Automation - Web Request - URL parsing

[lcrusan]

Hello,

I created a web request automation and this works:

https://dev.azure.com/instance/team/_apis/wit/workitems/$Bug?api-version=7.1-preview.3

However, this does not:

https://dev.azure.com/instance/team/_apis/wit/workitems/$Product Backlog Item?api-version=7.1-preview.3

I believe the spaces in "Product Backlog Item" are breaking the call. Is this a bug or feature? In either case is there a workaround?

Thanks

[Mark Segall · Accepted solution]

Hi @lcrusan and welcome to the community!

Yes, spaces are an issue with URLs so I would try encoding the spaces with something like this:

https://dev.azure.com/instance/team/_apis/wit/workitems/$Product%20Backlog%20Item?api-version=7.1-preview.3

[lcrusan]

That did it, thanks!

[Ankit Rastogi]

Hi @Mark Segall ,

we can do this work around if we have static value. But in my case, I am getting value from smart variable like - {{issue.summary}}. Any idea how we can handle spaces in endpoint URL if spaces come in this variable.

[Mark Segall]

Hi @Ankit Rastogi - There are two options for this:

• {{issue.summary.urlEncode}}

  • This will convert the spaces to "+" which may or may not solve your need.

• {{issue.summary.replace(" ","%20")}}

  • This will replace spaces with the %20 that is common in URLs

[Ankit Rastogi]

Thanks a lot, @Mark Segall for very quick response.

I forget to mention, some special characters are also coming in variable so second option would not work I think. I tried first option by below way- 

use in endpoint - {{issue.summary.value.urlEncode}}

and it converts my URL by space with '+' , ' (' with '%28' and ')' with '%29'

But not sure it is giving 404 - Not found.

Because I used same on postman that also not working because on postman working without encoding - with spaces and special character in endpoint

Do you have any clue?

[Mark Segall]

I just tried combining the two options in my test environment and it works:

{{issue.summary.urlEncode.replace("+","%20")}}

[Ankit Rastogi]

Great, thanks a lot, @Mark Segall 

Working with - {{issue.summary.value.urlEncode.replace("+","%20")}}

Means just added value in your solution.

Thanks a lot, Sir!

[Ankit Rastogi]

Hi @Mark Segall ,

I am facing one more issue, If I am sending a multiline description with POST API payload, my API is breaking. It is working with single line. Do you have any idea in case how we can send {{issue.description}} variable?

[Mark Segall]

Hi @Ankit Rastogi 

I would recommend creating a new question for this one.  I must admit that API work is not my strongest skill and it would bring more exposure to the community to have this one as a new question.  When you go this route, I would also recommend sharing a screenshot of your current payload (obfuscating any sensitive information of course).

[Ankit Rastogi]

Yes, Thanks!

I have already created - Jira Automation - My Post API is breaking with mul... (atlassian.com)