Connecting External APIs via Novulo

[Q&A] General
1

Hi,
I’m currently working with Novulo and looking to integrate an external API. My question is whether it’s possible to call external APIs from within Novulo, and if so, how to set this up in a general and generic way.

I’ve serveral question about this:

  1. How can we configure external access toREST APIs? What are the first steps to configure this?
  2. How do I manage authentication (such as API keys) and set headers like content-type? Is there a special configuration required within Novulo for this?
    3.How does a typical API request look like within Novulo? Which expressions or functionalities in Novulo should I use to perform a GET or POST request?
  3. Are there best practices within Novulo for storing and handling API responses, possibly within tables or storing the jsons.

Thank you in advance.

2

Hi Stephan,

I would recommend using Call Templates to make a call to an external API.

1. How can we configure external access toREST APIs? What are the first steps to configure this?

I would start by configuring a call template and testing with it. If that works you can incorporate it in a workflow or a process in the Architect.

2. How do I manage authentication (such as API keys) and set headers like content-type? Is there a special configuration required within Novulo for this?

You configure the authentication as part of the configuration of the call template.

3.How does a typical API request look like within Novulo? Which expressions or functionalities in Novulo should I use to perform a GET or POST request?

With a call template it is possible to do both a GET and POST request, you can configure the way the request should look through the Export Definition for request that is part of the Call Template.

4. Are there best practices within Novulo for storing and handling API responses, possibly within tables or storing the jsons.

If you use the Call Templates functionality the call and its response are stored automatically.

Maybe these posts can help you:
How using the API call templates in the application on e.g. products - [Q&A] General - Novulo

Call Templates - Using call parameters in a call template export - [Q&A] Using the Platform - Novulo

Cheers,

Geertjan

1 Like