How to pass an array via REST as a parameter

[bandtank]

I am trying to pass an array using Python to a custom controller action. I'm not able to get an array out of the request object regardless of what I try. The last array item seems to be accessible, but nothing before it. In the example below, I'm expecting to get the following array in PHP: ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e']

Here is the python request:

   def getJobData(self, jobNumber, exclude, dateStart, dateEnd):
     params = {
       "jobNumber": jobNumber,
       "exclude":   ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'],
       "dateStart": dateStart,
       "dateEnd":   dateEnd
     }  
     endpoint = "Invoice/action/CollectJobData"

     logging.debug(f"Collectiong job data ({endpoint}, {params})")

     self.makeRequest(endpoint, params)

which produces this in the Python log:

Making a request (Invoice/action/CollectJobData, {'jobNumber': '18-0089', 'exclude': ['a', 'b', 'c', 'd', 'e'], 'dateStart': '2000-01-01', 'dateEnd': '2020-02-05'}

This is the code in the controller:

public function getActionCollectJobData($params, $inpData, $request) {
    $jobNumber  = $request->get('jobNumber');
    $exclude    = $request->get('exclude');
    $dateStart  = $request->get('dateStart');
    $dateEnd    = $request->get('dateEnd');

    $GLOBALS['log']->error("params",[$jobNumber, $exclude, $dateStart, $dateEnd],[]);
} 

which produces this in the EspoCRM log:

[2020-02-06 01:10:23] Espo.ERROR: params ["18-0089","e","2000-01-01","2020-02-05"] []

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong in the code in Python or PHP. How is the EspoCRM API setup to pass array parameters into controllers? I can't find an example anywhere.

[bandtank]

I never figured out how to do this with a GET request, but here is a solution with a POST request.

This is the Python code to submit a request using the requests module:

import requests
import base64

baseUrl = "https://espo.domain.com/api/v1/"
username = "..."
password = "..."
token = base64.b64encode(f"{username}:{password}".encode()).decode()


def makeRequest(method, endpoint, params, json = None):
  headers = {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    "Espo-Authorization": token
  }  
  if method == "get":
    r = requests.get (baseUrl + endpoint, headers = headers, params = params)
  else:
    r = requests.post(baseUrl + endpoint, headers = headers, params = params, json = json)
  return r

jsonObj = {
  'stuff': [1,2,3],
  'moreStuff': 'a string'
}

qParams = {
  'foor: 'bar'
}

makeRequest(method, endpoint = "Invoice/action/ExampleEndpoint, params = qParams, json = jsonObj)

This is the PHP code in custom/Espo/Custom/Controllers/ExampleEntity.php:

<?php

namespace Espo\Custom\Controllers;

use Espo\Core\Exceptions\BadRequest;

class ExampleEntity extends \Espo\Core\Templates\Controllers\Base
{
  public function postActionExampleEndpoint($params, $inpData, $request) {
    # Store the query parameters, e.g. {url}?foo=bar
    $foo = $request->get('foor'); # Stores the string 'bar'

    # If applicable, check to be sure $inpData is an object (a dictionary object in Python)
    if(gettype($inpData) != "object")
      throw new BadRequest("Invalid input data: unexpected type");

    # Store or use the dictionary/JSON/object data
    $stuff = $inpData->stuff # Stores the array (1,2,3)
    $moreStuff = $inpData->moreStuff # Stores the string 'a string'

    # See parameters and object
    $GLOBALS['log']->error("params",[$key, $inpData],[]);

    # Return all input parameters and objects as an associate array (dictionary) to Python
    return array(
      'stuff' => $stuff,
      'moreStuff' => $moreStuff,
      'foo' => $foo
    );
  }
}

Also, there are guides to writing and using API clients in the EspoCRM documentation, which may be helpful:

• Using the EspoCRM API
• API Client in PHP
• API Client in Python
• The development repository has many other things that may be useful

[telecastg]

Thanks for posting the solution in full bandtank , I am currently working on developing an SMS plugin that would allow EspoCRM to send SMS messages using an inexpensive Raspberry - GSM Modem - SIM card combination without having to go through a gateway service and your code example helps a lot.

I will post any progress on this project.