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Overview

Use a 

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 to make HTTPS requests to external APIs;

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Basic Settings

Expects literal values or expressions encapsulated within ${} syntax, for example ${in.MyValue}.

FieldDescriptionExample Value
NameName given to the Email Action Node. This will be displayed on the actionflow canvas.BankHolidays
HTTP MethodThe HTTP method. A drop-down field containing: GET, POST, GET or POST, HEAD, PUT, DELETE, other. If other is specified a text box will allow the entering of a custom value which is not empty and contains only uppercase letters.Get
URL Template

A template that computes the URL of the request.

Expects literal values or expressions encapsulated within ${} syntax, for example ${in.MyValue}.

https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays.json
Body Template

An optional field. If this evaluates to only whitespace then it is not included in the request.

Expects literal values or expressions encapsulated within ${} syntax, for example ${in.MyValue}.


Error ExpressionAn optional JEP expression to determine if the response is an error and so sent on the error output. The expression will have access to the input record (in) and the mapped output response (_result).
Log TrafficLogs the response of the HTTP request.
Maximum HTTP Log LengthRestricts the size of the log traffic.


Use Raw URL

If enabled the URL Temaplete value is sent in exactly the format it is provided to the HTTP Action. If not enabled PhixFlow will transpose values to form a valid URL, such as replacing spaces with %20%.

Output Record

An HTTP action has two output connection points, See Output Connection points below. An HTTP request will be triggered for each input record and generate one output record, which will be sent on either the out or error output. 

The resulting record, attributes returned by the request, are identical for both out and error outputs:

  • body: The content returned by a successful request. For example, JSON content.

  • contentType: The type of response provided by the target HTTP request. For example, application/json; charset=utf-8.
  • status: the returned status code.For example, 200.

  • status message: the returns status message. For example, OK

    .

    tip

    Connect to a JSON Action to the output connection to interpret the JSON response into individual records.


    Input Connection Points

    Can Accept a single

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    The grid contains a list of all input connection points and their type.

    • To add a new input connection point, in the section toolbar click 
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       to open a new input connection point and set its properties; see Input Connection Points.
    • To edit an existing input connection point, double-click it in the list to open its properties.
    • To remove an input connection point, select one and in the section toolbar click 
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      .

    Output Connection Points

    The grid contains a list of output connection points, by default this will be out and error.

    Output Connection PointDescription
    OutContains the resulting record of the request. 
    ErrorContains the resulting record of the request where it satisfies the error expression specified on the HTTP Action. 

    Adding and Editing

    • To add a new output path, in the section toolbar click 
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       to open a new output path and set the expression; see Output Connection Points.
    • To edit an existing output path, double-click it in the list to open its properties.
    • To remove an output path, select one and in the section toolbar click 
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    Configuration

    The configuration of each output connection point is identical:

    FieldDescriptionExample
    NameName of the outputout
    Output TypeA drop-down field containing: String, Raw Data, JSON.String
    Skip Invalid RecordsSkip attributes which are considered invalid.enabled
    Default CharsetA drop-down field containing character set options including utf-8.utf-8
    PathThe JSON path to apply. If empty this will default to '$' which matches the entire object.

    // $ returns everything, this syntax traverses down two levels using two full // stops.

    $..events

    JSON LenientAttributes

    Adding and Editing

    To add a new output path, in the section toolbar click  Insert excerpt_add_addnopaneltrue to open a new output path and set the expression; see Output Connection Points.
  • To edit an existing output path, double-click it in the list to open its properties.
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    When enabled this removes JSON specification restrictions, allowing for a degree of leniency in malformed JSON data. When disabled the JSON will be treated strictly.enabled
    AttributesContains the attributes which hold the values returned by the Output Connection Point. Result values are obtained using the keyword _result followed by the attribute name. _result.status

    Output Record

    An HTTP action has two output connection points out and error. An HTTP action is triggered for each input record and will generate one output record which will be sent on either the out or error output. 

    The resulting record contains the attributes specified by the output connection point, successful records are passed down the out connection point and records containing an error are passed down the error connection point. The stricture of the records by default is as follows:

    1. body: The content returned by a successful request. For example, JSON content.

    2. contentType: The type of response provided by the target HTTP request. For example, application/json; charset=utf-8.
    3. status: the returned status code.For example, 200.

    4. status message: the returns status message. For example, OK.

    Tip

    Connect to a JSON Action to the output connection to interpret the JSON response into individual records.


    Headers

    Are typically used to specify information for the request such as character sets, session tokens or passwords. Headers can make use of the Secret Key Details see below. For more information see HTTP Header

    For example,

    • Name: Content-Type
    • Value:  text/xml; charset=UTF-8


    Secret Key Details

    Secret Keys allow sensitive data such as passwords or security tokens to be encrypted and stored in the PhixFlow Database.

    Secret keys have a name which they can be referenced by using the syntax ${_datasource.key}. For full details on secret keys see Secret Key and Local Secret.