Professional Development with Web APIs [Google, Paypal, Amazon etc.]

Denise M. Gosnell9780764584459, 0764584456

* Shows developers how to harness the power of services such as Google, eBay, PayPal, and Amazon.com from within an application, whether it is Web-based, Windows-based, or even a Microsoft Office application
* After a quick review of the basics, readers will dive into more advanced techniques such as calling the APIs from mobile devices, Office VBA programs, Windows Forms and Web applications, and even how to integrate the various APIs together for a complete solution
* Veteran Wrox author Denise Gosnell skillfully guides readers through the ins and outs of the various services, the anatomy of an API query, which features are available via the APIs, and how to get results from their own applications
* Readers will build two fully functional applications to apply what they have learned-one a Windows program, the other a Web application

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Table of contents :
Cover……Page 1
Contents……Page 14
Introduction……Page 20
Web APIs versus Web Services……Page 32
What Is XML?……Page 33
Invoking an XML Web Service……Page 34
Summary……Page 45
Google 101……Page 46
cache:……Page 47
filetype:……Page 48
inurl:……Page 49
Signing Up and Obtaining a Key……Page 50
Query Syntax……Page 54
Executing a Query……Page 56
Looping through Results……Page 62
#1— Build a Google Search Feature……Page 64
#2— Return Random Pages……Page 67
#3— Save the Results of a Google Search to a File……Page 68
#4— Use Google to Check Spelling……Page 71
#5— Use the Google Cache to Retrieve a Web Site That Is No Longer Available……Page 73
Other Ways to Use the Google API……Page 76
Third-Party Google Extensions……Page 77
Summary……Page 79
3 Using the MapPoint API……Page 80
MapPoint 101……Page 81
Introduction to the MapPoint API……Page 82
Signing Up for an Evaluation Account……Page 83
The MapPoint Software Developer’s Kit (SDK)……Page 89
Available Services……Page 90
Executing a MapPoint Query……Page 94
Five Creative Ways to Use the MapPoint API……Page 102
#1— Obtain Driving Directions……Page 103
#2— Retrieve a Map……Page 106
#3— Perform a Geocode Lookup……Page 108
#4— Find Nearby Places……Page 111
#5— Obtain Information on Points of Interests……Page 113
Other Ways to Use the MapPoint API……Page 115
Summary……Page 116
4 Using the Amazon.com APIs……Page 118
Amazon 101……Page 119
Supported Features……Page 121
Signing Up for a Subscription ID……Page 122
Anatomy of Amazon API Queries……Page 127
Amazon.com E-Commerce Service API Query Syntax……Page 128
Alexa Web Information Service API Query Syntax……Page 133
Simple Queue Service API Query Syntax……Page 134
Executing a Query Using HTTP-GET (REST)……Page 135
Executing a Query Using SOAP……Page 137
Looping Through Results……Page 140
#3— Look Up a Friend or Family Member’s Wish List with ECS……Page 141
#4— Create an Amazon.com Shopping Cart with ECS……Page 142
Other Ways to Use the Amazon APIs……Page 143
Third-Party Amazon Extensions……Page 144
Summary……Page 146
5 Using the eBay API……Page 148
Introduction to the eBay API……Page 149
Joining the Developer’s Program and Establishing an Account……Page 150
The eBay Software Developer’s Kit (SDK)……Page 155
Query Syntax……Page 156
Executing a Query Using HTTP-POST……Page 158
Executing a Query Using SOAP……Page 161
Five Creative Ways to Use the eBay API……Page 163
#1— List an Item for Sale……Page 164
#2— Retrieve a List of Categories……Page 168
#3— Retrieve List of Pending Auctions for Seller……Page 169
#4— Retrieve Winning Bidders of Dutch Auction……Page 172
#5— Retrieve Feedback about a Seller……Page 173
Other Ways to Use the eBay API……Page 175
Third-Party eBay Extensions……Page 176
Summary……Page 177
6 Using the PayPal API……Page 178
Introduction to the PayPal API……Page 179
Getting Set Up to Use the PayPal API……Page 180
Query Syntax……Page 189
Executing a Query……Page 191
Summary……Page 193
Faxing APIs……Page 194
Setting Up a Free Developer Account……Page 195
Sending a Test Fax……Page 196
Setting Up a UPS Developer Account……Page 199
Submitting a Request to the UPS API……Page 201
The FedEx APIs……Page 203
Setting Up a FedEx Developer Account……Page 204
Submitting Transactions Using FedEx Ship Manager Direct……Page 206
Bloglines Web API……Page 207
Locating Additional Web APIs……Page 209
Summary……Page 211
What Devices Support XML Web APIs?……Page 212
Windows Pocket PCs and Smartphones……Page 213
Palm and Other Devices……Page 214
Example 1— Call MapPoint API Using SOAP Protocol to Retrieve Driving Directions……Page 215
Example 2— Call Amazon.com API Using HTTP/GET (REST) Protocol……Page 220
Summary……Page 223
Calling Web APIs from VBA Code……Page 224
Calling Web APIs Using VBA with HTTP/POST and HTTP/GET (REST)……Page 225
Calling Web APIs Using SOAP Protocol……Page 227
Calling a Web API from Microsoft Office Using .NET……Page 233
Installing the Necessary Tools……Page 234
Example— Calling Amazon.com Web Service from Word Using Visual Basic .NET and SOAP……Page 236
Summary……Page 242
What Features Should the API Offer?……Page 244
Which Protocols Should the API Support?……Page 245
Creating a Web API……Page 246
Building an API Using Visual Studio .NET……Page 247
Calling the Web API from a Client Application……Page 253
Summary……Page 255
Introduction to the Customer Relations Management (CRM) Application……Page 256
Build the Database……Page 259
Build the User Interface……Page 261
Build the Modules……Page 268
Touring the Completed Application……Page 291
Summary……Page 294
Introduction to the Executive Dashboard Application……Page 296
Creating the New Project……Page 298
Adding References to the Web APIs……Page 299
Adding Controls to the Form……Page 301
Building the Code Modules……Page 303
Touring the Completed Application……Page 307
Summary……Page 310
Index……Page 314
C……Page 315
D……Page 317
E……Page 318
G……Page 319
I……Page 320
M……Page 321
P……Page 322
Q……Page 323
S……Page 324
TTerraServer……Page 325
V……Page 326
WWeb……Page 327
Z……Page 329