Introduction

The Query API provides read-only access to your Fulcrum forms, records, and other tables (repeatables, choice lists, members, media, etc.) by allowing you to execute standard SQL statements against the query endpoint. This endpoint queries your Fulcrum Organization's PostgreSQL database directly and can return results in a variety of standard formats, including CSV, JSON, GeoJSON, and Postgres.

The Query API supports most standard PostgreSQL database functions, including many advanced spatial types supported by the PostGIS extension. Additionally, there are several Fulcrum-specific helper functions for formatting data and handling media attachments.

Having the ability to execute SQL statements directly against the database provides a lot of additional functionality for interacting with your data. You can select which columns you want to return, alias the field names, customize record ordering, include aggregate functions or string concatenation, define specific where clauses, join tables, and much more. Using these basic building blocks, you can build up complex queries to return composite data to drive aggregation and analytics. This API enables real-time data analytics and integrating Fulcrum with a variety of Business Intelligence (BI) services and platforms, and enables the programmatic scripting of custom data exports.

Tools

The Query API endpoint can be used on it's own for simple GET requests in the browser or via cURL, and is also supported by our Python, JavaScript, and Ruby libraries. Additionally, we have a standalone Command Line Utility and Simple Web Application specifically built for working with the Query API. All of these tools are open source and provide good examples for how to build applications that interact with our APIs.

Notes

  • The Query API is read-only and cannot modify data in your account.

  • All requests to the Query API require an authentication token and an SQL query.

  • The Query API is subject to the same 5,000 calls an hour per user rate limits as the REST API. Additionally, queries cannot exceed 10 seconds of processing time to complete.

  • You can use the Query API in conjunction with the Records API to make updates to specific records by fetching the IDs of the records you want to PUT/DELETE.

  • As of May 19th 2023 the Query API can be used to index all the same objects that the REST API can index except for authorizations, audit logs, layers, workflows and groups.

❗️

Don't expose your API tokens!

Be careful sharing queries that expose your API token. Even though the Query API is read-only, if a token with write privileges is used, your data could still be compromised. Consider creating a custom role with restricted permissions (uncheck all boxes for read-only).

Sample Response

Unlike the REST API, which always returns JSON, the Query API can return data in a variety of standard formats, including CSV, JSON, GeoJSON, and even PostgreSQL.

📘

Don't forget your geometries!

Note that the GeoJSON and Postgres formats require the _geometry column in the query for spatial support.

_latitude,_longitude,road,cul_type,cul_matl
44.40567049,-72.87380621,BOLTON VALLEY ACCESS RD,Round,Concrete Sectional
44.12626128,-72.82824537,AIRPORT RD,Round,Steel Corrugated
44.13929576,-72.82954356,AIRPORT RD,Round,Steel Corrugated
44.13960429,-72.83042557,AIRPORT RD,Round,Steel Corrugated
44.14053353,-72.83479866,AIRPORT RD,Round,Plastic Corrugated
{
  "fields": [{
    "name": "_latitude",
    "type": "double"
  }, {
    "name": "_longitude",
    "type": "double"
  }, {
    "name": "road",
    "type": "string"
  }, {
    "name": "cul_type",
    "type": "string"
  }, {
    "name": "cul_matl",
    "type": "string"
  }],
  "rows": [{
      "_latitude": 44.40567049,
      "_longitude": -72.87380621,
      "road": "BOLTON VALLEY ACCESS RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Concrete Sectional"
    },
    {
      "_latitude": 44.12626128,
      "_longitude": -72.82824537,
      "road": "AIRPORT RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Steel Corrugated"
    },
    {
      "_latitude": 44.13929576,
      "_longitude": -72.82954356,
      "road": "AIRPORT RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Steel Corrugated"
    },
    {
      "_latitude": 44.13960429,
      "_longitude": -72.83042557,
      "road": "AIRPORT RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Steel Corrugated"
    },
    {
      "_latitude": 44.14053353,
      "_longitude": -72.83479866,
      "road": "AIRPORT RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Plastic Corrugated"
    }
  ],
  "time": 0.041,
  "date": 1553698926381
}
{
  "type": "FeatureCollection",
  "features": [{
    "type": "Feature",
    "properties": {
      "_latitude": 44.40567049,
      "_longitude": -72.87380621,
      "road": "BOLTON VALLEY ACCESS RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Concrete Sectional"
    },
    "geometry": {
      "type": "Point",
      "coordinates": [-72.87380621, 44.40567049]
    }
  }, {
    "type": "Feature",
    "properties": {
      "_latitude": 44.12626128,
      "_longitude": -72.82824537,
      "road": "AIRPORT RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Steel Corrugated"
    },
    "geometry": {
      "type": "Point",
      "coordinates": [-72.82824537, 44.12626128]
    }
  }, {
    "type": "Feature",
    "properties": {
      "_latitude": 44.13929576,
      "_longitude": -72.82954356,
      "road": "AIRPORT RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Steel Corrugated"
    },
    "geometry": {
      "type": "Point",
      "coordinates": [-72.82954356, 44.13929576]
    }
  }, {
    "type": "Feature",
    "properties": {
      "_latitude": 44.13960429,
      "_longitude": -72.83042557,
      "road": "AIRPORT RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Steel Corrugated"
    },
    "geometry": {
      "type": "Point",
      "coordinates": [-72.83042557, 44.13960429]
    }
  }, {
    "type": "Feature",
    "properties": {
      "_latitude": 44.14053353,
      "_longitude": -72.83479866,
      "road": "AIRPORT RD",
      "cul_type": "Round",
      "cul_matl": "Plastic Corrugated"
    },
    "geometry": {
      "type": "Point",
      "coordinates": [-72.83479866, 44.14053353]
    }
  }]
}
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS postgis;

