Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

Objectives
Part 1: Launch the DEVASC VM
Part 2: Get Your Webex Teams Access Token
Part 3: Test Your Access Token
Part 4: Manage People in Webex Teams
Part 5: Manage Rooms in Webex Teams
Part 6: Manage Memberships in Webex Teams
Part 7: Manage Messages in Webex Teams

Background / Scenario
In this lab, you will use Webex Teams APIs to authenticate, manage people, manage rooms, manage
memberships to rooms, and send a message.

Required Resources
• 1 PC with operating system of your choice with Webex Teams Installed
• Virtual Box or VMWare
• DEVASC Virtual Machine

Instructions

Part 1: Launch the DEVASC VM

If you have not already completed the Lab - Install the Virtual Machine Lab Environment, do so now. If you
have already completed that lab, launch the DEVASC VM now.
Note: Part of the Lab - Install the Virtual Machine Lab Environment is to install the Webex Teams
application and add at least one other person to your contacts list. This must be completed before proceeding
with this lab.

Part 2: Get Your Webex Teams Access Token

In this Part, you sign up for or log in to your Webex account, explore the API documentation, get your access
token, and then test your access token that you will use in your API calls.

Step 1: Login to Webex

a. Open the Chromium web browser.
b. Go to the Webex developer website: https://developer.webex.com/
c. Log in if you already have an account. If not, go through the signup process.

Step 2: Explore the API documentation.

a. Click Documentation.

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 1 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

b. Webex has many APIs that you can use in your applications. Click the API Reference to expand its
submenu
c. Explore all the varieties of API calls. In this lab, you will use API documentation for People, Rooms,
Membership, and Message.

Step 3: Get your access token.

a. Still in Documentation, scroll to the back to the top, if necessary, and click Getting Started under REST
API.
b. Under Accounts and Authentication, notice that Webex supports a personal access token. An
authentication token is required for all REST API calls. Click the Copy icon under Your Personal Access
Token.
Note: A Personal Access Token provides access to your account to anyone who knows it. Make sure to
keep it secret.
Note: You will get a message stating that the token is valid for a set amount of time, which was 12 hours
at the time this lab was written. You will need to get a new token and update your Python scripts if you
return to this lab after your token expires.
c. Copy your personal access token into a text file for use later in this lab.

Part 3: Test Your Access Token

You can test your access token within the OpenAPI documentation on the developer site. However, you will
use your token in Python scripts. Therefore, you should test that it works in a script, as well.

Step 1: Test your access token on the developer site.

You can test your access token inside the OpenAPI documentation at https://developer.webex.com.
a. Return to your browser and click Documentation, if necessary.
b. Under API Reference, click People, and then click Get My Own Details.
c. In the Try it panel on the far right, notice that your token is already populated.
d. You can click Try it or Run to test your access. You will see the Response with your personal
information.
e. Click Request to see the full URL used to send the GET request. You will use this URL in the next step in
your Python script.
f. In the middle section, you can review all the documentation for the Response Properties.

Step 2: Use a Python script to test your access token.

a. Open VS code. Then click File > Open Folder... and navigate to the devnet-src/webex-teams directory.
Click OK.
b. In the EXPLORER panel, you should now see all the placeholder .py files you will use in this lab. Click
the authentciation.py file.
c. Place the following code into the file. Be sure to replace your_token_here with your personal access
token you copied in the previous step.
import requests
import json

access_token = 'your_token_here'
url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/people/me'

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 2 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token)
}
res = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
print(json.dumps(res.json(), indent=4))
d. Save and run the file. You should get the same output your saw in the OpenAPI documentation.
Note: The values for some of the keys have been truncated in the output below.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 authentication.py
{
"id": "Y2lz...UyM2U",
"emails": [
"[email protected]"
],
"phoneNumbers": [],
"displayName": "Your-First-Name Your-Last-Name",
"nickName": "Your-Nick-Name",
"firstName": " Your-First-Name",
"lastName": "Your-Last-Name",
"avatar": "https://9643-417f-9974...6baa4~1600",
"orgId": "Y2lzY2...UxMGY",
"created": "2012-06-15T20:23:12.529Z",
"lastActivity": "2020-06-02T20:16:52.111Z",
"status": "active",
"type": "person"
}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$

Part 4: Manage People in Webex Teams

In Webex Teams, People are registered users. Through the API, you can retrieve a list of people, you can
create a person, retrieve an individual person's details, update a person, and delete a person.

