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Gospel Library Catalog Web Service

Mobile Gospel Library Project Index edit

The Gospel Library Catalog Web Service is a service that mobile devices can use to find out content (available as books) that can be downloaded. The catalog will also provide a taxonomy of the content. In other words, the proper order that all content should be shown in, including folders. So, for example, the catalog contains a folder called "Scriptures" and within that folder, the books should be listed as "Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price".

Contents

Web service URL

The web service is available via http://tech.lds.org/glweb. The web service uses a RESTful api approach. The service is multi-channel, supporting both JSON (the default) as well as XML. The following REST URLs are currently defined.

Web services

languages.query

Command:

languages.query - This command will return a listing of all of the languages that there is catalog content for.

Parameters:

format - [json | xml] (Optional). This specifies which format to return the data in. The default is json if one is not specified.

Example:

http://tech.lds.org/glweb?action=languages.query&format=json

json results: 

{
  "languages": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "name": "English",
      "code": "en"
    }
  ],
  "count":  1,
  "success": true
}

xml results 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<language.results>
  <languages count="1">
    <language ID="1">
      <name>English</name>
      <code>en</code>
    </language>
  </languages>
  <apiresults success="TRUE"/>
</language.results>

platforms.query

Command:

platforms.query - The Gospel Library Catalog Web Service supports catalogs for different platforms. For example, a platform could be "iPhone", or "Android". This command will return a listing of all of the platforms that there is catalog content for.

Parameters:

format - [json | xml] (Optional). This specifies which format to return the data in. The default is json if one is not specified.

Example:

http://tech.lds.org/glweb?action=platforms.query&format=json

json results: 

{
  "platforms":[
    {
      "id":1,
      "name":"iPhone",
      "extension":"zbook"
    }
  ],
  "count":1,
  "success":true
}

xml results 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<platform.results>
  <platforms count="1">
    <platform ID="1">
      <name>iPhone</name>
      <extension>zbook</extension>
    </platform>
  </platforms>
  <apiresults success="TRUE"/>
</platform.results>

catalog.query

Command:

catalog.query - This command will return a listing of all books within a specified language and platform catalog.

Parameters:

languageid - Specify the language identifier (id value) of the language you want to return a catalog for. You can retrieve the language id from calling the languages.query call mentioned above. This field is required.
platformid - Specify the platform identifier (id value) of the platform you want to return a catalog for. You can retrieve the platform id from calling the platforms.query call mentioned above. This field is required.
format - [json | xml] (Optional). This specifies which format to return the data in. The default is json if one is not specified.

Example:

http://tech.lds.org/glweb?action=catalog.query&languageid=1&platformid=1&format=json

json results: 

