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One linerUse web data sources in reports.

Reference → Modules →Reports → UI → Forms Editor | Forms | Monitor | WebData | WebData Editor

Configuration Properties

Creating WebData Objects

1. Navigate to Reports → WebData
2. Click Add button
3. Configure minimum requirements:
   • Name: Unique identifier
   • Encoding: Select format
4. Optional: Set DefaultURL and Authorization
5. Click OK

Authentication Methods

No Auth

No credentials sent:

Authorization: None

Bearer Token

Token-based authentication:

Authorization: Bearer <token>
Headers: {"Authorization": "Bearer {{Tag.APIToken}}"}

Basic Auth

Username/password authentication:

Authorization: Basic
Username: {{Tag.Username}}
Password: {{Tag.Password}}

Custom

Define custom authentication:

Headers: {
  "X-API-Key": "{{Tag.APIKey}}",
  "X-Client-ID": "{{Tag.ClientID}}"
}

Request Methods

GET Requests

Execute data retrieval:

csharp

// Async GET request
string response = await @Report.WebData.MyAPI.GetRequestAsync();

// Store in tag
@Tag.APIResponse = response;

// Access via DocumentClient
string data = @Report.WebData.MyAPI.DocumentClient;

POST Requests

Send data to API:

csharp

// Define body in WebData Editor
// Set response tag in headers
@Report.WebData.MyAPI.Headers["ResponseTag"] = "Tag.PostResult";

// Execute POST
await @Report.WebData.MyAPI.PostRequestAsync();

// Response stored in specified tag
string result = @Tag.PostResult;

WebData Editor

Define request structure and bind tags:

JSON Format

json

{
  "timestamp": "{{Info.Date}}",
  "values": {
    "temperature": {{Tag.TankFarm/Tank1/Temp}},
    "pressure": {{Tag.TankFarm/Tank1/Pressure}},
    "status": "{{Tag.Equipment/Status}}"
  }
}

XML Format

xml

<data>
  <timestamp>{{Info.Date}}</timestamp>
  <temperature>{{Tag.TankFarm/Tank1/Temp}}</temperature>
  <pressure>{{Tag.TankFarm/Tank1/Pressure}}</pressure>
</data>

Response Handling

Store Response Methods

Method 1: Direct Assignment

csharp

@Tag.JSONResponse = await @Report.WebData.API.GetRequestAsync();

Method 2: DocumentClient Property

csharp

await @Report.WebData.API.GetRequestAsync();
string data = @Report.WebData.API.DocumentClient;

Method 3: Tag Binding in Editor Map response fields to tags in WebData Editor

Headers Configuration

Common headers:

json

{
  "Content-Type": "application/json",
  "Accept": "application/json",
  "ResponseTag": "Tag.APIResult",
  "X-Request-ID": "{{Tag.RequestID}}"
}

File Operations

Save Response to File

csharp

// Configure SaveFileName
@Report.WebData.API.SaveFileName = @"C:\Data\response.json";

// Execute and save
await @Report.WebData.API.GetRequestAsync();
@Report.WebData.API.Save();

Dynamic File Names

C:\Data\API_{{Tag.Date}}_{{Tag.Time}}.json

Padding Options

Error Handling

csharp

try
{
    string response = await @Report.WebData.API.GetRequestAsync();
    
    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(response))
    {
        @Tag.Status = "Success";
        ProcessResponse(response);
    }
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    @Tag.ErrorMessage = ex.Message;
    @Tag.Status = "Failed";
}

Common Use Cases

Weather API Integration

csharp

@Report.WebData.Weather.DefaultURL = 
    "https://api.weather.com/v1/location/{{Tag.City}}";
    
string weather = await @Report.WebData.Weather.GetRequestAsync();

IoT Data Upload

csharp

// Configure POST body with sensor data
@Report.WebData.IoT.Headers["ResponseTag"] = "Tag.UploadStatus";
await @Report.WebData.IoT.PostRequestAsync();

Database Sync

csharp

// Get external data
string data = await @Report.WebData.External.GetRequestAsync();

// Parse and update local database
UpdateDatabase(data);

Best Practices Checklist 

•  Validate URLs - Check endpoints before deployment
•  Secure credentials - Use tags for sensitive data
•  Handle timeouts - Implement retry logic
•  Parse responses - Validate JSON/XML structure
•  Log errors - Track failed requests
•  Test thoroughly - Verify all scenarios
•  Document APIs - Clear descriptions

Troubleshooting

Connection failed:

• Verify URL accessibility
• Check network/firewall
• Confirm authentication
• Review proxy settings

Invalid response:

• Check encoding format
• Validate JSON/XML syntax
• Verify content-type header
• Review API documentation

Authentication errors:

• Confirm credentials
• Check token expiration
• Verify header format
• Review API permissions

Performance issues:

• Implement caching
• Reduce request frequency
• Optimize payload size
• Use async methods