Location: CellService

Discussion: Is cell.url really optional?Reported This is a featured thread

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cpatni
Is cell.url really optional?
Jun 1 2008, 1:13 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 1 2008, 1:13 PM EDT
cell.url is an optional parameter in all APIs including createCell. However, when I tried it without it I get an error about missing cell url. Is this really optional?
Also, if a cell is associated with a URL, does it mean that a cell can only be used in one page? If I were to use a cell in more than one pages (url), does it fall into the category of undefined behavior? Do you find this valuable?    
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ryan_wetpaint
ryan_wetpaint
1. RE: Is cell.url really optional?
Jun 2 2008, 12:00 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 2 2008, 12:00 PM EDT
I'll answer the second question first while I look into the first question.

The URL of a cell is what we use as the link to that cell. Whenever a report, navigation, or RSS feed links to that cell, it would use the one you defined. It is entirely possible to show a cell in more than one location; however, only the location you define with the URL will be linked to from our interfaces.

In other words, you can show a cell in as many places as you like and it would work fine. An edit to one location would update all other locations. However, you'd need to define your own links to any location beyond the first. Do you find this valuable?    

phattchumpy
2. RE: Is cell.url really optional?
Jun 2 2008, 2:10 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 2 2008, 2:10 PM EDT
cell.url is not optional in all APIs, it is optional in createCell. Are you getting this error when calling createCell? Can you post your code? Do you find this valuable?    

cpatni
3. RE: Is cell.url really optional?
Jun 2 2008, 3:07 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 2 2008, 3:07 PM EDT
oops, I meant to say getCell. I am using getCell and getCellWithChildren where it is also documented optional. Do you find this valuable?    
ryan_wetpaint
ryan_wetpaint
4. RE: Is cell.url really optional?
Jun 2 2008, 3:59 PM EDT | Post edited: Jun 2 2008, 3:59 PM EDT
Ah. The getCell series of requests do not require the cell URL unless the cell has no content. That is, it expects the URL if it needs to actually create the cell before it accepts the new content. On subsequent edits, this is not required.

This is definitely a confusing issue. I'll update the documentation to make it more clear -- thanks for bringing it up. Do you find this valuable?