{
  "catalog":
    {
      "folders":[
        {
          "display_order":0,
          "name":"Scriptures",
          "id":1,
          "languageid":1,
          "daysexpire":0,
          "folders":[
            {
              "display_order":0,
              "name":"Study Helps",
              "id":2,
              "languageid":1,
              "daysexpire":0,
              "folders":[],
              "books":[
                {
                  "name":"The Guide to the Scriptures",
                  "description":"",
                  "url":"https:\/\/tech.lds.org\/glweb\/index.php?action=book.downloadid=6",
                  "display_order":0,
                  "version":1,
                  "file":"5-1265322689.282.zbook",
                  "size":436669,
                  "dateadded":"2010-06-23 16:28:13",
                  "datemodified":"2010-06-23 16:28:13",
                  "id":6
                },
                {
                  "name":"Topical Guide",
                  "description":"",
                  "url":"https:\/\/tech.lds.org\/glweb\/index.php?action=book.download&id=7",
                  "display_order":1,
                  "version":1,
                  "file":"12-1269913852.332.zbook",
                  "size":2019012,
                  "dateadded":"2010-06-23 16:28:49",
                  "datemodified":"2010-06-23 16:28:49",
                  "id":7
                },
                {
                  "name":"Bible Dictionary",
                  "description":"",
                  "url":"https:\/\/tech.lds.org\/glweb\/index.php?action=book.download&id=8",
                  "display_order":2,
                  "version":1,
                  "file":"1-1269913782.752.zbook",
                  "size":475085,
                  "dateadded":"2010-06-23 16:29:13",
                  "datemodified":"2010-06-23 16:29:13",
                  "id":8
                }
              ],
              "books":[
                {
                  "name":"Old Testament",
                  "description":"",
                  "url":"https:\/\/tech.lds.org\/glweb\/index.php?action=book.download&id=1",
                  "display_order":0,
                  "version":1,
                  "file":"10-1269913818.302.zbook",
                  "size":1817977,
                  "dateadded":"2010-06-23 16:23:36",
                  "datemodified":"2010-06-23 16:23:36",
                  "id":1
                },
                {
                  "name":"New Testament",
                  "description":"",
                  "url":"https:\/\/tech.lds.org\/glweb\/index.php?action=book.download&id=2",
                  "display_order":1,
                  "version":1,
                  "file":"7-1274386242.196.zbook",
                  "size":702839,
                  "dateadded":"2010-06-23 16:24:47",
                  "datemodified":"2010-06-23 16:24:47",
                  "id":2
                },
                {
                  "name":"Book of Mormon",
                  "description":"",
                  "url":"https:\/\/tech.lds.org\/glweb\/index.php?action=book.download&id=3",
                  "display_order":2,
                  "version":1,
                  "file":"2-1274386987.136.zbook",
                  "size":838528,
                  "dateadded":"2010-06-23 16:25:45",
                  "datemodified":"2010-06-23 16:25:45",
                  "id":3
                },
                {
                  "name":"Doctrine and Covenants",
                  "description":"",
                  "url":"https:\/\/tech.lds.org\/glweb\/index.php?action=book.download&id=4",
                  "display_order":3,
                  "version":1,
                  "file":"3-1274904066.189.zbook",
                  "size":524037,
                  "dateadded":"2010-06-23 16:26:43",
                  "datemodified":"2010-06-23 16:26:43",
                  "id":4
                },
                {
                  "name":"Pearl of Great Price",
                  "description":"",
                  "url":"https:\/\/tech.lds.org\/glweb\/index.php?action=book.download&id=5",
                  "display_order":4,
                  "version":1,
                  "file":"11-1274389243.221.zbook",
                  "size":98639,"dateadded":"2010-06-23 16:27:08",
                  "datemodified":"2010-06-23 16:27:08",
                  "id":5
                }
              ]
        }
    ],
    "books":[],
    "name":"All English content",
    "display_order":0
  },
  "success":true
}

xml results 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<catalog.results>
  <catalog>
    <display_orer>0</display_orer>
    <name>All English content</name>
    <books count="0"/>
    <folders count="1">
      <folder id="1">
        <name>Scriptures</name>
        <display_order>0</display_order>
        <languageid>1</languageid>
        <isprivate></isprivate>
        <daysexpire>0</daysexpire>
        <folders count="1">
          <folder id="2">
            <name>Study Helps</name>
            <display_order>0</display_order>
            <languageid>1</languageid>
            <isprivate>0</isprivate>
            <daysexpire>0</daysexpire>
            <folders count="0"/>
            <books count="4">
              <book id="6">
                <name>The Guide to the Scriptures</name>
                <description></description>
                <display_order>0</display_order>
                <uri/>
                <version>1</version>
                <catalog_id/>
                <size>436669</size>
                <url>https://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=6</url>
                <file>5-1265322689.282.zbook</file>
                <dateadded>2010-06-23 16:28:13</dateadded>
                <datemodified>2010-06-23 16:28:13</datemodified>
              </book>
              <book id="7">
                <name>Topical Guide</name>
                <description></description>
                <display_order>1</display_order>
                <uri/>
                <version>1</version>
                <catalog_id/>
                <size>2019012</size>
                <url>https://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=7</url>
                <file>12-1269913852.332.zbook</file>
                <dateadded>2010-06-23 16:28:49</dateadded>
                <datemodified>2010-06-23 16:28:49</datemodified>
              </book>
              <book id="8">
                <name>Bible Dictionary</name>
                <description></description>
                <display_order>2</display_order>
                <uri/>
                <version>1</version>
                <catalog_id/>
                <size>475085</size>
                <url>https://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=8</url>
                <file>1-1269913782.752.zbook</file>
                <dateadded>2010-06-23 16:29:13</dateadded>
                <datemodified>2010-06-23 16:29:13</datemodified>
              </book>
            </books>
          </folder>
        </folders>
        <books count="5">
          <book id="1">
            <name>Old Testament</name>
            <description></description>
            <display_order>0</display_order>
            <uri/>
            <version>1</version>
            <catalog_id/>
            <size>1817977</size>
            <url>https://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=1</url>
            <file>10-1269913818.302.zbook</file>
            <dateadded>2010-06-23 16:23:36</dateadded>
            <datemodified>2010-06-23 16:23:36</datemodified>
          </book>
          <book id="2">
            <name>New Testament</name>
            <description></description>
            <display_order>1</display_order>
            <uri/>
            <version>1</version>
            <catalog_id/>
            <size>702839</size>
            <url>https://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=2</url>
            <file>7-1274386242.196.zbook</file>
            <dateadded>2010-06-23 16:24:47</dateadded>
            <datemodified>2010-06-23 16:24:47</datemodified>
          </book>
          <book id="3">
            <name>Book of Mormon</name>
            <description></description>
            <display_order>2</display_order>
            <uri/>
            <version>1</version>
            <catalog_id/>
            <size>838528</size>
            <url>https://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=3</url>
            <file>2-1274386987.136.zbook</file>
            <dateadded>2010-06-23 16:25:45</dateadded>
            <datemodified>2010-06-23 16:25:45</datemodified>
          </book>
          <book id="4">
            <name>Doctrine and Covenants</name>
            <description></description>
            <display_order>3</display_order>
            <uri/>
            <version>1</version>
            <catalog_id/>
            <size>524037</size>
            <url>https://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=4</url>
            <file>3-1274904066.189.zbook</file>
            <dateadded>2010-06-23 16:26:43</dateadded>
            <datemodified>2010-06-23 16:26:43</datemodified>
          </book>
          <book id="5">
            <name>Pearl of Great Price</name>
            <description></description>
            <display_order>4</display_order>
            <uri/>
            <version>1</version>
            <catalog_id/>
            <size>98639</size>
            <url>https://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=5</url>
            <file>11-1274389243.221.zbook</file>
            <dateadded>2010-06-23 16:27:08</dateadded>
            <datemodified>2010-06-23 16:27:08</datemodified>
          </book>
        </books>
      </folder>
  </catalog>
  <apiresults success="TRUE"/>
</catalog.results>

