HTTP Client Functions

The client functions are used to exchange data with a HTTP/HTTPS server. There are specific functions for GET and POST as well as functions for general HTTP requests. Either plain text or encrypted communication can be used. Basic authentication is supported, as well as the use of a keystore, and if required a truststore, for the functions with an encrypted communication channel.

The HTTP client functions also support the use of proxy, see HTTP Proxy Support for information on how to setup HTTP proxy support.

The following functions for HTTP Client described here are:

httpGetURL

This function uses the GET method to retrieve content from an HTTP server.

string httpGetURL ( string query, string host, int timeout, int port, //Optional string username, //Optional string password, //Optional map<string, string> headers, //Optional int connectTimeout) //Optional

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

query

The query including path

Example - query

/api/v2/doc/1 /api/v2/doc?id=1

host

The name or IP address where the HTTP server is running

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port number to contact the HTTP server on. Port 80 is used by default.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

Content from the HTTP server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

httpBinaryGetURL

This function uses the GET method to retrieve binary content from an HTTP server.

bytearray httpBinaryGetURL ( string query, string host, int timeout, int port, //Optional string username, //Optional string password, //Optional map<string, string> headers, //Optional int connectTimeout) //Optional

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

query

The query including path

Example - query

host

The name or IP address where the HTTP server is running

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port number to contact the HTTP server on. Port 80 is used by default.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

A bytearray from the HTTP server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

httpGetSecureURL

This function uses the GET method to retrieve content from an HTTPS server. The communication channel is encrypted.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

query

The query including path

Example - query

host

The name or IP address where the HTTPS server is running

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port number to contact the HTTPS server on. Port 443 is used by default.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

Content from the HTTPS server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

See the section below, TLS/SSL Encryption.

httpBinaryGetSecureURL

This function uses the GET method to retrieve binary content from an HTTPS server. The communication channel is encrypted.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

query

The query including path

host

The name or IP address where the HTTPS server is running

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port number to contact the HTTPS server on. Port 443 is used by default.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

A bytearray from the HTTPS server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

See the section below, TLS/SSL Encryption.

httpPostURL

This function uses the POST method to send content to an HTTP server and receives the response.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

path

The path

contentType

The MIME type of the content

content

The body of the request

host

The name or IP address where the HTTP server is running

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port number to contact the HTTP server on. Port 80 is used by default.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

Content from the HTTP server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

httpBinaryPostURL

This function uses the POST method to send binary content to an HTTP server and receives the response.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

path

The path

contentType

The MIME type of the content

content

The body of the request

host

The name or IP address where the HTTP server is running

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. Default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port number to contact the HTTP server on. Port 80 is used by default.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

A bytearray from the HTTP server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

httpPostSecureURL

This function uses the POST method to send content to an HTTPS server and receives the response. The communication channel is encrypted.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

path

The path

contentType

The MIME type of the content

content

The body of the request

host

The name or IP address where the HTTPS server is running

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. Default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port number to contact the HTTPS server on. Port 443 is used by default.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

A document from the HTTP server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

See the section below, TLS/SSL Encryption.

httpBinaryPostSecureURL

This function uses the POST method to send binary content to an HTTP server and receives the response. The communication channel is encrypted.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

path

The path

contentType

The MIME type of the content

content

The body of the request

host

The name or IP address where the HTTPS server is running

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. Default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port number to contact the HTTPS server on. Port 443 is used by default.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

A bytearray from the HTTP server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

See the section below, TLS/SSL Encryption.

httpRequest

This function makes an HTTP request and uses the specified method, e g GET, POST, PUT etc.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

method

The HTTP method

url

The host and port of the HTTP server, e g http://host:port

header

Key-value pairs containing request header fields

path

The path

content

The body of the request.

contentType

The MIME type of the content

dynamicArgs

The body of the request

httpRequestBasicAuth

This function makes an HTTP request with basic authentication and uses the specified method, e g GET, POST, PUT etc.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

method

The HTTP method

url

The URL of the HTTP server

header

Key-value pairs containing request header fields

contentType

The MIME type of the content

content

The body of the request

timeout

The number of milliseconds to wait for a response. A timeout of 0 (zero) is interpreted as an infinite timeout.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

A response from the HTTP server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

httpRequestSecureBasicAuth

This function makes an HTTPS request with basic authentication and uses the specified method, e g GET, POST, PUT etc.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

method

The HTTP method

url

The URL of the HTTPS server

header

Key-value pairs containing request header fields

contentType

The MIME type of the content

content

The body of the request

timeout

The number of milliseconds to wait for a response. A timeout of 0 (zero) is interpreted as an infinite timeout.

username

A username for an account on the HTTP server

password

Password associated with the username

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

A response from the HTTPS server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

See the section below, TLS/SSL Encryption.

httpRequestSecure

This function makes an HTTPS request and uses the specified method, e g GET, POST, PUT etc

