VBNet Sample (Yes really)

[davecon]

VBNet KeepAlive and Logout

Hi Here is the Code for KeepAlive and Logout for VBNet – The problem with previous attempts was to just get a png image instead of the information returned in response
For some strange reason Web Requests have to first be assigned to a HttpWebRequest in order the get the .Accept element to work then all is well
The Only difference with KeepAlive and LogOut is the URL endpoint so have just put them in one sub
I’m Sure you may use in a different way but in any case its straightforward to play with (now lol)
In Case you haven’t done so already you need
Imports System.Net '~~>Needed for Web requests

 Private Sub KeepAliveOrKill(SessToken As String, _
                                Optional AppKey As String = "", _
                                Optional IsKeepAlive As Boolean = True)

        Dim strUrl As String = "" '~~> Holds Keep Alive Or LogOut String
        Dim htRequest As HttpWebRequest = Nothing  '~~~> *NOTE* HttpWebRequest NOT WebRequest then Convert
        Dim htResponse As Net.HttpWebResponse = Nothing '~~~> *NOTE* HttpWebResponse NOT WebResponse
        Dim oResponseStream As IO.StreamReader = Nothing '~~> Get the Text Stream
        Dim strResponseText As String = "" '~~> Holds the Response message for display if required
        Dim strMsg As String = "" '~~> Which one was used Keep or Kill?
        Try
            If IsKeepAlive = True Then '~~> Keep Alive If arg is set to True (Default) 
                strUrl = "https://identitysso.betfair.com/api/keepAlive"
                strMsg = "KEEP ALIVE" & vbCrLf '~~> For Display later
            Else '~~> Log Out if arg is set to false
                strUrl = "https://identitysso.betfair.com/api/logout"
                strMsg = "LOGGED OUT" & vbCrLf '~~> For Display later
            End If 'Keep or Kill
            htRequest = WebRequest.Create(strUrl) '~~~> *NOTE* Swap back HttpWebRequest to WebRequest to use Accept (strange)!
            With htRequest '~~> The .Accept doo dah will now work
                .Method = "GET" '~~> I believe we use Get if we are just retrieving and Post if putting something? both work
                .ContentType = "application/json" '~~> Normal
                .Accept = "application/json" '~~> This is the cause of the recent problems returning a png (needs Http request)
                '~~> Add Headers <~~'
                .Headers.Add(HttpRequestHeader.AcceptCharset, "ISO-8859-1,utf-8")
                .Headers.Add("X-Authentication", SessToken) '~~> Mandatory
                If AppKey <> "" Then '~~> Use the Current AppKey (Product) Not mandatory but advisable I suppose
                    .Headers.Add("X-Application", AppKey)
                End If 'AppKey
            End With 'htRequest
            '~~> Get the response.<~~'
            htResponse = htRequest.GetResponse
            If htResponse.StatusCode = Net.HttpStatusCode.OK Then '~~> Proceed to get the Response details
                oResponseStream = New IO.StreamReader(htResponse.GetResponseStream()) '~~> Convert to text
                strResponseText = oResponseStream.ReadToEnd() '~~> Read all the Text to the String Variable
            Else '~~> Get outa here
                Exit Sub
            End If 'Ht Error Check
            '~~> Successful Response Details for Log Text etc if required <~~'
            If Not strResponseText.Contains("FAIL") Then '~~> Everything is hunky dory
                MsgBox("SUCCESS! " & strMsg & strResponseText, MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation, strMsg) '** Test
            Else '~~> Have we forgot something?
                MsgBox("ERROR! " & strMsg & strResponseText, MsgBoxStyle.Critical, strMsg) '** Test
            End If 'Success or fail
        Catch ex As Exception
            MsgBox("KeepAliveOrKill Error" & vbCrLf & ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Critical)
            '~~~Clean Up
            htResponse.Close()
            htResponse = Nothing
            oResponseStream = Nothing
        End Try
        '~~~Clean Up
        htResponse.Close()
        oResponseStream = Nothing
    End Sub 'KeepAliveOrKill Decide what to do

And Finally some Examples

   '~~> Some Form Examples <~~
        KeepAliveOrKill(txtSessionToken.Text) '~~> Default Keep Alive Basic
        KeepAliveOrKill(txtSessionToken.Text, , False) '~~> Log Out Basic
        KeepAliveOrKill(txtSessionToken.Text, txtLiveKey.Text) '~~> Default Keep Alive With App Key
        KeepAliveOrKill(txtSessionToken.Text, txtLiveKey.Text, False) '~~> Log Out With App Key
        KeepAliveOrKill(txtSessionToken.Text, txtLiveKey.Text, rbKeepAlive.Checked) '~~> Default Checked Radio Button Value for either (If Unchecked will log out)