catalog.query.modified

Command:

catalog.query.modified - This command will return a date when the catalog for a particular language/platform was last modified. A modification happens if a book is updated, added, moved to another folder, or if a new folder is added or an existing folder is re-arranged.

Parameters:

languageid - Specify the language identifier (id value) of the language you want to return a catalog for. You can retrieve the language id from calling the languages.query call mentioned above. This field is required.
platformid - Specify the platform identifier (id value) of the platform you want to return a catalog for. You can retrieve the platform id from calling the platforms.query call mentioned above. This field is required.
format - [json | xml] (Optional). This specifies which format to return the data in. The default is json if one is not specified.

Example:

http://tech.lds.org/glweb?action=catalog.query.modified&languageid=1&platformid=1&format=json

json results: 

{
  catalog_modified: "2010-10-22 13:46:14",
  success: true
}

xml results 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<catalog.modified>
  <modified>2010-10-22 13:46:14</modified>
  <apiresults success="1"/>
</catalog.modified>

catalog.query.folder

Command:

catalog.query.folder - This command will return a listing of all books and sub-folderswithin a specified language, platform, and folder within the catalog.

Parameters:

languageid - Specify the language identifier (id value) of the language you want to return a catalog for. You can retrieve the language id from calling the languages.query call mentioned above. This field is required.
platformid - Specify the platform identifier (id value) of the platform you want to return a catalog for. You can retrieve the platform id from calling the platforms.query call mentioned above. This field is required.
folderid - Specify the folder identifier (id value) of the folder you want to return from the catalog. You can retrieve the folder id from calling this method with a 0 for the folder ID to return all root level folders.
format - [json | xml] (Optional). This specifies which format to return the data in. The default is json if one is not specified.

Example:

http://tech.lds.org/glweb?action=catalog.query.folder&languageid=1&platformid=1&folderid=1&format=json

json results: 

{
  "catalog":{
    "folders":[{
      "display_order":0,
      "name":"Study Helps",
      "id":2,
      "languageid":1,
      "daysexpire":0,
      isprivate":0
    }],
    "books":[{
      "name":"The Old Testament",
      "description":"",
      "url":"http://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&id=13",
      "display_order":0,
      "version":1,
      "file":"OldTestament.pdf",
      "size":362584,
      "dateadded":"2010-06-22 13:37:47",
      "datemodified":"2010-06-22 13:40:28",
      "id":13
    },
    {
      "name":"The New Testament",
      "description":"",
      "url":"http://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&id=15",
      "display_order":1,
      "version":1,
      "file":"NewTestament.pdf",
      "size":362584,
      "dateadded":"2010-06-22 13:38:51",
      "datemodified":"2010-06-22 13:38:51",
      "id":15
    },
    {
      "name":"The Book of Mormon",
      "description":"Another Testament of Jesus Christ",
      "url":"http://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&id=14",
      "display_order":2,
      "version":1,
      "file":"BookOfMormon.pdf",
      "size":362584,
      "dateadded":"2010-06-22 13:38:25",
      "datemodified":"2010-06-22 13:38:25",
      "id":14
    },
    {
      "name":"The Doctrine & Covenants",
        "description":"",
        "url":"http://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&id=16",
        "display_order":3,
        "version":1,
        "file":"DandC.pdf",
        "size":362584,
        "dateadded":"2010-06-22 13:39:15",
        "datemodified":"2010-06-22 13:39:15",
        "id":16
    }],
    "name":"Scriptures",
    "display_order":"0"
  },
  "success":true
}