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

method

The method to be performed on the HTTPS server identified by the URL

url

The URL of the HTTPS server

header

Key-value pairs containing request header fields

contentType

The MIME type of the content

content

The body of the request

timeout

The number of milliseconds to wait for a response. A timeout of 0 (zero) is interpreted as an infinite timeout.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

Returns

A response from the HTTPS server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

See the section below, TLS/SSL Encryption.

httpRequestDigestAuth

This function sends a request to the server using Digest Authentication.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

method

The HTTP method

url

The URL of the HTTP server

header

Key-value pairs containing request header fields

contentType

The MIME type of the content

content

The body of the request

username

The username required for authentication

password

The password required for authentication

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

connectTimeout

The number of seconds to wait for a connection to be established. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. The default value is 15 seconds.

realm

The name of the realm

Returns

A response from the HTTP server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

httpCreateMultipartBody

This function creates a multipart body that can be used in HTTP requests that accept a body.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

Returns

A multipart body for HTTP requests to which typed binary segments can be added.

httpAddMultipartSegment

This function adds a typed binary segment to a multipart body that has been created using httpAddMultipartBody function.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

body

A multipart body created by using the httpAddMultipartBody function.

filename

The filename to be associated with the segment.

contentType

The MIME type of the content (according to RFC1341).

content

The binary content of the request.

Returns

Nothing

httpAddMultipartSegmentWithMapping

This function adds a typed binary segment to a multipart body that has been created using httpAddMultipartBody function and allows to specify a custom key name.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

body

A multipart body created by using the httpAddMultipartBody function.

keyName

A custom key name that will be used for the fragment

filename

The filename to be associated with the segment.

contentType

The MIME type of the content (according to RFC1341).

content

The binary content of the request.

Returns

Nothing

httpMultipartPostURL

This function uses the POST method to send multipart binary contents to an HTTP server and receives the response.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

path

The path on the server to which we should do the POST.

body

A multipart body created by using the httpCreateMultipartBody function and populated using the httpAddMultipartSegment function.

host

The name or IP address of the HTTPS server.

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. Default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port to be used for the HTTPS server. Port 80 is used by default.

username

Username for the account to be used on the HTTPS server.

password

Password for the account to be used on the HTTPS server.

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

Returns

A bytearray from the HTTPS server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

httpMultipartPostSecureURL

This function uses the POST method to send multipart binary content to an HTTPS server and receive the response.

Parameter

Description

Parameter

Description

path

The path on the server to which we should do the POST.

body

A multipart body created by using the httpCreateMultipartBody function and populated using the httpAddMultipartSegment function.

host

The name or IP address of the HTTPS server.

timeout

The number of seconds to wait for a response. If the value is set to 0 (zero), the default timeout will be used. Default value is 15 seconds.

port

The port to be used for the HTTPS server. Port 80 is used by default.

username

Username for the account to be used on the HTTPS server.

password

Password for the account to be used on the HTTPS server.

headers

Custom HTTP request headers.

Returns

A bytearray from the HTTPS server. It will be null if any part of the communication fails.

TLS/SSL Encryption

The following functions require a keystore in order to work, and if required, the use of a truststore is supported:

  • httpGetSecureURL

  • httpBinaryGetSecureURL

  • httpPostSecureURL

  • httpBinaryPostSecureURL

  • httpRequestSecureBasicAuth

  • httpRequestSecure

Configure Java Keystore for Secure URL Functions

Keystore is used to store HTTP Client’s credential. This certificate is sent to a server for authentication if required.

To specify a Keystore file that you want to use, set the properties https.apl.keystore_location and https.apl.keystore_passphrase in the relevant ECs. See the example below on how to set these properties using the mzsh topo command.

If the two properties above are not set in the relevant Execution Context <pico>.conf, MZ Default Keystore is used.

The property  https.apl.keystore_location  represents the location of the keystore and the property  https.apl.keystore_passphrase  represents the passphrase for that keystore.

The following command can be used to create a keystore with the Java keytool program.

See the JVM product documentation for more information about how to use the keytool.

Configure Java Truststore for Secure URL Functions 

A truststore is a keystore that is used when deciding on what to trust - truststore stores certificates from third parties. If you receive data from an entity that you already trust, and if you can verify that the entity is that which it claims to be, you can assume that the data does in fact come from that entity.

By Default, uses its own truststore, which always trusts any server connection.

If you want to use a specific truststore, use the mzsh topo command to add the property https.apl.userdefined.truststore to the required ECs and set the value to true:

The default value of this property is false.

After setting the property https.apl.userdefined.truststore to true, if you want to use a specific truststore, use the mzsh topo command to set the following properties in the relevant ECs:

  • https.apl.truststore_location

  • https.apl.truststore_passphrase

If you do not set these two properties, the Java Default Truststore is used.