API instantiation

Installing and importing the client npm package

The Contensis JS Management API client is delivered as an npm package, with publicly available source code and examples.
The client package can be used in a modern browser, in Node.js or as cross-platform client (e.g. a React.js application, a Node.js console application, an Express.js web application, a JavaScript or TypeScript library).

Note

Before following the rest of the examples we assume you have an existing Node.js or Express.js application that is already created, that targets Node.js >= 10 and uses the CommonJS module system (you can also use native JavaScript modules - see examples).
The Contensis JS Management API client is using the fetch API to maintain consistency with the Contensis JS Delivery API client. The fetch API is not a native Node.js API and it is loaded from the node-fetch npm package when the Contensis JS Management API client runs in a Node.js environment (if it runs in a browser enviroment the native fetch API will be used instead).

To install the required packages for the Contensis JS Management API client please run the following Node.js command:

Import default Client if you are using CommonJS modules:

JavaScript

const Client = require('contensis-management-api').Client;

Import the default Client if you are using native JavaScript modules:

JavaScript

import { Client } from 'contensis-management-api';

The default Client class exported in the contensis-management-api package targets primarily a modern browser and assumes the fetch API is already made available.

As an alternative you can use the UniversalClient class that ensures fetch API is always made available regardless if you are in a browser context or a Node.js context.

Import UniversalClient if you are using CommonJS modules:

JavaScript

const UniversalClient = require('contensis-management-api/lib/client').UniversalClient;

Import UniversalClient if you are using native JavaScript modules:

JavaScript

import { UniversalClient } from 'contensis-management-api/lib/client';

Some Contensis JS Management API functionality is only available in a Node.js environment (e.g. creating and updating assets). In this scenario you need to use the NodejsClient class ensures fetch API is made available.

Import NodejsClient if you are using CommonJS modules:

JavaScript

const NodejsClient = require('contensis-management-api/lib/client').NodejsClient;

Import NodejsClient if you are using native JavaScript modules:

JavaScript

import { NodejsClient } from 'contensis-management-api/lib/client';

Creating and using the client instance

All operations for the API hang off the Client type (or UniversalClient and NodejsClient if you are using those), which is created using the static method call Client.create(options). The options object represents the shared configuration that will be used by all Management API calls and is of type Config:

JavaScript

const client = Client.create({
  clientType: "client_credentials",
  clientDetails: {
    clientId: '6f8cf1e8-b2ee-49ad-9b94-2dbb09871903',
    clientSecret: '6d80c9a356ce4317bd71d92c5734d67a-4a837b1336344f63b1b24ce2dfa73945-ef09daa8d0f74b1e8e223779c392a67b'
  }
  projectId: 'website',
  rootUrl: 'https://cms-example.cloud.contensis.com'
});

client.contentTypes.list()
  .then(result => {      
      console.log('API call result: ', result);        
      return result;      
  })
  .catch(error => {
    console.log('API call fetch error: ', error);      
    throw error;
  });

Note

The Contensis Management API does not currently implement view permissions - you need to have at least a role defined that allows create actions that includes the API key or the user identity you are using.
If you only require view permissions a more suitable approach would be to use the Contensis Delivery API.

Still need help?

If you still need help after reading this article, don't hesitate to reach out to the Contensis community on Slack or raise a support ticket to get help from our team.

New support request