Is there a vara type that does not strip the quotes?

[Mitchell Feldman]

ASO 12.1.2

 

https://docs.automic.com/documentation/webhelp/english/ARA/12.1/DOCU/12.1/ARA%20Guides/Default.htm#REST%20API/AE_REST_AP… 

 

I'm calling the AE REST API

 

http://{{host}}:{{port}}/ae/api/v1/100/executions 

 

using the following JSON body:

 

{
"object_name": "JOBP.LAB_NFV_NSO_CHANGE_IP_OF_SERVICE.2",
"inputs": {
"partnerid": "partner_id_v123",
"ip": "1.1.1.1",
"pool": { "name": "sktest-10-06-2017-aws1.ebiz.verizon.com_HAL_pool" }
}
}

 

To launch a workflow.  Then I'm using a promtset (assigned to the workflow) to pass in and assign variables within the workflow.

 

partnerid and ip are easy and work using Data Reference "UC_DATATYPE_STRING".  The variable pool (which is JSON itself) is the problem.  The problem is that when I assign pool using "UC_DATATYPE_STRING", the value as seen via a print is 

2018-09-19 13:33:48 - U00020408 pool = {name=sktest-10-06-2017-aws1.ebiz.verizon.com_HAL_pool

all the quotes get stripped.  WHY?  And more importantly, what vara type can I use where Automic does NOT strip the quotes?

 

In troubleshooting:

I can send this in the body:

 

{
"object_name": "JOBP.LAB_NFV_NSO_CHANGE_IP_OF_SERVICE.2",
"inputs": {
"partnerid": "partner_id_v123",
"ip": "1.1.1.1",
"pool": "{\"name\": \"sktest-10-06-2017-aws1.ebiz.verizon.com_HAL_pool\" }"
}
}

 

and then pool = 

2018-09-19 13:38:05 - U00020408 pool = { "name": "sktest-10-06-2017-aws1.ebiz.verizon.com_HAL_pool" }

 

but this is not legal JSON in the body for pool.  In my real life use case the JSON (from the user interface) is rather large and I don't want to get away from JSON.

 

Soo: what vara type can I use where Automic does NOT strip the quotes?

[Antoine Sauteron]

Hi Mitchell,

 

Not sure how the variables are being passed in your case. I would assume you enter the values in double quotes in the promptset, and then refer to these values inside the REST call ? 

 

 

 

Are you doing something like below ?

 

 

{
"object_name": &MYOBJECT#
}

 

If so, you can try this instead:

 

{
"object_name": "&MYOBJECT#"
}

 

Best regards,

Antoine

[Mitchell Feldman]

My rest call is to launch the workflow.

My prompt set is applied in the "variables & prompts" tab of the workflow.

In my prompt set for pool:

 

[Michael Pirson]

The UC_DATATYPE_STRING can have quotes in it.

 

It is my understanding that \ is a valid JSON escape for quotes. So it is my assumption that the quotes are getting removed as part of the request and not by Automic

[Mitchell Feldman]

I'm sending the post from Postman directly, so the quotes are in there:

[Antoine Sauteron]

Hi,

 

Sorry but I don't think it's Automic-related. 

The following characters are reserved in JSON and must be properly escaped to be used in strings:

• Backspace is replaced with \b
• Form feed is replaced with \f
• Newline is replaced with \n
• Carriage return is replaced with \r
• Tab is replaced with \t
• Double quote is replaced with \"
• Backslash is replaced with \\

Source: Free Online JSON Escape / Unescape Tool - FreeFormatter.com 

 

In case you want to pass double quotes as a string, you will need to use escape characters, no matter what the endpoint is.

 

Best regards,

Antoine

[LuuLe]

Hi mitchell.feldman,

Were you able to resolve the issue with Michael & Antoine suggestions of using the escaped characters?