Represent complex data with a custom resource

This guide explains how to define custom resources for Google Workspace Studio.

Custom resources are custom data structures that you can define to group multiple variables together. When a step's output has a static structure, represent it with a custom resource. For example, to create a CRM lead, your output requires multiple variables:

  • Email address
  • Street address
  • Name

To ensure the presence of all data required to create a CRM lead, output a custom resource containing an email address, street address, and name.

Output a custom resource as a reference

By outputting a custom resource as a reference, you can return the custom resource by its ID instead of the full custom resource object. If a custom resource is large or complex, passing only the ID improves performance by reducing the data transferred between steps.

To output a custom resource as a reference, edit the step's manifest file and code.

Edit the manifest file

In the manifest file:

  1. Specify a workflowResourceDefinitions and assign it an id, a fields[] array, and a providerFunction. The workflowResourceDefinitions is a structure that defines data types and contents of the custom resource.

  2. Within the fields[] array, you specify the individual fields that make up the custom resource, in this example called field_1 and field_2.

  3. The providerFunction's value must match the name of a function in the step's code. The providerFunction retrieves actual custom resource content when needed.

    JSON

    {
  "workflowResourceDefinitions": [
    {
      "id": "resource_id",
      "name": "Custom Resource",
      "fields": [
        {
          "selector": "field_1",
          "name": "Field 1",
          "dataType": {
            "basicType": "STRING"
          }
        },
        {
          "selector": "field_2",
          "name": "Field 2",
          "dataType": {
            "basicType": "STRING"
          }
        }
      ],
      "providerFunction": "onMessageResourceFunction"
    }
  ]
}

  4. In outputs[], specify an output variable that returns a dynamic set of output variables. The output variable has a dataType with the property resourceType. The value of cardinality must be SINGLE.

    JSON

    {
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "resource_data",
      "description": "Resource Data",
      "cardinality": "SINGLE",
      "dataType": {
        "resourceType": {
          "workflowResourceDefinitionId": "resource_id"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
}

Here's a complete manifest file that defines a custom resource:

JSON

{
  "timeZone": "America/Los_Angeles",
  "exceptionLogging": "STACKDRIVER",
  "runtimeVersion": "V8",
  "addOns": {
    "common": {
      "name": "Custom Resource (as reference)",
      "logoUrl": "https://www.gstatic.com/images/icons/material/system/1x/pets_black_48dp.png",
      "useLocaleFromApp": true
    },
    "flows": {
      "workflowElements": [
        {
          "id": "getResourceDataReference",
          "state": "ACTIVE",
          "name": "Custom Resource (as reference)",
          "description": "Output a custom resource as a reference",
          "workflowAction": {
            "outputs": [
              {
                "id": "resource_data",
                "description": "Resource Data",
                "cardinality": "SINGLE",
                "dataType": {
                  "resourceType": {
                    "workflowResourceDefinitionId": "resource_id"
                  }
                }
              }
            ],
            "onConfigFunction": "onConfigResourceFunction",
            "onExecuteFunction": "onExecuteResourceFunction"
          }
        }
      ],
      "workflowResourceDefinitions": [
        {
          "id": "resource_id",
          "name": "Custom Resource",
          "fields": [
            {
              "selector": "field_1",
              "name": "Field 1",
              "dataType": {
                "basicType": "STRING"
              }
            },
            {
              "selector": "field_2",
              "name": "Field 2",
              "dataType": {
                "basicType": "STRING"
              }
            }
          ],
          "providerFunction": "onMessageResourceFunction"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

Edit the code

In the application code:

  1. Implement the providerFunction, called onMessageResourceFunction() in this example, which retrieves custom resource content when needed. It takes the input e which is the step's event object JSON payload, and from it sets the custom resource ID.

