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How to format a weather API query to return CSV forecast data

Andrew Timothy Lovell

November 05, 2021 16:18

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I can successfully generate CSV weather API queries for current data using

https://weather.visualcrossing.com/VisualCrossingWebServices/rest/services/timeline/Villamartin, 03189, Spain/?unitGroup=metric&contentType=csv&key=*****&include=obs%2Ccurrent

I'm trying to do the same for todays forecast but it returns 400 and no further details

https://weather.visualcrossing.com/VisualCrossingWebServices/rest/services/timeline/Villamartin,%2003189,%20Spain/2021-11-05?unitGroup=metric&key=*****

How should I format the query?  If I leave the contentType=csv off the query as shown above everything works but this returns json data which I want to avoid if at all possible.  I'm trying to generate a hourly forecast for the next 12-24 hours.   I've tried putting it before or after the &key and I just get the same 400 error.  I'm using a micro controller to handle the data and csv is much lower overhead for me.

Thanks in advance

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2 comments

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  info November 05, 2021 16:51 Official comment

  Thank you for your question!

  When you request CSV data using the contentType=csv parameter, you must also select which part of the JSON data you want in the CSV content. This is because the JSON format actually includes 3-5 tables embedded into it: daily data, hourly data, weather alerts, weather events and current conditions. To select the data you want in CSV format, you can specify the 'include' parameter. To select the hourly forecast data, your request will look like:

  https://weather.visualcrossing.com/VisualCrossingWebServices/rest/services/timeline/Villamartin,%2003189,%20Spain/2021-11-05?unitGroup=metric&key=YOUR_API_KEY&contentType=csv&include=hours

  For more information, see the API docs at https://www.visualcrossing.com/resources/documentation/weather-api/timeline-weather-api/

  Also as a side, when we return an HTTP error (eg the 400 in this case), we generally include a message as part of the response body. The quickest way to see the response is to paste the query into the browser. In this case, you should see the message, "You must specify the 'include' parameter when requesting CSV output"

  Regards

  Visual Crossing Support

   

   

   

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  Andrew Timothy Lovell November 05, 2021 17:45

  Thanks despite reading the documentation i´d missed that I needed the hours clause.