How to use JSON Webhook workflow for an Update to ...

Daisy_Ramirez · 08-17-2020 01:36 PM

Hi everyone, I have an AppSheet webhook created with another site and the Add Record works perfectly. Now I’m moving towards being able to update the records I’ve added but wondered how AppSheet would work as I don’t see a GET option.

Does AppSheet have the GET capability already built in? If yes, how can I help it reference the correct record. I’ve reviewed the Webhook documentation for AppSheet but haven’t seen a sample of a JSON Update script here. Any references would be outstanding.

Thanks so much.

Here’s the error text.

Error:
“Webhook HTTP post request failed with exception {“name”:“Error”,“errorGroup”:“User”,“code”:“WD_VALIDATION_ERROR”} The remote server returned an error: (500) Internal Server Error.”

GreenFlux

AppSheet does not have GET webhooks, but that is for webhooks sent from AppSheet to other systems.

If you want to send a webhook from another service to AppSheet, use the Edit-action in the webhook body. (The Endpoint URL is the same)

{
"Action": "Edit",
"Properties": {
   "Locale": "en-US",
   "Location": "47.623098, -122.330184",
   "Timezone": "Pacific Standard Time",
   "UserSettings": {
      "Option 1": "value1",
      "Option 2": "value2"
   }
},
"Rows": [
{
"Key": "VALID_KEY_VALUE"
"FirstName": "Jane",
"LastName": "Doe"
}
]
}

When you send an Add (row) webhook you can leave out the key-column, but you have to provide the key for Edit webhooks.

The webhook body for Edit is the same format except you need a key, and the Action = Edit.

Also, required values can be left out of the webhook body for Edits, as long as the row already has the required value. You only have to provide Key:Value pairs for the columns you want to edit.

Daisy_Ramirez

Great information! I’m needing to send an UPDATE “from” AppSheet to another service. In my example, I will update records in AppSheet and look for that data to be updated in the other service.

Since AppSheet doesn’t have GET, what’s the best way?

GreenFlux

Ah, sorry I misunderstood. That would either be a POST or PUT webhook from AppSheet to the external service, triggered on Table-Update in AppSheet.

What is the external service? Their API documentation should tell you how to format your webhooks coming from AppSheet.

Daisy_Ramirez

No problem, thanks. I have the script required on the other service. I’m looking for the JSON script needed within the AppSheet workflow since AppSheet doesn’t have the option for GET. I have this so far but unfortunately receive the error below which is understandable as I’ve not told the system which record to update. Hope this makes sense.

Error:
“Webhook HTTP post request failed with exception {“name”:“Error”,“errorGroup”:“User”,“code”:“WD_VALIDATION_ERROR”} The remote server returned an error: (500) Internal Server Error.”

Koichi_Tsuji

You need to refine the JSON body. Visit the documentation for the template, as well as checking the useful tools @GreenFlux kindly provided before.

Daisy_Ramirez

Nice! Ok, I’ll dig in to this tonight. Thanks so much!

Koichi_Tsuji

Constructing JSON body is bit painful even on NO-CODE platform of Appsheet as it is bit “coding” flavour with it, but @GreenFlux made it less painful with his tool. Try it out.

GreenFlux

I think this means that you’re not hitting a valid endpoint or the headers are wrong. If you get past authentication the errors are usually more specific. This sounds more like the URL or headers are incorrect so the specific server never gets a chance to respond.

Could you please post a picture of your webhook settings? The image above doesn’t show the URL.

Daisy_Ramirez

Nice Generator - will put to good use!! Here’s the image. I’ve seen other webhooks and see the need for the GET function in order to grab the correct record to update but when I generate the template, I receive the fields in the image.

GreenFlux

Most API endpoint schemas have the record ID at the end of the URL for Reads/Updates/Deletes.

You may need to put the record ID after /updaterecords/<<[RecordID]>>. (External system’s ID, not AppSheet’s)

Where did you get the URL? It looks like it could be missing the table name to update as well as the key. And it could be a POST instead of PUT. It just depends on the API. Check the Wix API docs, or whichever 3rd party add-on you are using to expose the data.

Try sending test POSTs/PUTs from Insomnia. You can edit the URL formatting and retest much faster and figure out the right syntax, then paste it back in AppSheet.

Daisy_Ramirez

Ok, Will give it a try - a million thanks!

Pete_Bush

Hi,

i have an external service that is used for usermanagement which should update my appsheet via webhook. the problem is, that this service has no knowledge of the ID in Appsheet because it is working in another data table. Can i somehow search the ID via Firstname + Lastname or Email?

Phil

Topic "Read selected rows" in this article may help https://support.google.com/appsheet/answer/10105770?hl=en&ref_topic=10105767

Pete_Bush

Thank you very much! I totally misunderstood the title and didn't even read the article. It works really well. Now I just need to figure out how to proceed when the last name and therefore the email changes.