Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

Posted on
Mon May 04, 2020 3:36 pm
DaveL17 offline
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Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

In this thread, Jon suggested that Touch Portal as an alternative to Stream Deck. Rather than hijack that thread, I thought I'd post my experience here after trying it out. It is possible to send RESTful API calls using Touch Portal. This is how I did it:

  • download Touch Portal desktop and install it on the Indigo Server machine.
  • download Touch Portal client -- on iOS in my case.
  • create a new button in Touch Portal with an HTTP GET action.
  • enter the RESTful API call in the GET Url field. In my case:
    Code: Select all
    http://10.0.1.XXX:8176/devices/Living%20Room%20%2D%20Vase?toggle=1&_method=put
  • here's where it gets a little trickier.
    • enable developer tools in safari.
    • open a tab and enter the RESTful API call.
    • open the safari web inspector and refresh the page.
    • in the web inspector, select the Network tab and locate the Authorization information under the Request section. It'll start with 'Digest'
    • copy the entire authorization string.
  • enter the authorization string in the Authorization Header field in Touch Portal
  • save the settings and complete the other settings as needed (title, colors, etc.)

Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 4.16.13 PM.png
Screen Shot 2020-05-04 at 4.16.13 PM.png (113 KiB) Viewed 3200 times


I was able to reuse the digest authorization string on another control with success, but I can't guarantee that this will always be the case, or how long they remain valid.

I came here to drink milk and kick ass....and I've just finished my milk.

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Posted on
Tue May 05, 2020 6:20 am
autolog offline
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Joined: Sep 10, 2013
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Re: Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

Hi Dave,
As a follow-up to your post, it looks as if their Developer API holds some promise for integration into an Indigo plugin.
The Developer API is available once you have purchased the Pro version - I haven't done this yet!

Touch Portal Developer API: https://www.touch-portal.com/sdk/index.php :)

Posted on
Tue May 05, 2020 6:50 am
autolog offline
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Re: Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

This is the blog announcement of the plugin system: https://www.touch-portal.com/blog/post/ ... on_2_1.php :)

Posted on
Tue May 05, 2020 9:44 am
DaveL17 offline
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Re: Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

I can't make any guarantees, but I'll check out the API. I was planning to buy the pro version of Touch Portal anyway because it looks to be a good product with great support.
Last edited by DaveL17 on Tue May 05, 2020 10:18 am, edited 1 time in total.

I came here to drink milk and kick ass....and I've just finished my milk.

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Posted on
Tue May 05, 2020 9:44 am
RogueProeliator offline
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Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Re: Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

I get the Stream Deck integration with the physical buttons, but what does this Touch Portal give that can't be done in Control Pages? Is it just less cumbersome to setup or something?

Posted on
Tue May 05, 2020 10:07 am
autolog offline
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Re: Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

DaveL17 wrote:
I can't make any guarantees, but I'll check out the API. I was planning to buy the pro version of Touch Point anyway because it looks to be a good product with great support.

I have succumbed and bought the pro version. :)

Posted on
Tue May 05, 2020 10:18 am
DaveL17 offline
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Joined: Aug 20, 2013
Location: Chicago, IL, USA

Re: Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

I'm just getting to grips with it, so take all this with a grain of salt. I don't think it's a case that Touch Portal can do something that's not possible by other means, but it has the ability to create buttons that have assigned "macros" and logic. It can do quite a bit on the host machine like launching applications, running bash scripts, HTTP GET, POST, and PUT actions, and other stuff.

For me it's something to tinker with to see what it can do. The pro version is only US$13, so I thought it was worth a look.

I came here to drink milk and kick ass....and I've just finished my milk.

[My Plugins] - [My Forums]

Posted on
Tue May 05, 2020 11:12 am
howartp offline
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Joined: Jan 09, 2014
Location: West Yorkshire, UK

Re: Touch Portal Control via RESTful API

Hear hear.

I have a couple of keyboard shortcuts on my Win7 PC that turn my lamp and fan on by python; it don’t work on Win10.

I’m fancying TouchPad linked to my Mac to enhance and add stuff.


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