# Call URL x times where x is in the JSON response after the first call

I have to make an HTTP POST request by passing header and body. In the body, I need to provide a pageNumber before posting data so I am starting with "1" initially. After that I will post data and I will get a JSON response back as shown below.

{
"response": {
"pageNumber": 1,
"entries": 200,
"numberOfPages": 3
},
"list": [
{
// some stuff here
}
],
"total": 1000
}


Now in the above response numberOfPages are 3 so I need to make a total of three calls to the same URL. Since we already made 1 call I will make 2 more calls with pageNumber "2" and "3" in the body.

The logic is like this but problem here is that I don't know what is the value for numberOfPages and I get to know this value after the first call with pageNumber 1.

for(int i=1; i<=numberOfPages; i++) {
// call getBody by passing corresponding pageNumber
// post data with header and body

}


Below is my working code. I just need to call the same URL until numberOfPages times by just changing the body. For each call, it should be made with the corresponding pageNumber.

private void collect() {
String endpoint = "url_endpoint";
try {
final URI uri = URI.create(endpoint);
int number = 1;
while (true) {
HttpEntity<String> requestEntity = new HttpEntity<String>(getBody(number), getHeader());
ResponseEntity<Stuff> responseEntity =
HttpClient.getInstance().getClient()
.exchange(uri, HttpMethod.POST, requestEntity, Stuff.class);
Stuff response = responseEntity.getBody();
// do stuff with response here.
int expectedNumber = (int) response.getPaginationResponse().getTotalPages();
if (number == expectedNumber || expectedNumber == 0) {
break;
}
number++;
}
} catch (Exception ex) {
ex.printStackTrace();
}
}

private String getBody(final int number) {
Input input = new Input(entries, number, 0);
Body body = new Body("Stuff", input);
return gson.toJson(body);
}


Is this the right way to do it or is there any better and efficient way?

Instead of a for loop, consider a do {} while (pageCount <= numberOfPages) loop and use an increment operator inside the loop. For this to work though both pageCount and numberOfPages need to have scoping outside of the loop, ie instantiated before the do{ } statement.

do{ } while () loops are guaranteed to run once, then perform the test in the while () to check if they continue. while( ){ } loops perform the check, then run until a value of false is found.

    int number = 1;
int expectedNumber;
do {
HttpEntity<String> requestEntity = new HttpEntity<String>(getBody(number), getHeader());
ResponseEntity<Stuff> responseEntity =
HttpClient.getInstance().getClient()
.exchange(uri, HttpMethod.POST, requestEntity, Stuff.class);
Stuff response = responseEntity.getBody();
// do stuff with response here.
expectedNumber = (int) response.getPaginationResponse().getTotalPages();
number++;
} while (number <= expectedNumber && expectedNumber > 0);

• Is this better approach than what I have? Also can you provide an example on how it works just to make myself clear? – user1950349 Jan 21 '18 at 1:32