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diff --git a/user_guide_src/source/libraries/xmlrpc.rst b/user_guide_src/source/libraries/xmlrpc.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000..e25ba7888 --- /dev/null +++ b/user_guide_src/source/libraries/xmlrpc.rst @@ -0,0 +1,400 @@ +################################## +XML-RPC and XML-RPC Server Classes +################################## + +CodeIgniter's XML-RPC classes permit you to send requests to another +server, or set up your own XML-RPC server to receive requests. + +**************** +What is XML-RPC? +**************** + +Quite simply it is a way for two computers to communicate over the +internet using XML. One computer, which we will call the client, sends +an XML-RPC **request** to another computer, which we will call the +server. Once the server receives and processes the request it will send +back a **response** to the client. + +For example, using the MetaWeblog API, an XML-RPC Client (usually a +desktop publishing tool) will send a request to an XML-RPC Server +running on your site. This request might be a new weblog entry being +sent for publication, or it could be a request for an existing entry for +editing. When the XML-RPC Server receives this request it will examine +it to determine which class/method should be called to process the +request. Once processed, the server will then send back a response +message. + +For detailed specifications, you can visit the +`XML-RPC <http://www.xmlrpc.com/>`_ site. + +Initializing the Class +====================== + +Like most other classes in CodeIgniter, the XML-RPC and XML-RPCS classes +are initialized in your controller using the $this->load->library +function: + +To load the XML-RPC class you will use:: + + $this->load->library('xmlrpc'); + +Once loaded, the xml-rpc library object will be available using: +$this->xmlrpc + +To load the XML-RPC Server class you will use:: + + $this->load->library('xmlrpc'); $this->load->library('xmlrpcs'); + +Once loaded, the xml-rpcs library object will be available using: +$this->xmlrpcs + +.. note:: When using the XML-RPC Server class you must load BOTH the + XML-RPC class and the XML-RPC Server class. + +Sending XML-RPC Requests +======================== + +To send a request to an XML-RPC server you must specify the following +information: + +- The URL of the server +- The method on the server you wish to call +- The *request* data (explained below). + +Here is a basic example that sends a simple Weblogs.com ping to the +`Ping-o-Matic <http://pingomatic.com/>`_ + +:: + + $this->load->library('xmlrpc'); $this->xmlrpc->server('http://rpc.pingomatic.com/', 80); $this->xmlrpc->method('weblogUpdates.ping'); $request = array('My Photoblog', 'http://www.my-site.com/photoblog/'); $this->xmlrpc->request($request); if ( ! $this->xmlrpc->send_request()) { echo $this->xmlrpc->display_error(); } + +Explanation +----------- + +The above code initializes the XML-RPC class, sets the server URL and +method to be called (weblogUpdates.ping). The request (in this case, the +title and URL of your site) is placed into an array for transportation, +and compiled using the request() function. Lastly, the full request is +sent. If the send_request() method returns false we will display the +error message sent back from the XML-RPC Server. + +Anatomy of a Request +==================== + +An XML-RPC request is simply the data you are sending to the XML-RPC +server. Each piece of data in a request is referred to as a request +parameter. The above example has two parameters: The URL and title of +your site. When the XML-RPC server receives your request, it will look +for parameters it requires. + +Request parameters must be placed into an array for transportation, and +each parameter can be one of seven data types (strings, numbers, dates, +etc.). If your parameters are something other than strings you will have +to include the data type in the request array. + +Here is an example of a simple array with three parameters:: + + $request = array('John', 'Doe', 'www.some-site.com'); $this->xmlrpc->request($request); + +If you use data types other than strings, or if you have several +different data types, you will place each parameter into its own array, +with the data type in the second position:: + + $request = array ( array('John', 'string'), array('Doe', 'string'), array(FALSE, 'boolean'), array(12345, 'int') ); $this->xmlrpc->request($request); + +The `Data Types <#datatypes>`_ section below has a full list of data +types. +Creating an XML-RPC Server +========================== + +An XML-RPC Server acts as a traffic cop of sorts, waiting for incoming +requests and redirecting them to the appropriate functions for +processing. + +To create your own XML-RPC server involves initializing the XML-RPC +Server class in your controller where you expect the incoming request to +appear, then setting up an array with mapping instructions so that +incoming requests can be sent to the appropriate class and method for +processing. + +Here is an example to illustrate:: + + $this->load->library('xmlrpc'); $this->load->library('xmlrpcs'); $config['functions']['new_post'] = array('function' => 'My_blog.new_entry'), $config['functions']['update_post'] = array('function' => 