Datafor provides a robust set of APIs that enable seamless interaction with its platform, allowing users to programmatically manage and automate various functionalities. These APIs cover a wide range of features, including user and role management, access control, file and folder operations, data modeling, system configuration, user personalization, and parameter management.

This documentation serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding and integrating Datafor’s API into your workflow.

1. API Functional Categories

Files & Folders

• Manage file and folder operations, including uploading, downloading, renaming, and deletion.
• Organize and structure content storage efficiently.

Reports & Models

• Handle report execution, querying, and exporting analytical results.
• Interact with data models to optimize reporting capabilities.

Users & Permissions

• Manage user authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), and permissions to ensure secure data access.
• Grant or restrict access to specific resources within the platform.

Data Sources & Metadata

• Connect to external databases and retrieve metadata for seamless integration.
• Manage data assets and ensure consistency across different environments.

Scheduling & Alerts

• Automate business intelligence (BI) operations by creating scheduled tasks.
• Configure notifications and alerts for timely data updates and system monitoring.

2. API Request Format

Datafor APIs adhere to RESTful principles, utilizing standard HTTP methods for communication:

• GET – Retrieve data
• POST – Create resources or execute actions
• PUT – Update existing resources
• DELETE – Remove resources

Data Format

• Both request and response bodies primarily use JSON.
• Refer to individual endpoint documentation for specific parameters, payload structures, and sample requests.

3. API Response Handling

All API responses adhere to standard HTTP status codes to indicate the outcome of requests:

HTTP Status Code	Meaning	Description
200 OK	Success	The request was successfully processed.
400 Bad Request	Invalid Request	The request contained incorrect or missing parameters.
401 Unauthorized	Authentication Failure	The request lacks valid authentication credentials.
403 Forbidden	Access Denied	The authenticated user does not have permission to perform this action.
404 Not Found	Resource Not Found	The requested resource could not be located.
500 Internal Server Error	Server Error	An error occurred on the server side.

Proper error handling is recommended to ensure smooth API integration.

4. API Usage & Integration

1. Browser-Based Access

• Some GET endpoints can be accessed directly via a web browser for quick retrieval of data.

2. Debugging & Testing Tools

• Utilize tools like Postman, cURL, or API testing frameworks to send requests and debug API responses.

3. Programmatic Integration

• Datafor APIs can be integrated into applications via scripting languages such as Python, Java, JavaScript, or any HTTP client.
• API access can be embedded into workflows for automated data processing, reporting, and system configuration.

5. Authentication & Security

Datafor supports multiple authentication mechanisms to ensure secure and controlled API access.

1. Session-Based Authentication (Cookie)

• When authenticated via the Datafor web interface, the session cookie can be used for subsequent API requests.
• Requests should include the session cookie in the HTTP headers.

Example (Request Headers):

Cookie: session-flushed=true;
        JSESSIONID=72B613231EB93BA9EB9DF9417E1B0F67;
        session-expiry=1741238288603;
        server-time=1741231088603

Supported login mechanisms include:

• Username/Password
• OAuth2
• LDAP
• SAML
• CAS (Central Authentication Service)

2. Basic Authentication

• Uses Base64-encoded credentials for authentication.
• Ensure that sensitive credentials are transmitted securely over HTTPS.

Example (Request Headers):

Authorization: Basic YWRtaW46cGFzc3dvcmQ=

(The encoded value represents admin:password—replace with actual credentials.)

3. JWT Token Authentication

• Datafor can be configured to support JWT authentication.
• The token should be included in the request, either in the URL or header.

Example Usage:

https://your-Datafor-url/api/endpoint?token=<YOUR_VALID_JWT_TOKEN>

6. Best Practices for API Security

• Always use HTTPS to prevent unauthorized data interception.
• Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to restrict sensitive actions.
• Regularly rotate authentication credentials to enhance security.
• Monitor API usage logs for unusual access patterns.

7. Getting Started

To quickly start using Datafor APIs:

1. Log in to Datafor and obtain the necessary authentication credentials.
2. Explore available API endpoints in the documentation.
3. Use an API client (such as Postman or cURL) to test API requests.
4. Integrate API calls into your application workflow.
5. Ensure proper error handling and security measures during implementation.

For additional details, refer to the specific API endpoint documentation.

Conclusion

Datafor APIs empower users to efficiently interact with the platform, enabling automation, integration, and advanced data operations. By following best practices and leveraging the provided authentication methods, users can build secure and scalable solutions tailored to their needs.

For further assistance, consult the detailed API documentation or contact Datafor support.