How To Retrieve Data From Rest API In Appcelerator - api

Question

I have the misfortune of further developing an existing mobile application in Appcelerator. The app uses a Rest API on a remote server to read and write data. The API works well in test environments and in production. I need to post data to the API and read the output. Here is an example of what the output of the API looks like after a POST command:
{
"equipment":
{
"result": "create",
"id": 419213
},
"_meta":
{
"offset": 0,
"limit": -1,
"total_results": 1,
"url": "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/equipment",
"utc_start_time": 1459449461115,
"nano_total_time": 74771
}
}
I am able to successfully post the data in Appcelerator. I have verified this in the database that the CRUD operation is acting on. However, I am unable to get the aforementioned data from the httpClient object that makes the call, despite following the directions in the outdated Titanium documentation.
Here is my Appcelerator code:
var payload = "name=atad&asset_number=adtasd&department_id=185080&property_id=10086&designator_id=379828&is_leased=N&is_assignable_asset=N&status=A";
var url = "http://localhost:8080/api/v1/equipment";
var client = Ti.Network.createHTTPClient({
onload : function(e) {
Ti.API.info(e); // {}
Ti.API.info(e.source); // []
Ti.API.info(JSON.stringify(e.source)); // {}
Ti.API.info(JSON.stringify(e.source.reponseText)); // null
Ti.API.info(JSON.stringify(e.source.reponseData)); // null
Ti.API.info(this); // []
console.log(JSON.stringify(this)); // {}
Ti.API.info(JSON.stringify(this.reponseText)); // null
Ti.API.info(this.reponseData); // null
}
,onerror : function(e){
Ti.API.info(e);
alert("error");
}
});
var auth = 'Basic ' + Ti.App.Properties.getString('auth');
client.open("POST", apiUrl);
client.setRequestHeader('Authorization', auth);
client.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain');
client.send(payload);
Here is the console output:
[INFO] : {
[INFO] : code = 0;
[INFO] : source = "[object TiNetworkHTTPClient]";
[INFO] : success = 1;
[INFO] : type = load;
[INFO] : }
[INFO] : [object TiNetworkHTTPClient]
[INFO] : {"method":"POST","url":"http://localhost:8080/api/v1/equipment"}
[INFO] : <null>
[INFO] : <null>
[INFO] : [object TiNetworkHTTPClient]
[INFO] : {"method":"POST","url":"http://localhost:8080/api/v1/equipment"}
[INFO] : <null>
[INFO] : <null>
The documentation here http://docs.appcelerator.com/platform/latest/#!/api/Titanium.Network.HTTPClient explicitly says to use this.responseText, but that is clearly not giving me the results I need. I need that "id" that is being returned from the server.
How do I read the data that is returned from the server after a post API call?

Answer 1

There is just a typo in this.responseText

Answer 2

Have a look at this module: https://github.com/jasonkneen/RESTe
It makes your life easier and gives you a great way to the same syntax for future projects!
If you want to keep your syntax (which is fine too):
have a look at this example: https://github.com/m1ga/titanium-libraries/blob/master/api.js#L49
and the following lines. It shows you how to read the JSON. Basically you have to wait for if (this.readyState === 4) {} inside the onload and then read the this.responseText or JSON.parse() it.

Answer 3

It looks like the apiUrl variable is not defined?
Which could explain a lot or your current frustration.