REST API:exec Resource

Provides the ability to execute a class method using the REST API.

Considerations

• A Class must be defined. (The exec resource invokes a method in the class.)
• An instance of the class is created automatically, so the method need not be static.
• Whether passed in XML or JSON, parameters passed to the method in the <execClass> segment must consist of a flat structure, as in the example that follows. (The structure is converted to a HashMap, so it cannot contain any complex elements or attributes.)

• Signatures:
  • The method must be public
  • The method can either take no arguments: public methodName()
  • Or it take arguments passed in a Map: public methodName(Map params)
    (Parameters passed in the Request are wrapped in a Map, and passed to the method.)

• Return Types:
  • A method may return void.
  • If the return type is a Map, it can be used to return key-value pairs.
  • It can also return a Result object.

__TBD: yes?__

Method

POST

URI

https://{yourDomain}/networking/rest/class/operation/exec

Request

<platform>
    <execClass>
        <clazz>fully.qualified.JavaClassName</clazz>
        <method>methodName</method>
        ...optional list of additional parameter tags like these...
        <firstName>Peter</firstName>
        <lastName>Smith</lastname>
    </execClass>
</platform>

(Note that the items in the <execClass> tag form a flat structure.)

Response

When the return value is Result object, an XML response looks like this:

<platform>
    <execClass>
        <result>...result-string here...</result>
    </execClass>
    <message>
        <code>0</code>
        <description>Success</description>
    </message>
</platform>

__TBD: Additional values in Result object?__

When the return value is a Map, the key/value pairs it contains are returned. An XML response looks like this:

<platform>
    <execClass>
        <key1>value1</key1>
        <key2>value2</key2>
    </execClass>
    ...
</platform>

In either case, a JSON response will have the same structure, but in JSON format.

Known issue

Null return values are not handled at this time.