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August 2021

Regina's Personal Blog

Saturday, August 28, 2021

New Tool, CJ Product Search API- First Look

The following interface, is a Java Servlet powered by the CJ Product Search API using GraphQL. The jQuery widget integrated directly within the program- provides the display and navigation of the products.

The jQuery widget was adapted from a CJ supplied interface which uses affiliate specified product selections for showcase. An example is provided in the last post.

The interface demonstrated in this post- allows site visitors to specify the search criteria.

I am currently beta testing the tool. Once complete, the program will be installed in the main site area (qisoftware.com) as a CJ Product Search API demonstration for potential clients.

I am still deciding on user interface issues, e.g., how many rows to display. Leave a comment if you wish to respond or have a program bug report.

Disclosure: I sometimes use affiliate links in content. This will not cost you anything. There is a chance I will receive a fee if my affiliate links are used for purchases. Thanks for your support. Also see the site wide disclosure policy using the link at the bottom of each page, labeled "Disclosure Policy".



Wednesday, August 25, 2021

CJ Product Search API Using GraphQL

Years ago, when I first started developing applications using the Commission Junction (CJ) API, SOAP using WSDL were the technologies in use.

Today, the CJ Product Search API uses GraphQL.

Those familiar with SOAP/WSDL APIs, probably understand the complications involved with using Java Servlet technology to develop applications using the SOAP protocol and WSDL definition language.

This to say, yesterday when it took all day for me to figure out how to request data via a Java Servlet- using the newer CJ Product Search API and GraphQL, I was a little surprised.

As shown in the illustration above (CJ's GraphQL test page), it was not because I was unfamiliar with GraphQL. The Yelp API uses GraphQL, so I had the opportunity to research this technology in 2018.

The problem, I had to figure out how to send the correct data from the servlet to the service, and I could find very little in the way of documentation. Illustrated in the following graphic, some of the tools I use when testing new APIs I want to work with.

Around eight last night, I finally found the answer. Below the response from a successful servlet "GET" request as rendered within the Netbeans IDE output pane.

I plan to provide a demonstration of the CJ Product Search API using GraphQL on one of the QiSoftware Product pages, similar to the Instagram API demonstration.

What will the demonstration of the CJ Product Search API provide? The widget below, illustrates some of the designs of major designers- that will be available when the demonstration application is installed.



Saturday, August 21, 2021

Browser Notes

Recent popular browser releases have set new style and site tracking defaults. Shown on the right, an example of the new default HTML radio button. Though the azure blue is striking, I felt it distracted from areas where I use radio buttons, so I decided against the new default style for WiredPages.

It turns out, changing the new default radio button style was not an easy task and I ended up using a CSS workaround I found online. Below, before and after illustrations of the fix I implemented for WiredPages to keep the overall style of the site consistent.

Note, I have not installed the CIA World Factbook interface used in the illustrations above, however the fix is demonstrated on the live WiredPages listed below:

  • Home
  • Business & Markets
  • Reference
  • The FCC interface at the bottom of the Media page is being replaced, see this post, the reason the radio buttons reflect the new default for modern browsers and not my update.

The other issue I wanted to discuss as related to new browser releases, is a security feature that prevents modern browsers from accessing data and information from a referenced site- from that which is actually being visited.

In my case, the problem is mostly overridden by Apache Tomcat configuration settings, enabling the setup of cross domain permissions for the two domains I use i.e., qisoftware.com and hosting-q.com.

My main site of course is- qisoftware.com, however I use hosting-q.com to host many of the programs integrated within the pages of WiredPages (a sub-domain of qisoftware.com) and other areas of qisoftware.com.

If you find you have problems accessing some of the tools on WiredPages, and you are using Firefox or Safari on an iPhone, try the setting features illustrated in the following diagram for each browser type.

Chrome browsers should not present a problem because they use the Apache Tomcat overrides. It is not that Firefox and Safari handle the Apache Tomcat configuration incorrectly, it is more that the setting can be overridden locally.

That said, Chrome today, is the most popular browser and most users should have no problems accessing referenced external site resources from the original calling domain/site if the site administrator has setup the configuration correctly.

The following illustration provides browser market share worldwide data for July 2021 according to StatCounter Global Data.

W3Schools also tracks browser statics, however the data is based on visitors to its site, though still very useful in that it is a popular site.

Privacy and security issues have become very important in the browser developer community, and I have done a lot of research to handle some of the new security procedures that have been put in place. I am always interested in problems, so if you have one with WiredPages insofar as program access or other programs on qisoftware.com please leave a comment and let me know.



Friday, August 20, 2021

Spiced Apples

One of our favorite side dishes is spiced apples. It is a simple and easy recipe.

  • Gala Apples
  • Light Brown Sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Unsalted Butter

After coring and slicing the apples- put everything into a sauté pan. Everything is to taste, so start with less and then add more- if needed. Use the butter to achieve the desired thickness.

We tend to eat this year round, however autumn is just around the corner if you need an excuse.




Saturday, August 14, 2021

FCC Station License Tool

The WiredPages Media page offered visitors a means to quickly access FCC licensing information for media stations and outlets. Recent changes to the FCC's site dictated other measures be found for the retrieval of this information.

Sometime ago, I started work on using XML feeds provided by the service, however ran into problems with TLS issues. Because of the recent changes to the FCC site, I started looking at the problem anew on Friday, and completed most of the work for a new Java Servlet to handle station CallSign search requests.

Below, some of the screengrabs I captured earlier today illustrating how the tool will work once installed.

I have been working several projects lately, including cosmetic updates for several of the WiredPages, as illustrated below.

Other recent projects:

  • Pop-up Shops: Researching ways others are using their credit card readers.
  • Android Studio and PayPal Here & Zettle SDKs (Coming up to speed)
  • Site Monetization

I will be discussing some of the interesting aspects of the other projects listed above, in the coming weeks.





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