'My_blog.update_entry'); $config['object'] = $this; $this->xmlrpcs->initialize($config); $this->xmlrpcs->serve(); + +The above example contains an array specifying two method requests that +the Server allows. The allowed methods are on the left side of the +array. When either of those are received, they will be mapped to the +class and method on the right. + +The 'object' key is a special key that you pass an instantiated class +object with, which is necessary when the method you are mapping to is +not part of the CodeIgniter super object. + +In other words, if an XML-RPC Client sends a request for the new_post +method, your server will load the My_blog class and call the new_entry +function. If the request is for the update_post method, your server +will load the My_blog class and call the update_entry function. + +The function names in the above example are arbitrary. You'll decide +what they should be called on your server, or if you are using +standardized APIs, like the Blogger or MetaWeblog API, you'll use their +function names. + +There are two additional configuration keys you may make use of when +initializing the server class: debug can be set to TRUE in order to +enable debugging, and xss_clean may be set to FALSE to prevent sending +data through the Security library's xss_clean function. + +Processing Server Requests +========================== + +When the XML-RPC Server receives a request and loads the class/method +for processing, it will pass an object to that method containing the +data sent by the client. + +Using the above example, if the new_post method is requested, the +server will expect a class to exist with this prototype:: + + class My_blog extends CI_Controller { function new_post($request) { } } + +The $request variable is an object compiled by the Server, which +contains the data sent by the XML-RPC Client. Using this object you will +have access to the *request parameters* enabling you to process the +request. When you are done you will send a Response back to the Client. + +Below is a real-world example, using the Blogger API. One of the methods +in the Blogger API is getUserInfo(). Using this method, an XML-RPC +Client can send the Server a username and password, in return the Server +sends back information about that particular user (nickname, user ID, +email address, etc.). Here is how the processing function might look:: + + class My_blog extends CI_Controller { function getUserInfo($request) { $username = 'smitty'; $password = 'secretsmittypass'; $this->load->library('xmlrpc'); $parameters = $request->output_parameters(); if ($parameters['1'] != $username AND $parameters['2'] != $password) { return $this->xmlrpc->send_error_message('100', 'Invalid Access'); } $response = array(array('nickname' => array('Smitty','string'), 'userid' => array('99','string'), 'url' => array('http://yoursite.com','string'), 'email' => array('jsmith@yoursite.com','string'), 'lastname' => array('Smith','string'), 'firstname' => array('John','string') ), 'struct'); return $this->xmlrpc->send_response($response); } } + +Notes: +------ + +The output_parameters() function retrieves an indexed array +corresponding to the request parameters sent by the client. In the above +example, the output parameters will be the username and password. + +If the username and password sent by the client were not valid, and +error message is returned using send_error_message(). + +If the operation was successful, the client will be sent back a response +array containing the user's info. + +Formatting a Response +===================== + +Similar to *Requests*, *Responses* must be formatted as an array. +However, unlike requests, a response is an array **that contains a +single item**. This item can be an array with several additional arrays, +but there can be only one primary array index. In other words, the basic +prototype is this:: + + $response = array('Response data', 'array'); + +Responses, however, usually contain multiple pieces of information. In +order to accomplish this we must put the response into its own array so +that the primary array continues to contain a single piece of data. +Here's an example showing how this might be accomplished:: + + $response = array ( array( 'first_name' => array('John', 'string'), 'last_name' => array('Doe', 'string'), 'member_id' => array(123435, 'int'), 'todo_list' => array(array('clean house', 'call mom', 'water plants'), 'array'), ), 'struct' ); + +Notice that the above array is formatted as a struct. This is the most +common data type for responses. + +As with Requests, a response can be one of the seven data types listed +in the `Data Types <#datatypes>`_ section. + +Sending an Error Response +========================= + +If you need to send the client an error response you will use the +following:: + + return $this->xmlrpc->send_error_message('123', 'Requested data not available'); + +The first parameter is the error number while the second parameter is +the error message. + +Creating Your Own Client and Server +=================================== + +To help you understand everything we've covered thus far, let's create a +couple controllers that act as XML-RPC Client and Server. You'll use the +Client to send a request to the Server and receive a response. + +The Client +---------- + +Using a text editor, create a controller called xmlrpc_client.php. In +it, place this code and save it to your applications/controllers/ +folder: + +<?php class Xmlrpc_client extends CI_Controller { function index() { +$this->load->helper('url'); $server_url = site_url('xmlrpc_server'); +$this->load->library('xmlrpc'); $this->xmlrpc->server($server_url, 80); +$this->xmlrpc->method('Greetings'); $request = array('How is it +going?'); $this->xmlrpc->request($request); if ( ! +$this->xmlrpc->send_request()) { echo $this->xmlrpc->display_error(); +} else { echo ' +:: + + '; + print_r($this->xmlrpc->display_response()); + echo ' + +'; } } } ?