Now I can sleep as well now Rich lol
Dave

[davecon]

Login and Session Token with Json

Hi Just in case you want to Login - Logout - KeepAlive with Json
The Identify Class will do for all 3 same as Login to return the values

IDENTIFY CLASS

'===== Login Logout and KeepAlive Class (Identify) ==========
Imports Newtonsoft.Json '~~> Enable the the use of Json Objects
Imports Newtonsoft.Json.Converters
Public Class Identify
    Private m_sessToken As String
    <JsonProperty(PropertyName:="token")> _
    Public Property SessionToken() As String
        Get
            Return m_sessToken
        End Get
        Set(value As String)
            m_sessToken = value
        End Set
    End Property '~~>Session Token
    Private m_productName As String
    <JsonProperty(PropertyName:="product")> _
 Public Property ProductName() As String
        Get
            Return m_productName
        End Get
        Set(value As String)
            m_productName = value
        End Set
    End Property '~~>ProductName
    Private m_statusResult As String
    <JsonProperty(PropertyName:="status")> _
    Public Property StatusResult() As String
        Get
            Return m_statusResult
        End Get
        Set(value As String)
            m_statusResult = value
        End Set
    End Property '~~>Status Result
    Private m_errorMsg As String
    <JsonProperty(PropertyName:="error")> _
    Public Property ErrorMessage() As String
        Get
            Return m_errorMsg
        End Get
        Set(value As String)
            If m_errorMsg <> "" Then
                m_errorMsg = value
            End If
        End Set
    End Property '~~>Error Message
End Class 'Identify

LOGIN_NG FUNCTION

Private Function NG_Login()
        '=============Interactive Login for a Desktop App for Json String ==================
        '** First get your required Endpoint if you are not a UK or International User see Documentation For Login URL definition
        'identitysso.betfair.com '~~> UK and International users (for Aus as well?)
        'identitysso.betfair.es '~~> Spanish
        'identitysso.betfair.it '~~> Italian
        'identitysso.w -con.betfair.com '~~> These 2 are Listed in Non-Interactive Doc?
        'identitysso.betfaironline.eu 'Europe
        Dim strUserEndpoint As String = "https://identitysso.betfair.com/api/login" '~~> UK and International
        '======== Construct the UserName and Password String =============
        '~~> This is the "Do Our Heads in Bit" EG: The UserName and Password HAS to be part of the Request String Itself!
        Dim strUserName As String = txtUserName.Text '~~> Your userName
        Dim strPassword As String = txtPassword.Text '~~> Your password
        Dim strID As String = "?username=" & strUserName & "&password=" & strPassword
        '========= Construct the Full Request Url ========= 
        Dim strUrl As String = strUserEndpoint & strID
        '===== Now just make the Normal Json request as used in the Logout and KeepAliv e==============
        Dim htRequest As HttpWebRequest = Nothing  '~~~> *NOTE* HttpWebRequest NOT WebRequest 
        Dim htResponse As Net.HttpWebResponse = Nothing '~~~> *NOTE* HttpWebResponse NOT WebResponse
        Dim oResponseStream As IO.StreamReader = Nothing '~~> Get the Text Stream
        Dim strResponseText As String = "" '~~> Holds the Response message for display if required
        Try
            htRequest = WebRequest.Create(strUrl) '~~~> *Create Web Request
            With htRequest '~~> To accept Json
                .Method = "POST" '~~> Not GET
                .ContentType = "application/json" '~~> Normal
                .Timeout = 5000 '~~> Optional
                .Accept = "application/json" '~~> Required
                '~~> Add Headers <~~'
                .Headers.Add(HttpRequestHeader.AcceptCharset, "ISO-8859-1,utf-8")
                '======= THIS is STRANGE! ==============
                '.Headers.Add("X-Application", txtLiveKey.Text) '~~~> Use App Key here SEE BELOW!
                .Headers.Add("X-Application", "CallmeAnyting") '~~> Use Product Key if required but you can Call this anything by look of it
            End With 'htRequest
            '~~> Get the response and return the Status and Session Token<~~'
            htResponse = htRequest.GetResponse
            If htResponse.StatusCode = Net.HttpStatusCode.OK Then '~~> Proceed to get the Response details
                oResponseStream = New IO.StreamReader(htResponse.GetResponseStream()) '~~> Convert to text
                strResponseText = oResponseStream.ReadToEnd() '~~> Read all the Text to the String Variable
            Else '~~> Get outa here
                oResponseStream.Close()
                oResponseStream = Nothing
                Return Nothing
                Exit Function
            End If 'Ht Error Check
        Catch ex As System.Exception
            ' txtLog.Text = "Login Problem" & vbCrLf & ex.Message
            MsgBox("Login Problem" & vbCrLf & ex.Message)
            '==Clean Up==
            htRequest = Nothing
            htResponse = Nothing
            oResponseStream.Close()
            oResponseStream = Nothing
        End Try
        '===== Get Json Results for Editing =====
             Return strResponseText
        '==Clean Up==
        htRequest = Nothing
        htResponse = Nothing
        oResponseStream.Close()
        oResponseStream = Nothing
    End Function 'Login and get Session Token String

