Retrieve content block with AMPScript using API

Question

Is there a way to get a content block with AMPScript using API? I want to run an AMPScript using marketing cloud API. The only option I can think of is to create a content block with the AMPScript and retrieve that content block with the Marketing cloud API. but I can't find a method that does that. What is the best practices to do that?

Update: I want to use ClaimRow with the API to get a unique coupon code.

Answer 1

This sound more like a use case for CloudPages Code Resource. Retrieving a content block using API will not result in executing the AMPscript within, as this only happens during Preview, Send or VAWP contexts.

You can use JSON code resource to execute the Ampscript, and print the output e.g. in this type of structure:

{
    "voucher": "XYZ123",
    "contactKey": "0031232c5e3db2",
    "claimed": "2021-03-23T18:25:43.511Z"
}

Your code should consist of two parts, one with logic claiming the voucher - receiving the contactKey, or other identificator of the person you assign the voucher to, from a request parameter.

And second part printing the output, e.g. like this:

{
    "voucher": "%%=v(@vouchercode)=%%",
    "contactKey": "%%=v(@contactkey)=%%",
    "claimed": "%%=v(@claimedtime)=%%"
}

Be mindful that these code resources reside at publicly available URLs, and are not secure. So you should take applicable precautions to prevent unauthorised execution of your Ampscript.