Sharepoint REST API: Get Filtered Results Of Files In A Document Library Subfolder And Sub-subfolders

by ADMIN 102 views

Introduction

Microsoft SharePoint is a powerful platform for collaboration and document management. The SharePoint REST API provides a programmatic interface to interact with SharePoint data, allowing developers to build custom applications and integrations. In this article, we will explore how to use the SharePoint REST API to retrieve filtered results of files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders.

Understanding SharePoint REST API

The SharePoint REST API is a RESTful web service that allows developers to interact with SharePoint data using standard HTTP requests. The API provides a simple and intuitive way to retrieve, create, update, and delete SharePoint data, including lists, libraries, and items.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the code, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

  • SharePoint Online or SharePoint 2019/2016 on-premises
  • SharePoint REST API enabled
  • A SharePoint site with a document library
  • A developer account with permissions to access the SharePoint site

Document Library Structure

Let's assume we have a document library named "Documents" with the following structure:

  • Folder1 (ID1)
    • SubfolderA (ID3)
      • file-1-in-SubFolderA (ID4).txt
      • file-2-in-SubFolderA (ID5).txt
      • ...
    • SubfolderB (ID6)
      • file-1-in-SubFolderB (ID7).txt
      • file-2-in-SubFolderB (ID8).txt
      • ...

Get Filtered Results of Files in a Document Library Subfolder and Sub-subfolders

To retrieve filtered results of files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders, we can use the SharePoint REST API's GET method to query the document library. We will use the $filter query parameter to filter the results based on the folder hierarchy.

Here is an example of how to use the SharePoint REST API to retrieve filtered results of files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders:

GET https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/Documents/Folder1/SubfolderA')/Files?$filter=contains(Name, 'file-1-in-SubFolderA')

In this example, we are querying the document library "Documents" and retrieving the files in the subfolder "SubfolderA" that contain the string "file-1-in-SubFolderA" in their name.

Using the SharePoint REST API in C#

To use the SharePoint REST API in C#, we can use the HttpClient class to send HTTP requests to the SharePoint site. Here is an example of how to use the SharePoint REST API to retrieve filtered results of files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders:

using System.Net.Http;
using System.Net.Http.Headers;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Newtonsoft.Json;

namespace SharePointRestApiExample
{
class Program
{
static async Task Main(string[] args)
{
// SharePoint site URL
string siteUrl = "https://your-sharepoint-site.share.com";


        // Document library name
        string documentLibraryName = "Documents";

        // Folder hierarchy
        string folderHierarchy = "/Folder1/SubfolderA";

        // Filter query
        string filterQuery = "contains(Name, 'file-1-in-SubFolderA')";

        // Create a new instance of HttpClient
        using (var client = new HttpClient())
        {
            // Set the base address of the SharePoint site
            client.BaseAddress = new Uri(siteUrl);

            // Set the authentication headers
            client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization = new AuthenticationHeaderValue("Bearer", "your-access-token");

            // Set the content type to JSON
            client.DefaultRequestHeaders.Accept.Add(new MediaTypeWithQualityHeaderValue("application/json"));

            // Create a new instance of HttpRequestMessage
            var request = new HttpRequestMessage(HttpMethod.Get, {{content}}amp;quot;{siteUrl}/_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('{documentLibraryName}{folderHierarchy}')/Files?$filter={filterQuery}");

            // Send the HTTP request
            var response = await client.SendAsync(request);

            // Check if the response is successful
            if (response.IsSuccessStatusCode)
            {
                // Read the response content as JSON
                var json = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
                var files = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<FilesResponse>(json);

                // Print the file names
                foreach (var file in files.Value)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(file.Name);
                }
            }
            else
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Error: " + response.StatusCode);
            }
        }
    }
}

public class FilesResponse
{
    public File[] Value { get; set; }
}

public class File
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
}



}

In this example, we are using the HttpClient class to send an HTTP GET request to the SharePoint site to retrieve the files in the subfolder "SubfolderA" that contain the string "file-1-in-SubFolderA" in their name.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored how to use the SharePoint REST API to retrieve filtered results of files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders. We used the $filter query parameter to filter the results based on the folder hierarchy and demonstrated how to use the SharePoint REST API in C# to retrieve the filtered results.

Additional Resources

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored how to use the SharePoint REST API to retrieve filtered results of files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to using the SharePoint REST API to retrieve filtered results of files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders.

Q: What is the SharePoint REST API?

A: The SharePoint REST API is a programmatic interface to interact with SharePoint data, allowing developers to build custom applications and integrations. It provides a simple and intuitive way to retrieve, create, update, and delete SharePoint data, including lists, libraries, and items.

Q: How do I enable the SharePoint REST API?

A: To enable the SharePoint REST API, you need to have a SharePoint Online or SharePoint 2019/2016 on-premises site with the REST API enabled. You can check if the REST API is enabled by going to the SharePoint site and clicking on the "Site Settings" icon. Then, click on "Site Features" and look for the "SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure" feature. If it is not enabled, you can enable it by clicking on the "Activate" button.

Q: What is the $filter query parameter?

A: The $filter query parameter is used to filter the results of a SharePoint REST API query. It allows you to specify a filter condition that must be met for the results to be included in the response.

Q: How do I use the $filter query parameter?

A: To use the $filter query parameter, you need to specify the filter condition in the query string of the SharePoint REST API URL. For example, to retrieve files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders that contain the string "file-1-in-SubFolderA" in their name, you would use the following URL:

https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/Documents/Folder1/SubfolderA')/Files?$filter=contains(Name, 'file-1-in-SubFolderA')

Q: What are the supported filter operators?

A: The SharePoint REST API supports the following filter operators:

  • eq: Equal to
  • ne: Not equal to
  • gt: Greater than
  • lt: Less than
  • ge: Greater than or equal to
  • le: Less than or equal to
  • contains: Contains
  • startswith: Starts with
  • endswith: Ends with

Q: How do I handle errors in the SharePoint REST API?

A: To handle errors in the SharePoint REST API, you need to check the HTTP status code of the response. If the status code is 200 (OK), the response is successful. If the status code is 400 (Bad Request), 401 (Unauthorized), 403 (Forbidden), or 500 (Internal Server Error), an error occurred.

Q: What are some common issues when using the SharePoint REST API?

A: Some common issues when using the SharePoint REST API include:

  • Authentication errors: Make sure you have the correct authentication credentials and that the REST API is enabled.
  • Filter errors: Make sure the filter condition is correct and that the filter operator is supported.
  • Data retrieval errors: Make sure the SharePoint site is accessible and that the data is available.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to using the SharePoint REST API to retrieve filtered results of files in a document library subfolder and sub-subfolders. We hope this article has been helpful in answering your questions and providing you with a better understanding of how to use the SharePoint REST API.

Additional Resources