Finally the LOGIN SUB to get the Values (To use on the Form)

Sub Login()
        Dim strLogin As String = NG_Login() '~~>Use Directly
        Dim objJson = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(Of Identify)(strLogin) '~~> Use the Identify Class
        With objJson
            txtSessionToken.Text = .SessionToken '~~> Display Current Session Token
            MsgBox(.ProductName & " " & .StatusResult & " " & .ErrorMessage) '~~> Other Stuff Example
        End With
    End Sub 'Login then Gets the Current Session token and other Json Properties

Have a Nice day
Dave

[Peter Simple]

but why is there no "Accept" Equivalent with Net

There is already an "accept" header in .net. The correct syntax is request.header = ... . So there is no need to create a custom header.

[davecon]

There is already an "accept" header in .net. The correct syntax is request.header = ... . So there is no need to create a custom header.

Thanks Peter we all learn by our Mistakes
Does not alter the fact that there are no Samples for Login-Logout-KeepAlive etc and Account Funds or that anybody else has bothered to share them on here
Cheers
Dave

[kawafan]

hi
thanks for your Code Posting it was really helpful for me to get started even i m interested in c# but Classes Seems complete.
Please Keep sharing the code it was really helpful.

Also ListmarketBook code too.

Thanks

[davecon]

Hi kawafan
I have sent you a message
Dave

hi
thanks for your Code Posting it was really helpful for me to get started even i m interested in c# but Classes Seems complete.
Please Keep sharing the code it was really helpful.

Also ListmarketBook code too.

Thanks

[daveg33]

Has anyone managed a listCurrentOrders request successfully in vb yet? I have been trying and failed, have a thread opened about my error but still no resolution.

[Guest]

Not sure if you got an answer mate but I got it working and posted the response here

https://forum.bdp.betfair.com/showth...=9745#post9745

[JayBee]

Has anyone got any VB code for an async webrequest to the Betfair server?

Nothing I see in web examples contains the POST data, header ContentType etc.

Thanks.

[rphi6876]

Hi Davecon,

Thankyou so much for your sample code it has been the most helpful starting point I have found so far.

Just a few questions I am hoping you or somebody else can answer.

when I go to make a listMarketBook request I have the following

   
Dim timeStart As DateTime = Date.UtcNow()

priceData.Add(Api_ng_sample_code.TO.PriceData.EX_ALL_OFFERS)
priceData.Add(Api_ng_sample_code.TO.PriceData.EX_TRADED)
Dim priceProjection = New PriceProjection()
priceProjection.PriceData = priceData

Dim marketBook = client1.listMarketBook(marketIds, priceProjection)

Dim timeEnd As DateTime = Date.UtcNow
Dim diffTime = timeEnd - timeStart
MsgBox(diffTime.TotalMilliseconds.ToString)

This is so I can get the volume at each price level and the amount traded at each price level.
My concern is that the time taken is roughly 4000ms (I only have one marketId in marketIds). I am in Oz and hitting UK markets, but this seems super slow. On the old api a getMarketPrices call takes about 400ms. So I am 10 times slower, any suggestions how to improve this would be greatly appreciated.