Step 1: Locate the API documentation for listing details of a registered Webex Teams user.
a. Return to the developer.webex.com website. Under API Reference > People, click the Method for List
People.
b. Under Query Parameters, find the email parameter. This is the parameter you will use to find a specific
user in your organization. Alternatively, you could use the displayName parameter, if you know the exact
name. You can use the Try it feature.

Step 2: Use a Python script to list details of a registered Webex Teams user.
a. In VS Code, click the list-people.py file.
b. Place the following code into the file. Be sure to replace your_token_here with your personal access
token and [email protected] with an actual registered Webex Team user in your organization.
import requests
import json

access_token = 'your_token_here'

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 3 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/people'
headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token),
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
params = {
'email': '[email protected]'
}
res = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)
print(json.dumps(res.json(), indent=4))

c. Save and run the script. You should get the same output similar to the following. If you get a message
like, {'message': 'Invalid email address.'..., it means that you did not replace the empty email parameter
with a legitimate email address for a registered Webex Teams user. The value for the id key will be used
in the next API call.
Note: The values for some of the keys have been truncated in the output below.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 list-people.py
{
"notFoundIds": null,
"items": [
{
"id": "Y2l...2I", # You will use this value in the next step
"emails": [
"[email protected]"
],
"phoneNumbers": [
{
"type": "mobile",
"value": "+1234567690"
}
],
"displayName": "displayName",
"nickName": "nickName",
"firstName": "firstName",
"lastName": "lastName",
"avatar": "https://9643-417f-9974...6baa4~1600",
"orgId": "Y2lzY...UxMGY",
"created": "2012-06-15T20:39:19.726Z",
"lastActivity": "2020-06-04T13:57:01.688Z",
"status": "active",
"type": "person"
}
]
}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 4 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

Step 3: List additional administrative details for a person.

a. If you are a Webex Teams administrator, you can get additional details for a person by using the value of
the person id key in your API call. Add the following code to your list-people.py script. Replace
previous_id_here with value for id from the previous API call.
person_id = 'previous_id_here'
url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/people/{}'.format(person_id)
headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token),
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
res = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
print(json.dumps(res.json(), indent=4))

b. Save the file and run it. As a non-administrator, you will get information that is very similar to the previous
step.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 list-people.py
{
<first API call output omitted>
}
{
"id": "Y2l...2I",
"emails": [
"[email protected]"
],
"phoneNumbers": [
{
"type": "mobile",
"value": "+1234567890"
}
],
"displayName": "displayName",
"nickName": "nickName",
"firstName": "firstName",
"lastName": "lastName",
"avatar": "https://9643-417f-9974...6baa4~1600",
"orgId": "Y2l...MGY",
"created": "2012-06-15T20:39:19.726Z",
"lastActivity": "2020-06-04T14:39:36.535Z",
"status": "active",
"type": "person"
}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$

Part 5: Manage Rooms in Webex Teams

Rooms, also called spaces in the user interface, let people send messages and files to collaborate virtually in
collective meeting places. In this Part, you will list rooms, create a room, and get a room’s details.

Step 1: Locate and investigate the API documentation for rooms.

a. Return to the developer.webex.com website. Under API Reference, click Rooms.

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 5 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

b. Explore the various API calls you can make with the Rooms API.
c. Click the GET request for List Rooms and explore the Query Parameters.

