Asset Collections
When there is a need to quickly identify and refer to a filtered collection of assets, the "Asset Collection" is what provides a solution. Asset Collection stores the filters object with a name and a guid as reference.
The "filters" is a JSON object that stores "assetType" and "facets". Searching filters are generated from this object to narrow down the result set the client wants to use.
The "name" identifies the asset collection in human readable format.
The "guid" identifies the asset collection in machine readable format.
The "filters" object
The "filters" object stores the filtering expression for the asset collection. This stores facets and asset types which helps to filter to only the desired assets.
Here is a formal description about the filters object. For a practical explanation see the example below.
filters(object, required) - JSON API object forfiltersobject containing various fields like:assetTypeandfacets.assetType(string) - The Asset type defines the Asset's structure and is setup by in Academic Benchmarks an Administrative User.facets(array) - List of facets derived from the Asset Definition.(object)
label(string) - Name of the facet. Derived from Asset Definition:data[n].attributes.properties[m].labelid(string) - Same aslabel.field(object) - The field object for the property. Derived from Asset Definition:data[n].attributes.properties[m].field.name(string) - The API-recognized name for the entity you are filtering by. This is the property you would use when asking for facets.id(string) - API identifier for the field which uniquely identifies the entity being filtered by. This is the property you would use when constructing your filter statement as the key field.
facet(object) - The facets object for the property. Derived from Asset Definition:data.[n].attributes.properties.[m].facetname(string) - The API Identifier for the human-readable property in the facets response.id(GUID) - The API Identifier for the entity-unique property in the facets response. This is the property you would use when constructing your filter statement and thus must correspond with the values in this entity’sfield.id.
selectedFilters(array) - The list of selected values for the queries.(object) - This objects holds the elements to which the
facid.idrefers.data(object) - The object details for this facet item. See the definition of the object for the specific facet for details, but they all have at least thedescrandguid.descr(string) - Facet value text.guid(GUID) - Facet value GUID.code(string) - Facet value code name.
Asset filtering expression
Filtering an asset query by a "field" and different "values" in AB API looks like this:
With multiple fields it look like this:
Similar filters are created from the filters object. The left side of the query is the same. On the right side the expressions divided by the and are generated from the filters.facets list elements. The field_1 and field_2 are defined by field.id. The "values" are those items in the selectedFilters object which have the object-path defined in the facet.id. If facet.id == "a.b" then the values will be selectedFilters[i].a.b.
Example to build a "filter expression" from the "filters" object
Here is a filters object. Let's see how filter expression can be generated from it step-by-step:
The left side of the expression starts with filter[asset] =. There are two elements in the filters.facets array, so there will be two expressions on the right side. For example expressions expr_1 and expr_2. These are the basis of the filtering. The expr_1 is built up from filters.facets[0] and the expr_2 is built up from filters.facets[1].
Expressions are built up from a "field" and set of "values". The filter will give back those assets which have given the "values" on the given "field".
Let's find the "field" values. In the JSON object the "field" is defined by field.id.
Substitute these as "fields" into the filter expression.
Let's find the "values". The variables' names that are holding the "values" are defined by the facet.id. The "values" are those items in the selectedFilters object which have the object-path defined in the facet.id.
The variable for "values_1" is facet.id = "data.guid". Let's gather the values from selectedFilters.data.guid and generate the "values_1".
The variable for "values_2" is facet.id = "data.guid". Let's gather the values from selectedFilters.data.guid and generate the "values_2".
Finally substitute the "values" into the filter expression:
This example will filter only those assets which are in the grade: "Kindergarten" or "9th Grade" and are in the subject: "Mathematics".
Asset Collection
When there is a need to quickly identify and refer to a filtered collection of assets, the "Asset Collection" is what provides a solution. Asset Collection stores the filters object with a name and a guid as reference.
List All Asset Collections
To list Asset Collections the partner has access to, send a GET to the endpoint.
To find an Asset Collection by exact name, send a GET to the endpoint with the
collection_nameparameter. This gives back only the case sensitive exact match if there is any.To search Asset Collections by name, send a GET to the endpoint with the
search_collection_nameparameter. This search uses case insensitive partial matching.
Create a new Asset Collection
To create an Asset Collection within the AB Connects system, you send a POST request to the endpoint. The body of the POST contains the Asset Collection definition in JSON format.
The response will be the same as a GET by GUID request for the created Asset Collection. See in the "Retrieving the Details of an Asset Collection".
Working with Assets Collection
Retrieving the Details of an Asset Collection
To get the Asset Collections you've created, call the endpoint with a GET while supplying the AB GUID for the Asset Collection. To retrieve the GUID, use the list and search functionality.
Modifying an Asset Collection
To update an Asset Collection, send a PATCH to the Asset Collection URL (with GUID) sending JSON in the body similar to that in the create statement. The JSON body only needs to contain the attributes that need to be updated. You can update the name, filters or advanced_search fields for the Asset Collection. You can update only one of these or all.
The response will contain the modified Asset Collection just as it would be in a GET by GUID request for the created Asset Collection. See in the "Retrieving Assets Collection".
Deleting an Asset Collection
To delete an Asset Collection you've created, send a DELETE the endpoint while supplying the AB GUID for the Asset Collection. If you have the name for the Asset Collection but not the AB GUID, see the section on searching for Asset Collections.
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