[davecon]

Hi rph
I cant really suggest how you can improve this but I can give you the times that I get from UK and then trying Oz which I did notice was significantly slower when I was just throwing that basic app together from one of your guys earlier. I have not started to do anything with this new API yet until I have to (I'm still using the old one for now)
But just using the new API with the Tree view from this Basic App thingy and loading 99 Market ID's this gives the following times which I find Very Strange (Using your Msgbox time example with my Todays Races call)
From UK with 99 Strings and Market ID's The first load Takes about 270 ms then after that around 170
With 1 Market ID this takes first Load about 170 ms and then around 83 each time afterwards
The Information and the msgbox loads instantly on the screen
BUT THIS IS THE Weird BIT if I then change to OZ
The first call with 99 ids takes around 800 ms and then the same about 170 and with just one ID its around 250 ms but then can be as low as 25! But again usually in the 80's
BUT==== On EVERY occasion (With Oz only) I can Count up to 4 Seconds before I see anything on the screen and until the Message Box is displayed!! The message box which says 25 ms I can count to 2 Secs before I see this message or anything in treeview!
So what garbage is actually happening in between I have no idea SO Hope one of the Betfair Team or Tech guys can help you here as you seem to be having the same sort of problem but Vice Versa
I dont know how much actual ISP Internet speeds come into account but I use Virgin 50 meg broadband (Gives a constant 55 mb cable connection throughout the day)
Hope this can be of some assistance anyway
Cheers
Dave

Hi Davecon,

Thankyou so much for your sample code it has been the most helpful starting point I have found so far.

Just a few questions I am hoping you or somebody else can answer.

when I go to make a listMarketBook request I have the following

   
Dim timeStart As DateTime = Date.UtcNow()

priceData.Add(Api_ng_sample_code.TO.PriceData.EX_ALL_OFFERS)
priceData.Add(Api_ng_sample_code.TO.PriceData.EX_TRADED)
Dim priceProjection = New PriceProjection()
priceProjection.PriceData = priceData

Dim marketBook = client1.listMarketBook(marketIds, priceProjection)

Dim timeEnd As DateTime = Date.UtcNow
Dim diffTime = timeEnd - timeStart
MsgBox(diffTime.TotalMilliseconds.ToString)

This is so I can get the volume at each price level and the amount traded at each price level.
My concern is that the time taken is roughly 4000ms (I only have one marketId in marketIds). I am in Oz and hitting UK markets, but this seems super slow. On the old api a getMarketPrices call takes about 400ms. So I am 10 times slower, any suggestions how to improve this would be greatly appreciated.

[doctormike]

SSL Certificate

Great thread - many thanks in particular to davecon.
I write apps in Visual Basic only, so this was most welcome, along with guidance on json.

I started learning Visual Basic to write apps about 18 months ago, inspired by, and learning from, another excellent thread by mumbles (you may be familiar with this). I've now written apps for arbing and trading. As BF say they will withdraw the old API in Nov 2014 I thought I'd get started on coming to terms with API-NG, and this has been the best thread I've found.

I was spooked by a comment made in the API Getting Started section on the BF developers pages:

"Customers who are writing bots for their own use are strongly recommended to use the non-interactive endpoint with an SSL certificate."

I'm trying to follow the BF instructions, but they are a bit sparse on SSL. I've downloaded OpenSSL and generated a key, but I really don't know how to update/create the config file (was .cnf, now .cfg). I think I need step by step guidance! If anyone can help, this would be appreciated.

[john_baptiste_of_cheshire]

ta

thanks a lot davecon, it's always the practical threads like these that help those of us who are not au fait with programming get going.....much appreciated

[davecon]

Hi Mike
If you are using VBNet as a Windows desktop app you dont need that stuff - Thats for if you are going online via the web etc
You are using a direct feed to Betfair api sorta thing directly from your Comp and has nout to do with any Internet security
As long as its only you that uses the computer then it cant be a problem
So no need to worry about all that stuff unless you are from a Country that requires it
Relax and Have a good one
I stand corrected if I am wrong anybody
Dave

Great thread - many thanks in particular to davecon.
I write apps in Visual Basic only, so this was most welcome, along with guidance on json.

I started learning Visual Basic to write apps about 18 months ago, inspired by, and learning from, another excellent thread by mumbles (you may be familiar with this). I've now written apps for arbing and trading. As BF say they will withdraw the old API in Nov 2014 I thought I'd get started on coming to terms with API-NG, and this has been the best thread I've found.

I was spooked by a comment made in the API Getting Started section on the BF developers pages:

"Customers who are writing bots for their own use are strongly recommended to use the non-interactive endpoint with an SSL certificate."

I'm trying to follow the BF instructions, but they are a bit sparse on SSL. I've downloaded OpenSSL and generated a key, but I really don't know how to update/create the config file (was .cnf, now .cfg). I think I need step by step guidance! If anyone can help, this would be appreciated.

[davecon]

Thanks John
Glad I could be of some help even at my level
I will try to do something more elaborate in the Winter months if I have to dump the old api (The way its going with the new one I think it will be another Year before thats discontinued anyway)
Cheers Dave

thanks a lot davecon, it's always the practical threads like these that help those of us who are not au fait with programming get going.....much appreciated