Connections are used to authenticate AssetExplorer Cloud integrations with external applications. You can use connections inside custom functions to invoke REST APIs of any third-party applications.

Benefits of Connections  

1. Prevents exposure of a user's authentication token to other users in the application.
   
2. Handles dynamic token generation (refresh tokens)
   
3. Invoke REST APIs of third-party applications.
   
4. You can set up connections with default or custom services.
   

If you are using a custom domain, ensure that it is HTTPS enabled to access Connections.

 Connections for Default Services   

The application provides default connections with many services, such as Zoho, Google, Hubspot, Trello, etc. To set up connections for default services,

1. Go to Setup > Developer Space > Connections.
   
2. Click Create Connection.
   
3. Pick Your Service - Select a service.
   
4. Connection Details - Provide a name for the connection and a link name to identify the connection.
   
5. Use Credentials Of Login User - Enable this option to allow users to authorize the connection in custom widgets individually. If the option is disabled, only the administrator who created the connection can authorize it using their own tokens.
   

The Use Credentials Of Login User option is relevant only to custom widgets. If a connection is independent of custom widgets, this configuration will not be accounted by AssetExplorer Cloud and only administrators are allowed to authorize connections.

• Scopes - Select access permissions to be authorized for the connection.

Scope access permissions are defined by third-party services. We recommend checking their documentation to understand the scopes they provide.

• Click Create and Connect.

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The connection will be created and displayed with the following fields and a code snippet.

• Link Name: The name provided for the connection.

• Scopes: The account authorized through connection will have access to the URLs displayed under Scopes.

• ServiceName: Name of the third-party application.

• Status: Indicates the connection status.

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• Click Done, and you will be redirected to the connections home page.

• To set up the created connection, hover over the connection and click Connect.

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• Sign in to the third-party application and authenticate AssetExplorer Cloud. The connection will be activated.

• You can use the code snippet provided for the connection in custom functions.

If you are using a custom domain, ensure that it is HTTPS enabled to access Connections.

Using Connections   

1. Replace <url> with the URL to be invoked.

2. Choose the HTTP method.

3. Pass parameters, if any.

You can add connections to custom widgets by copying the JSON code snippet to a custom widget package. Use the pointers for reference:

• Add line breaks after each property in the JSON object.

• You can set the "userAccess" as "true" to allow users to authorize connections individually. To restrict authorization to only administrators, set "userAcess" as "false".

Click here to learn more about adding connections to custom widgets.

List View Operations   

On this page, you can set up, revoke, and delete connections.

• Click Add Connection to create a connection with default or custom services.

• To set up a connection, click Connect.

• View the code snippet of each connection (both active and revoked) by simply clicking the connection name.

• Modify the name and scope of a connection by using the Edit button displayed upon hovering over the connection.

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• Revoke and delete connections by using the respective options displayed upon hovering over the connection.

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Learn more about setting up connections for custom services.

Connections for Custom Services

Set Up Connections 

Step 1: Store the third party application details as a service.

• Click Create Connections. Switch to the Custom Services tab and click Create New Service.

• Alternatively, go to Custom Services in the Connections pane and click Create Services.

• Fill out the form using the pointers below.

Using Connections    

1. Replace <url> by the URL to be invoked.

2. Choose the HTTP method.

3. Pass parameters, if any.

You can add connections to custom widgets by copying the JSON code snippet to a custom widget package. Note the following pointers for reference:

• Add line breaks after each property in the JSON object.

• You can set the "userAccess" as "true" to allow users to authorize connections individually. To restrict authorization to only administrators, set userAcess as "false".

Click here to learn more about adding connections to custom widgets.

List View Operations 

1. Click Add Connection to create a new connection with default or custom services.

2. Click Connect on a connection to set up the connection.

3. View the code snippet of each connection (both active and revoked) by simply clicking the connection.

4. Modify the name and scope of a connection by using the Edit button displayed upon hovering over the connection. When you update a connection's scope, the connection will automatically be revoked. You must re-authenticate to use the connection.
   
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5. Revoke and delete connections by using the respective options displayed upon hovering over the Connection.

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