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terrible_towel's avatar
terrible_towel
New Contributor II
2 years ago
Solved

How do I extract data from an API, using a post request, with the HTTP Client snap?

Hi,

The API owner demands I use a post request first, then get authorized by getting a user token and a cookie token, and only then I can do a get request to retrieve the data. I was able to configure the first part properly, in the screenshot below:

This retrieves a header with a token for the user, and the cookie. My question is - what do I do next? how do I configure the next HTTP Client snap in order to retrieve the data with the get request, and what do I choose as an account? should I use the cookies as a token for the account?

Thanks

5 Replies

  • djsiegel's avatar
    djsiegel
    Former Employee
    2 years ago

    Hi Terrible:

    This is a pretty common pattern, and I find it easiest just to treat the data from your post like any other data - add a Mapper snap right after your post, and extract the values you need, then use them in the next HTTP Client. I'm attaching a sample pipeline that just uses a free API site URL for testing. In the first HTTP Client, I POST the information you gave, in the Mapper snap that follows, I extract my needed data, and in the other HTTP Client I use those data elements from the Mapper in headers using SnapLogic's ability to evaluate a variable. Hope this helps.

    Example Pipeline: 

    Mapper pulls out the data we need:

    Then use those data elements anywhere you need them, whether it's in the URL, in the Query Params, or as Header params, or even in a document posted back:

     

    • terrible_towel's avatar
      terrible_towel
      New Contributor II
      2 years ago

      Thanks djsiegel for the quick reply.

      What I'm failing to understand is what value do I use for Account in the 2nd HTTP Client snap? and what type of an API account should it be, since the system owner forbids me to use basic auth?

      • djsiegel's avatar
        djsiegel
        Former Employee
        2 years ago

        Ah - its going to depend on the API itself. Likely NO account is required, since you've got a token you're going to pass in a header.  I did this recently in an example with monday.com that required only a header being passed. For this, I used the "Secured Headers" type HTTP account, no schema (unless yours requires a specific schema), and just put the needed headers under "Additional auth headers". 

        HTTP Client Config:

        Secured Headers Account Type configuration: