GET /dynamic-entity/countries/3 HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}

Response sample:

{
  "data":[
    {
      "id_country": 3,
      "iso2_code": "AE",
      "iso3_code": "ARE",
      "name": "United Arab Emirates",
      "postal_code_mandatory": false,
      "postal_code_regex": null
    }
  ]
}

If you send a request to an endpoint that’s not configured in spy_dynamic_entity_configuration, the following is returned:

[
    {
        "message": "Not found",
        "status": 404,
        "code": "007"
    }
]

Retrieve a collection of entities together with relations

To retrieve a collection of countries with relations, you need to send the GET https://glue.mysprykershop.com/dynamic-entity/countries?include=countryTaxRates request. The include parameter allows you to define a list of relations to be retrieved alongside the main entity of the request. It follows this format {mainEntity}?include={childRelationOfTheMainEntity.childRelationOfTheChildRelation},{secondRelationChain},{thirdRelationChain}, where:

• The include parameter can consist of one or several relation chains, separated by commas (,).
• Each relation chain represents a series of relation names (see spy_dynamic_entity_configuration_relation.name) separated periods (.).
• Each relation in the relation chain represents a connection between two spy_dynamic_entity_configuration entities. See the spy_dynamic_entity_configuration_relation table structure.
• To be processed correctly, a relation chain must contain only existing relation names arranged in the correct sequence that aligns with the relation hierarchy. Otherwise, an error will be returned. See error codes.

GET /dynamic-entity/countries?include=countryTaxRates HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}

Response sample:

{
  "data": [
    "...",
    {
      "id_country": 14,
      "iso2_code": "AT",
      "iso3_code": "AUT",
      "name": "Austria",
      "postal_code_mandatory": true,
      "postal_code_regex": "\\d{4}",
      "countryTaxRates": [
        {
          "id_tax_rate": 1,
          "fk_country": 14,
          "name": "Austria Standard",
          "rate": "20.00"
        },
        {
          "id_tax_rate": 21,
          "fk_country": 14,
          "name": "Austria Reduced1",
          "rate": "13.00"
        },
        {
          "id_tax_rate": 22,
          "fk_country": 14,
          "name": "Austria Reduced2",
          "rate": "10.00"
        }
      ]
    },
    "..."
  ]
}

The response contains all columns from the spy_country table and the included spy_tax_rate table, as configured in spy_dynamic_entity_definition.definition. Each column is identified using the fieldVisibleName as the key, providing a comprehensive view of the table’s data in the API response.

Sending POST requests

To create a collection of countries, submit the following HTTP request:

POST /dynamic-entity/countries HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}
Content-Length: 154

{
    "data": [
        {
            "iso2_code": "WA",
            "iso3_code": "WWA",
            "name": "FOO"
        }
    ]
}

The response payload includes all the specified fields from the request body, along with the ID of the created entity. Response sample:

{
  "data":[
    {
      "iso2_code": "WA",
      "iso3_code": "WWA",
      "name": "FOO",
      "id_country": 257
    }
  ]
}

All fields included in the request payload are marked as isCreatable: true in the configuration. So, the API creates a new record with all the provided fields. However, if any of the provided fields are configured as isCreatable: false, the request results in error.

For example, configure isCreatable: false for iso3_code and send the same request. You should receive the following error response:

[
  {
    "message": "Modification of immutable field `countries[0].iso3_code` is prohibited.",
    "status": 400,
    "code": "1304"
  }
]

Certain database-specific configurations may result in issues independent of entity configurations. For example, with MariaDB, it is impossible to set the ID value for an auto-incremented field. Additionally, the iso2_code field in the spy_country table must have a unique value. Therefore, before creating a new record, you need to make sure you are not passing a duplicate value for this field. If a duplicate value is passed, the following is returned:

[
    {
        "message": "Failed to persist the data for `countries[0].iso2_code`. Please verify the provided data and try again. Entry is duplicated.",
        "status": 400,
        "code": "1309"
    }
]

This response is caused by a caught Propel exception, specifically an integrity constraint violation: (Integrity constraint violation: 1062 Duplicate entry 'WA' for key 'spy_country-iso2_code').