> +Note: In the above code we are using a "url helper". You can find more +information in the :doc:`Helpers Functions <../general/helpers>` page. + +The Server +---------- + +Using a text editor, create a controller called xmlrpc_server.php. In +it, place this code and save it to your applications/controllers/ +folder: + +<?php class Xmlrpc_server extends CI_Controller { function index() { +$this->load->library('xmlrpc'); $this->load->library('xmlrpcs'); +$config['functions']['Greetings'] = array('function' => +'Xmlrpc_server.process'); $this->xmlrpcs->initialize($config); +$this->xmlrpcs->serve(); } function process($request) { $parameters = +$request->output_parameters(); $response = array( array( 'you_said' => +$parameters['0'], 'i_respond' => 'Not bad at all.'), 'struct'); return +$this->xmlrpc->send_response($response); } } ?> +Try it! +------- + +Now visit the your site using a URL similar to this:: + + example.com/index.php/xmlrpc_client/ + +You should now see the message you sent to the server, and its response +back to you. + +The client you created sends a message ("How's is going?") to the +server, along with a request for the "Greetings" method. The Server +receives the request and maps it to the "process" function, where a +response is sent back. + +Using Associative Arrays In a Request Parameter +=============================================== + +If you wish to use an associative array in your method parameters you +will need to use a struct datatype:: + + $request = array( array( // Param 0 array( 'name'=>'John' ), 'struct' ), array( // Param 1 array( 'size'=>'large', 'shape'=>'round' ), 'struct' ) ); $this->xmlrpc->request($request); + +You can retrieve the associative array when processing the request in +the Server. + +:: + + $parameters = $request->output_parameters(); $name = $parameters['0']['name']; $size = $parameters['1']['size']; $size = $parameters['1']['shape']; + +************************** +XML-RPC Function Reference +************************** + +$this->xmlrpc->server() +======================= + +Sets the URL and port number of the server to which a request is to be +sent:: + + $this->xmlrpc->server('http://www.sometimes.com/pings.php', 80); + +$this->xmlrpc->timeout() +======================== + +Set a time out period (in seconds) after which the request will be +canceled:: + + $this->xmlrpc->timeout(6); + +$this->xmlrpc->method() +======================= + +Sets the method that will be requested from the XML-RPC server:: + + $this->xmlrpc->method('method'); + +Where method is the name of the method. + +$this->xmlrpc->request() +======================== + +Takes an array of data and builds request to be sent to XML-RPC server:: + + $request = array(array('My Photoblog', 'string'), 'http://www.yoursite.com/photoblog/'); $this->xmlrpc->request($request); + +$this->xmlrpc->send_request() +============================== + +The request sending function. Returns boolean TRUE or FALSE based on +success for failure, enabling it to be used conditionally. + +$this->xmlrpc->set_debug(TRUE); +================================ + +Enables debugging, which will display a variety of information and error +data helpful during development. + +$this->xmlrpc->display_error() +=============================== + +Returns an error message as a string if your request failed for some +reason. + +:: + + echo $this->xmlrpc->display_error(); + +$this->xmlrpc->display_response() +================================== + +Returns the response from the remote server once request is received. +The response will typically be an associative array. + +:: + + $this->xmlrpc->display_response(); + +$this->xmlrpc->send_error_message() +===================================== + +This function lets you send an error message from your server to the +client. First parameter is the error number while the second parameter +is the error message. + +:: + + return $this->xmlrpc->send_error_message('123', 'Requested data not available'); + +$this->xmlrpc->send_response() +=============================== + +Lets you send the response from your server to the client. An array of +valid data values must be sent with this method. + +:: + + $response = array( array( 'flerror' => array(FALSE, 'boolean'), 'message' => "Thanks for the ping!" ) 'struct'); return $this->xmlrpc->send_response($response); + +Data Types +========== + +According to the `XML-RPC spec <http://www.xmlrpc.com/spec>`_ there are +seven types of values that you can send via XML-RPC: + +- *int* or *i4* +- *boolean* +- *string* +- *double* +- *dateTime.iso8601* +- *base64* +- *struct* (contains array of values) +- *array* (contains array of values) + |