Creating a SSJS variable from a REST resource asset

Squiz Matrix Developers
4

Thanks @JohnGill and @Bart

I’m using globals keywords with the method described here: Problems with keyword replacement values as modifiers

I have a REST Resource asset (#12345) setup as follows:

URL: https://%globals_get_parameters%/v2/posts.json
<script>
	var response = JSON.parse(_REST.response.body),
	    limit = %globals_get_numberToReturn%;

	var newArray = [];
	for (i = 0; i < limit; i++) {
	    var newStructure = {
	        "local_asset": false,
	        "platform": "Blogs",
	        "use_target_blank": true,
	        "type": "news",
	        "id": response[i].id
	    };
	    newArray.push(newStructure);
	}

	print(newArray);
</script>

It returns:

[
	{
	  "local_asset": false,
	  "platform": "Blogs",
	  "use_target_blank": true,
	  "type": "news",
	  "id": 623
	},
	{
	  "local_asset": false,
	  "platform": "Blogs",
	  "use_target_blank": true,
	  "type": "news",
	  "id": 599
	},
	{
	  "local_asset": false,
	  "platform": "Blogs",
	  "use_target_blank": true,
	  "type": "news",
	  "id": 588
	}
]

In the paint layout, I declare some variables that are passed to the REST Resource asset and then attempt to assign the output to a variable.

<script>
  var parameters = '%asset_metadata_test%',
  		numberToReturn = 3;

  // This is the REST Resource asset that calls an API endpoint based on the parameters passed to it with the GET variable and returns a JSON array of objects (as above). Works fine printing to the frontend.
  print('%' + 'globals_asset_contents:12345^with_get:params=' + parameters + '^with_get:numberToReturn=' + numberToReturn + '%');

  // I want to assign the output from the above print statement to a variable


  // EXAMPLE 1 - try to assign to the variable using the print statement
  // example1 just prints the objects directly to the frontend: '[object Object],[object Object]' etc. 
  var example1 = print('%' + 'globals_asset_contents:12345^with_get:params=' + parameters + '^with_get:numberToReturn=' + numberToReturn + '%');
  // example1 is a 'number' 
  print(typeof example1);

  // EXAMPLE 2 - try to assign to the variable without the print statement
  var example2 = '%' + 'globals_asset_contents:12345^with_get:params=' + parameters + '^with_get:numberToReturn=' + numberToReturn + '%';
  // is a 'string'
  print(typeof example2);
  print(example2[0]); // returns '%'
</script>

I had a quick look at the method suggested by @JohnGill but I suspect that doesn’t allow me to pass the additional GET parameters through that I need.