Sending PATCH requests

To update a collection of countries, submit the following HTTP request:

PATCH /dynamic-entity/countries HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}
Content-Length: 174
{
    "data": [
        {
            "id_country": 1,
            "iso2_code": "WB",
            "iso3_code": "WWB",
            "name": "FOO"
        }
    ]
}

The response payload includes all the specified fields from the request body. Response sample:

{
    "data":[
      {
        "iso2_code": "WB",
        "iso3_code": "WWB",
        "name": "FOO",
        "id_country": 1
      }
    ]
}

To update a specific country, send the following HTTP request:

PATCH /dynamic-entity/countries/1 HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}
Content-Length: 143
{
    "data": {
            "iso2_code": "WB",
            "iso3_code": "WWB",
            "name": "FOO"
        }
}

All fields included in the request payload are marked as isCreatable: true in the configuration. So, the API creates a new record with all the provided fields. However, if any of the provided fields are configured as isCreatable: false, the request results in error.

For example, configure isCreatable: false for iso3_code and send the same request. You should receive the following error response:

[
  {
    "message": "Modification of immutable field `countries[0].iso3_code` is prohibited.",
    "status": 400,
    "code": "1304"
  }
]

If id_country is not provided, the following is returned:

[
  {
    "message": "Incomplete Request - missing identifier for `countries[0]`.",
    "status": 400,
    "code": "1310"
  }
]

If id_country is not found, the following is returned:

[
  {
    "message": "The entity `countries[0]` could not be found in the database.",
    "status": 404,
    "code": "1303"
  }
]

Sending PUT request

When you send a PUT request, you provide the updated representation of the resource in the request payload. The server replaces the entire existing resource with the new representation provided. If the resource does not exist at the specified URL, the request creates a new resource.

To replace an existing entity, send the following PUT request:

PUT /dynamic-entity/countries HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}
Content-Length: 263
{
    "data": [
        {
            "id_country": 1,
            "iso2_code": "WB",
            "iso3_code": "WWB",
            "name": "FOO"
        }
    ]
}

The response payload includes all touched fields for the provided resource. Response sample:

{
  "data": [
    {
      "iso2_code": "WB",
      "iso3_code": "WWB",
      "name": "FOO",
      "postal_code_mandatory": null,
      "postal_code_regex": null,
      "id_country": 1
    }
  ]
}

It is also possible to send a PUT request for a specific ID instead of a collection using the following request:

PUT /dynamic-entity/countries/1 HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}
Content-Length: 143
{
    "data": {
            "iso2_code": "WB",
            "iso3_code": "WWB",
            "name": "FOO"
        }
}

Sending POST, PATCH and PUT requests with relationships

To create or update an entity along with its related entities, you need to include the relationships directly in the request payload. The payload should be structured to reflect the hierarchy and connections between the main entity and its child entities.

The payload for these requests follows a nested structure where the main entity and its related entities are included within a data array. Each object in the data array represents an instance of the main entity, and each related entity is nested within it.

For correct processing, make sure that related entities are defined with existing relation names. Also, organize them in alignment with their hierarchical relationships in the database, corresponding to the relationships defined in tables like spy_dynamic_entity_configuration_relation and spy_dynamic_entity_configuration_relation_field_mapping:

• spy_dynamic_entity_configuration_relation specifies the relationships between parent and child entities. Each record links a parent entity to a child entity.
• spy_dynamic_entity_configuration_relation_field_mapping contains the field mappings between related entities.

The hierarchical relationships are primarily defined by the foreign key references in these tables. For example, spy_dynamic_entity_configuration_relation uses foreign keys to establish connections between parent and child configurations in spy_dynamic_entity_configuration.

Incorrect or non-existent relation names or a misalignment in the hierarchy leads to processing errors. For a detailed list of potential errors, see Error codes.

For POST, PATCH, and PUT requests the payload must accurately reflect the entity relationships. Make sure that each entity in the request includes its corresponding related entities, structured as nested objects within the payload.

POST /dynamic-entity/countries HTTP/1.1
Host: glue-backend.mysprykershop.com
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json
Authorization: Bearer {your_token}
Content-Length: 245

{
  "data": [
    {
      "iso2_code": "DE",
      "iso3_code": "DEU",
      "name": "Germany",
      "countryTaxRates": [
            {
                "name": "Germany Standard",
                "rate": "1.00"
            }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Response sample:

{
  "data": [
    {
      "iso2_code": "DE",
      "iso3_code": "DEU",
      "name": "Germany",
      "postal_code_mandatory": null,
      "postal_code_regex": null,
      "id_country": 1,
      "countryTaxRates": [
            {
                "name": "Germany Standard",
                "rate": "1.00",
                "id_country_tax_rate": 1,
                "fk_country": 1
            }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

The response contains all columns from the spy_country table and the included spy_tax_rate table, as configured in spy_dynamic_entity_definition.definition. Each column is identified using the fieldVisibleName as the key, providing a comprehensive view of the table’s data in the API response.

Error codes

Bellow, you can find a list of error codes that you can receive when sending GET, POST, PATCH or PUT requests.