Step 2: Use a Python script to list all the rooms for an authenticated user.
a. For this step, you will need to be a member of at least one room. A conversation with one other person is
considered a room in Webex Teams.
b. In VS Code, click the list-rooms.py file.
c. Place the following code into the file. Be sure to replace your_token_here with your personal access
token.
import requests

access_token = 'your_token_here'
url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/rooms'
headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token),
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
params={'max': '100'}
res = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)
print(res.json())

d. Save and run the file. Your output will be different than the following. Only one room is listed here. ID
values have been truncated.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 list-rooms.py
{'items': [{'id': 'Y2l...ZTE0', 'title': 'User Name', 'type': 'direct', 'isLocked':
False, 'lastActivity': '2020-06-01T16:34:56.536Z', 'creatorId': 'Y2lz...yM2U',
'created': '2020-06-01T16:30:21.816Z', 'ownerId': 'Y2lz...xMGY'}
# additional rooms displayed up to 'max' value.
]}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$

Step 3: Locate and investigate the API documentation for posting to the Rooms API.
a. Return to the developer.webex.com website. Under API Reference, click Rooms, if necessary.
b. The Rooms API has one POST method for Create a Room. Click the link see Query Parameters that
are available. In your script, you will use the required title parameter.

Step 4: Use a Python script to create a room.

a. In VS Code, click the create-rooms.py file.
b. Place the following code into the file. Be sure to replace your_token_here with your personal access
token. Notice that this is a POST request and uses the title parameter.
import requests

access_token = 'your_token_here'
url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/rooms'
headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token),
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 6 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

params={'title': 'DevNet Associate Training!'}

res = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=params)
print(res.json())

c. Save and run the file. You should get a response similar to the following. ID values have been truncated.
The room id and title are highlighted. Copy the room ID and save it in a text file for use in the rest of this
lab.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 create-rooms.py
{'id': 'Y2l...GNm', 'title': 'DevNet Associate Training!', 'type': 'group',
'isLocked': False, 'lastActivity': '2020-06-04T16:50:19.371Z', 'creatorId':
'Y2l...M2U', 'created': '2020-06-04T16:50:19.371Z', 'ownerId': 'Y2l...MGY'}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$
d. In your Webex Teams application, verify you now see the DevNet Associate Training! room. You are
currently the only member.

Step 5: Use a Python script to get room details.

What if you want to start a meeting in your new room? You can do another GET call to retrieve the Session
Initiation Protocol (SIP) address, the meeting URL, and the dial-in phone numbers.
a. In VS Code, click the get-room-details.py file.
b. Place the following code into the file. Replace your_token_here with your personal access token.
Replace your_room_id with the value you got in the previous step.
import requests

access_token = 'your_token_here'
room_id = 'your_room_id'
url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/rooms/{}/meetingInfo'.format(room_id)
headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token),
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
res = requests.get(url, headers=headers)
print(res.json())

c. Save and run the file. You should get a response similar to the following. Values have been truncated.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 get-room-details.py
{'roomId': 'Y2l...GNm', 'meetingLink': 'https://cisco.webex.com/m/3272...a837',
'sipAddress': '[email protected]', 'meetingNumber': '162...0468',
'callInTollFreeNumber': '+1-866-...-9903', 'callInTollNumber': '+1-408-...-6800'}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$

Part 6: Manage Memberships in Webex Teams

In this Part, you will use the Membership API to add someone to your room.

Step 1: Locate and investigate the API documentation for memberships.

a. Return to the developer.webex.com website. Under API Reference, click Memberships.
b. Explore the various API calls you can make with the Memberships API.
c. Click the GET request for List Memberships and explore the Query Parameters.

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 7 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

Step 2: Use a Python script to list the members of the room.

a. In VS Code, click the list-memberships.py file.
b. Place the following code into the file. Replace your_token_here with your personal access token.
Replace your_room_id with the value from you got in the previous part.
import requests

access_token = 'your_token_here'
room_id = 'your_room_id'
url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/memberships'
headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token),
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
params = {'roomId': room_id}
res = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params)
print(res.json())

c. Save and run the file. You should get a response similar to the following. You should be the only member
unless you have added someone in the Webex Teams application. ID values have been truncated.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 list-memberships.py
{'items': [{'id': 'Y2l...RjZg', 'roomId': 'Y2l...GNm', 'personId': 'Y2l...M2U',
'personEmail': '[email protected]', 'personDisplayName': 'personDisplayName',
'personOrgId': 'Y2l...MGY', 'isModerator': False, 'isMonitor': False, 'created':
'2020-06-04T16:50:19.819Z'}]}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$