xml results 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<catalog.results>
  <folder>
    <display_order>0</display_order>
    <name>Scriptures</name>
    <books count="4">
      <book id="13">
        <name>The Old Testament</name>
        <description></description>
        <display_order>0</display_order>
        <uri/>
        <version>1</version>
        <catalog_id/>
        <size>362584</size>
        <url>http://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=13</url>
        <file>OldTestament.pdf</file>
        <dateadded>2010-06-22 13:37:47</dateadded>
        <datemodified>2010-06-22 13:40:28</datemodified>
      </book>
      <book id="15">
        <name>The New Testament</name>
        <description></description>
        <display_order>1</display_order>
        <uri/>
        <version>1</version>
        <catalog_id/>
        <size>362584</size>
        <url>http://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=15</url>
        <file>NewTestament.pdf</file>
        <dateadded>2010-06-22 13:38:51</dateadded>
        <datemodified>2010-06-22 13:38:51</datemodified>
      </book>
      <book id="14">
        <name>The Book of Mormon</name>
        <description>Another Testament of Jesus Christ</description>
        <display_order>2</display_order>
        <uri/>
        <version>1</version>
        <catalog_id/>
        <size>362584</size>
        <url>http://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=14</url>
        <file>BookOfMormon.pdf</file>
        <dateadded>2010-06-22 13:38:25</dateadded>
        <datemodified>2010-06-22 13:38:25</datemodified>
      </book>
      <book id="16">
        <name>The Doctrine &amp; Covenants</name>
        <description></description>
        <display_order>3</display_order>
        <uri/>
        <version>1</version>
        <catalog_id/>
        <size>362584</size>
        <url>http://tech.lds.org/glweb/index.php?action=book.download&amp;id=16</url>
        <file>DandC.pdf</file>
        <dateadded>2010-06-22 13:39:15</dateadded>
        <datemodified>2010-06-22 13:39:15</datemodified>
      </book>
    </books>
    <folders count="1">
      <folder id="2">
        <name>Study Helps</name>
        <display_order>0</display_order>
        <languageid>1</languageid>
        <isprivate>0</isprivate>
        <daysexpire>0</daysexpire>
      </folder>
    </folders>
  </folder>
  <apiresults success="TRUE"/>
</catalog.results>

book.download

Command:

book.download - This command will download a specific book from the catalog. The book will be downloaded in the format that it is stored on the server.

Parameters:

id - Specify the book id (previously returned from the catalog.query command. This field is required.

Example:

http://tech.lds.org/glweb?action=book.download&id=1

book.versions

Command:

book.versions - This web service returns a listing of all books for a given platform and language, the book's versions and modified dates. It can be used to quickly see which books have changed.

Parameters:

languageid - The language ID of the language you are querying.
platformid - The platform ID of the platform you are querying.
lastdate - (Optional). Specify to only get books that have been added or modified since this date. Format should be yyyy-mm-dd.
format - [json | xml] (Optional). This specifies which format to return the data in. The default is json if one is not specified.

Example:

http://tech.lds.org/glweb?action=book.versions&languageid=1&platformid=1&lastdate=2010-10-22&format=json

json results: 

{
  books: [{
    id: 5,
    version: 7,
    date_added: "2010-06-23 16:27:08",
    date_modified: "2010-10-22 13:29:29"
  },
  {
    id: 1072,
    version: 1,
    date_added: "2010-10-22 09:20:46",
    date_modified: "2010-10-22 09:20:46"
  }]
}

xml results 

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<book.versions>
 <books count="94">
   <book>
      <id>5</id>
      <version>7</version>
      <date_added>2010-06-23 16:27:08</date_added>
      <date_modified>2010-10-22 13:29:29</date_modified>
    </book>
    <book>
      <id>1072</id>
      <version>1</version>
      <date_added>2010-10-22 09:20:46</date_added>
      <date_modified>2010-10-22 09:20:46</date_modified>
    </book>
  </books>
  <apiresults success="1"/>
</book.versions>
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This page was last modified on 22 October 2010, at 15:01. This page has been accessed 6,976 times.