The API controller is essential for the communication of the server and Flexmonster Pivot. This guide describes how to implement the API controller for Flexmonster.DataServer.Core.dll.

Note that this tutorial relates to the guide Referring the Data Server as a DLL and should be completed as a part of it.

Step 1. Create a new API controller

Create a new API controller class FlexmonsterAPIController as follows:

The code should be the following:

[Route("api")]
[ApiController]
public class FlexmonsterAPIController : ControllerBase
{
}

Step 2. Include Flexmonster.DataServer.Core in the controller

To use the DLL in the controller, add the following line of code to the beginning of the FlexmonsterAPIController.cs file:

using Flexmonster.DataServer.Core;

Step 3. Add the IApiService field to the controller

IApiService is a class from Flexmonster.DataServer.Core.dll containing methods for handling the custom data source API requests. These methods allow getting fields, members, and aggregated data.

To use the methods, add the field of the IApiService type to the controller class:

private readonly IApiService _flexmonsterApiService;

public FlexmonsterAPIController(IApiService apiService)
{
    _flexmonsterApiService = apiService;
}

Then, four POST requests should be handled: /handshake, /fields, /members, and /select.

Step 4. Include Flexmonster.DataServer.Core.Models to the controller

The Flexmonster.DataServer.Core.Models class contains type definitions for requests and responses. To include it to the controller, add the following line of code to the beginning of the FlexmonsterAPIController.cs file:

using Flexmonster.DataServer.Core.Models;

Step 5. (optional) Handle the /handshake request

This step is optional as it describes the handling of a /handshake request, which is also optional. Even if the server does not handle it, Flexmonster Pivot will proceed to the next request.

The /handshake request establishes a connection between the client and server sides. If the server sends the implemented version of the custom data source API in response to the /handshake request, the client can check whether the server and the client implement the same version of the custom data source API.

To receive notifications about the version compatibility, respond to the /handshake request with the implemented version of the custom data source API:

const string API_VERSION = "2.8.5";

[Route("handshake")]
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult Handshake()
{
    object response = new { version = API_VERSION };
    return new JsonResult(response);
}

Step 6. Handle the /fields request

The first required request to handle is the /fields request. To handle it, use the GetFields() method of the IApiService class:

[Route("fields")]
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult PostFields([FromBody]FieldsRequest request)
{
    var response = _flexmonsterApiService.GetFields(request);
    return new JsonResult(response);
}

FieldsRequest is a predefined class from Flexmonster.DataServer.Core.Models. It describes the /fields request’s structure.

Step 7. Handle the /members request

The next required request to handle is the /members request. Handle it with the GetMembers() method of the IApiService class. It should be done as follows:

[Route("members")]
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult PostMembers([FromBody]MembersRequest request)
{
    var response = _flexmonsterApiService.GetMembers(request);
    return new JsonResult(response);
}

MembersRequest is a predefined class from Flexmonster.DataServer.Core.Models. It describes the /members request’s structure.

Step 8. Handle the /select request

One more request that should be handled is the /select request. To handle it, use the GetAggregatedData() method of the IApiService class:

[Route("select")]
[HttpPost]
public IActionResult PostSelect([FromBody]SelectRequest request)
{
    var response = _flexmonsterApiService.GetAggregatedData(request);
    return new JsonResult(response);
}

SelectRequest is a predefined class from Flexmonster.DataServer.Core.Models. It describes the /select request’s structure.

After handling all the requests, the controller is ready for usage. Now you can return to step 10 of Referring Flexmonster Data Server as a DLL and complete the guide.

What’s next?

You may be interested in the following articles:

• The controller’s methods for request handling
• Referring the Data Server as a DLL
• Implementing the custom parser
• Implementing the server filter
• DLL configurations reference