    Apps Script

    function onMessageResourceFunction(e) {
  console.log("Payload in onMessageResourceFunction: " + JSON.stringify(e));

  var resource_id = e.workflow.resourceRetrieval.resourceReference.resourceId;
  let fieldValue_1;
  let fieldValue_2;

  // Using a if-condition to mock a database call.
  if (resource_id == "sample_resource_reference_id") {
    fieldValue_1 = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
      .addStringValue("value1");
    fieldValue_2 = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
      .addStringValue("value2");
  } else {
    fieldValue_1 = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
      .addStringValue("field_1 value not found");
    fieldValue_2 = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
      .addStringValue("field_2 value not found");
  }

  let resourceData = AddOnsResponseService.newResourceData()
    .addVariableData("field_1", fieldValue_1)
    .addVariableData("field_2", fieldValue_2)

  let workflowAction = AddOnsResponseService.newResourceRetrievedAction()
    .setResourceData(resourceData)

  let hostAppAction = AddOnsResponseService.newHostAppAction()
    .setWorkflowAction(workflowAction);

  return AddOnsResponseService.newRenderActionBuilder()
    .setHostAppAction(hostAppAction)
    .build();
}

  2. The provider function must return the value of the custom resource by retrieving it with an appropriate mechanism, like calling an API or reading a database.

  3. To retrieve and return a custom resource by its ID, return it as returnOutputVariablesAction, as shown in onExecuteResourceFunction().

    Apps Script

    function onExecuteResourceFunction(e) {
  console.log("Payload in onExecuteResourceFunction: " + JSON.stringify(e));

  let outputVariables = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
    .addResourceReference("sample_resource_reference_id");

  let workflowAction = AddOnsResponseService.newReturnOutputVariablesAction()
    .addVariableData("resource_data", outputVariables);

  let hostAppAction = AddOnsResponseService.newHostAppAction()
    .setWorkflowAction(workflowAction);

  return AddOnsResponseService.newRenderActionBuilder()
    .setHostAppAction(hostAppAction)
    .build();
}

Here's a complete example:

Apps Script

function onConfigResourceFunction() {
  let section = CardService.newCardSection()
    .addWidget(
      CardService.newTextParagraph()
        .setText("This is the Custom Resource Demo card")
    );

  const card = CardService.newCardBuilder()
    .addSection(section)
    .build();

  return card;
}

function onMessageResourceFunction(e) {
  console.log("Payload in onMessageResourceFunction: " + JSON.stringify(e));

  var resource_id = e.workflow.resourceRetrieval.resourceReference.resourceId;
  let fieldValue_1;
  let fieldValue_2;

  // Using a if-condition to mock a database call.
  if (resource_id == "sample_resource_reference_id") {
    fieldValue_1 = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
      .addStringValue("value1");
    fieldValue_2 = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
      .addStringValue("value2");
  } else {
    fieldValue_1 = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
      .addStringValue("field_1 value not found");
    fieldValue_2 = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
      .addStringValue("field_2 value not found");
  }

  let resourceData = AddOnsResponseService.newResourceData()
    .addVariableData("field_1", fieldValue_1)
    .addVariableData("field_2", fieldValue_2)

  let workflowAction = AddOnsResponseService.newResourceRetrievedAction()
    .setResourceData(resourceData)

  let hostAppAction = AddOnsResponseService.newHostAppAction()
    .setWorkflowAction(workflowAction);

  return AddOnsResponseService.newRenderActionBuilder()
    .setHostAppAction(hostAppAction)
    .build();
}

function onExecuteResourceFunction(e) {
  console.log("Payload in onExecuteResourceFunction: " + JSON.stringify(e));

  let outputVariables = AddOnsResponseService.newVariableData()
    .addResourceReference("sample_resource_reference_id");

  let workflowAction = AddOnsResponseService.newReturnOutputVariablesAction()
    .addVariableData("resource_data", outputVariables);

  let hostAppAction = AddOnsResponseService.newHostAppAction()
    .setWorkflowAction(workflowAction);

  return AddOnsResponseService.newRenderActionBuilder()
    .setHostAppAction(hostAppAction)
    .build();
}