Step 3: Locate and investigate the API documentation for posting to the Memberships API.
a. Return to the developer.webex.com website. Under API Reference, click Memberships, if necessary.
b. The Memberships API has one POST method for Create a Membership. Click the link see Query
Parameters that are available. In your script, you will use the required roomID and personEmail
parameters.

Step 4: Use a Python script to create a membership, adding someone to the room.
For this step, you will need the email of someone else who is a registered Webex Teams user in your
organization. You can use the same email you used previously to list details about a person.
a. In VS Code, click the create-membership.py file.
b. Place the following code into the file. Replace your_token_here with your personal access token.
Replace your_room_id with the value from you got in the previous part. Replace new-
[email protected] with the email of the person you want to add to the room.
import requests

access_token = 'your_token_here'
room_id = 'your_room_id'
person_email = '[email protected]'
url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/memberships'
headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token),
'Content-Type': 'application/json'

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 8 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

}
params = {'roomId': room_id, 'personEmail': person_email}
res = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=params)
print(res.json())

c. Save and run the file. You should get a response similar to the following. You should be the only member
unless you have added someone in the Webex Teams application. ID values have been truncated.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 list-memberships.py
{'items': [{'id': 'Y2l...RjZg', 'roomId': 'Y2l...GNm', 'personId': 'Y2l...M2U',
'personEmail': '[email protected]', 'personDisplayName': 'personDisplayName',
'personOrgId': 'Y2l...MGY', 'isModerator': False, 'isMonitor': False, 'created':
'2020-06-04T16:50:19.819Z'}]}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$

Part 7: Manage Messages in Webex Teams

In Webex Teams, a message can contain plain text, Markdown, or a file attachment. Each message is
displayed on its own line along with a timestamp and sender information. You can use this Messages API to
list, create, and delete messages. In this Part, you will send a message to the room you created in this lab.

Step 1: Locate and investigate the API documentation for messages.

a. Return to the developer.webex.com website. Under API Reference, click Messages.
b. Explore the various API calls you can make with the Messages API.
c. Click the POST request for Create a Message and explore the Query Parameters. Notice for a simple
text message, you can use the text or markdown parameter. In this step, you will specify a message with
Markdown formatting. Search the internet to learn more about Markdown.

Step 2: Use a Python script to send a message to a Webex room.

a. In VS Code, click the creat-markdown-message.py file.
b. Place the following code into the file. Replace your_token_here with your personal access token.
Replace your_room_id with the value from you got in the previous part.
import requests

access_token = 'your_token_here'
room_id = 'your_room_id'
message = 'Hello **DevNet Associates**!!'
url = 'https://webexapis.com/v1/messages'
headers = {
'Authorization': 'Bearer {}'.format(access_token),
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
params = {'roomId': room_id, 'markdown': message}
res = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=params)
print(res.json())

c. Save and run the file. You should get a response similar to the following. Notice that the Markdown was
converted to HTML. ID values have been truncated.
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$ python3 create-markdown-
message.py
{'id': 'Y2l...RjZg', 'roomId': 'Y2l...GNm', 'roomType': 'group', 'text': 'Hello DevNet
Associates!!', 'personId': 'Y2l...M2U', 'personEmail': '[email protected]', 'markdown':

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 9 of 10 www.netacad.com
Lab - Construct a Python Script to Manage Webex Teams

'Hello **DevNet Associates**!!', 'html': '<p>Hello <strong>DevNet

Associates</strong>!!</p>', 'created': '2020-06-04T19:08:49.145Z'}
devasc@labvm:~/labs/devnet-src/webex-teams$
End of document

© 2020 - 2020 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public Page 10 of 10 www.netacad.com