How to schedule my recurring API flow?

[paulsvassistant]

Hello,

I am trying to use the Dropbox API with Bubble, and I am stuck on scheduling a recurring API workflow to refresh the token.

I know that typically, the Bubble API connector would be in charge of this token management, but as per this thread, it seems that the Dropbox API is a special case - https://forum.bubble.io/t/cant-use-bubbles-api-connector-oauth-2-0-with-dropbox/239859/8

I have added the Dropbox API to the connector, and I have a call which is refreshes the token, which is successfully initialized.

Now, I am trying to set up a workflow that would re-run this refresh token API call periodically, to store the access_token for further use with other Dropbox API calls.

I am trying to follow the guides here around Recursive API workflows since this is a backend workflow - https://manual.bubble.io/help-guides/integrations/api/the-bubble-api/the-workflow-api/api-workflows/recursive-api-workflows

However, I’m getting stuck here and it does not appear to be working in my attempt… here are some screenshots of what I currently have in my workflow:

From reading the instructions, it seems like what I have here should cause the workflow to run every 60 seconds, refreshing the token value in the database, yet this does not seem to be happening…

Can anyone help me understand where I’m going wrong here? Thanks so much.

[code-escapee]

It looks like it should work. Did you check the logs? You may consider storing the response of Dropbox - Get Token in a log for debugging purposes and error handling.

[paulsvassistant]

Seems that the logs are completely empty…? Is there something I need to do in order to activate this workflow? I deployed the change to “Live” but seems like there is still no difference.

I’m unsure of how to store something in a log… don’t see any obvious actions that describe it. Are there any resources that show how to do this?

[code-escapee]

Server Logs: Click Show Advanced and check all boxes

“Dropbox - Get Token” action will have responses available that can be saved in a log dataset or used in a list of texts somewhere. Did you initialize “Dropbox - Get Token”? Can you show me how it’s set up in API connector?

[paulsvassistant]

Yes it is Initialized. Here is a screenshot of the API call

Still nothing in the logs even with all the options checked

And I see no further options when I click on “Dropbox - Get Token”

[code-escapee]

1. Check these in the API call:
   

   

2. What is the use as dropdown set to in API call?

3. You won’t see options in Step1 but in Step2 or later steps you’ll see result of Step 1’s body etc once you check the checkboxes.

[paulsvassistant]

1 - Done
2 - It is set to Use As Action
3 - I do see the result of Step 1, but I don’t know where to find this option to store it in a log or anything like that

[code-escapee]

The result is exposed in the entire WF so any step can access it and store it (e.g., Create a new thing of type Log, Response code = results of step 1 response code, Error? = results of step 1 is_error.

[paulsvassistant]

Right… Okay I think I did something like that with this entry:

Seems like the problem is more that this is never running at all. Is there some way I need to kick off the initial run so that the recursive scheduling process can happen?

[code-escapee]

Yes, I assumed your first screenshot below was triggering the WF but that certainly needs to happen first. You can set a button on a page or any other click or elements to trigger the initial call of the WF.

WARNING: This recurring Wf will costs you thousands in WU consumption. Add a Loop Max Runs # parameter to the workflow and increment the # in each reloop

[paulsvassistant]

Ahh yes, thank you this is was the problem. I decided to go with Bubble’s native file storage instead of Dropbox in this case, but good to know how the recursive workflow functions.

It does seem like the necessity of client-side scheduling of the workflow should be mentioned in the documentation, which makes it seem like it’s a purely server-side solution for recurring workflows.