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS query (
  _geometry geometry(Geometry,4326),
  _latitude double precision,
  _longitude double precision,
  road text,
  cul_type text,
  cul_matl text
);

INSERT INTO query (_geometry, _latitude, _longitude, road, cul_type, cul_matl)
SELECT 
'0101000020e610000078bfe170ec3752c04bc0b702ed334640', '44.40567049', '-72.87380621', 'BOLTON VALLEY ACCESS RD', 'Round', 'Concrete Sectional';

INSERT INTO query (_geometry, _latitude, _longitude, road, cul_type, cul_matl)
SELECT 
'0101000020e6100000a94ddef8013552c0f12c625429104640', '44.12626128', '-72.82824537', 'AIRPORT RD', 'Round', 'Steel Corrugated';

INSERT INTO query (_geometry, _latitude, _longitude, road, cul_type, cul_matl)
SELECT 
'0101000020e6100000ad33df3d173552c0f3d58671d4114640', '44.13929576', '-72.82954356', 'AIRPORT RD', 'Round', 'Steel Corrugated';

INSERT INTO query (_geometry, _latitude, _longitude, road, cul_type, cul_matl)
SELECT 
'0101000020e6100000613a4ab1253552c035f7a98dde114640', '44.13960429', '-72.83042557', 'AIRPORT RD', 'Round', 'Steel Corrugated';

INSERT INTO query (_geometry, _latitude, _longitude, road, cul_type, cul_matl)
SELECT 
'0101000020e610000075dc5b576d3552c0b4abb100fd114640', '44.14053353', '-72.83479866', 'AIRPORT RD', 'Round', 'Plastic Corrugated';

Fulcrum Table Types

The basic SELECT * FROM tables; query will return all of the tables available for use and is a good place to start when exploring the capabilities of the Query API.

TypeDescription
formThese tables contain the records for each form. These are the primary tables used in the Query API and contain all the main record data.
repeatableThese tables contain child records. Child tables have some additional columns, _child_record_id and _parent_id that can be used to link child records to the parent records. Note that because Fulcrum supports nested child records, it's possible that child records have their own child records. Using _child_record_id, _parent_id and _record_id it's possible to construct queries that can link records together going down or up repeatable levels.
linkThese tables help you join linked records. They are join tables for connecting linked apps. For each Record Link field, there will be a join table that contains a row for each link between records. You can think of this table as representing the "arrows" between related records when using Record Link fields. There will be a row for each "arrow" and source_record_id is the start of the arrow and linked_record_id is the arrowhead.
mediaThese tables help you join media with records. Each photo, video, and audio field will have its own associated table that can be used to connect the record data with the photos, audio and videos system tables. Each media field also has an array column on the record table containing the ID's, but these media tables let you use more conventional SQL joins to connect the data rather than more complex array operations to link multiple photos in a single photo to the photos table.
systemFulcrum system tables: audio, changesets, choice_lists, classification_sets, forms, memberships, photos, projects, roles, signatures, videos

Note: If a query returns {"error":"relation \"organization_1234.form_123456_undefined_view\" does not exist"} this is an error that can happen with longer form names. Postgres has a table name limitation of 63 characters, so with queries containing form/repeatable names > 63 characters, you might see this and will either need to shorten the names or use the form ID (see below).

Form Tables

Fulcrum form tables hold the records for each form in your account.

  • You can query a form by its name (SELECT * FROM "Park Inventory";) or its ID (SELECT * FROM "19da1bbc-43e4-49b3-b70f-a63ec680268e";).

  • Repeatable records can be accessed with the following table name pattern: "Table Name/repeatable_column".

  • Record links can be accessed with the following table name pattern: "Table Name/record_link_column".

  • Media records (photos, video, audio, signatures) can be accessed with the following table name pattern: "Table Name/media_column".

System Columns

Every Fulcrum form contains standard system columns, in addition to your custom fields. System columns are prepended with an underscore (_) to help distinguish them easier.

ColumnTypeDescription
_record_idstringThe ID of the record.
_project_idstringThe ID of the project. Can be joined to the project_id column in the projects table.
_assigned_to_idstringThe ID of the member the record is assigned to. Can be joined to the user_id column in the memberships table.
_statusstringThe record status.
_versionnumberThe record version.
_titlestringThe record title.
_created_attimestampThe timestamp when the record was created on the device.
_updated_attimestampThe timestamp when the record was updated on the device.
_server_created_attimestampThe timestamp when the record was created on the server.
_server_updated_attimestampThe timestamp when the record was updated on the server.
_created_by_idstringThe ID of the member the record was created by. Can be joined to the user_id column in the memberships table.
_updated_by_idstringThe ID of the member the record was updated by. Can be joined to the user_id column in the memberships table.
_changeset_idstringThe ID of the last changeset. Can be joined to the changeset_id column of the changesets table.
_latitudenumberThe record latitude.
_longitudenumberThe record longitude.
_geometrygeometryThe record geometry as a native PostGIS geometry. When output to CSV, it's in Extended Well-Known Text (EWKT) format.
_altitudenumberThe GPS altitude in meters above/below (+/-) sea level.
_speednumberThe GPS speed in meters per second.
_coursenumberThe GPS course in degrees (0.0-360), only recorded if the device is moving.
_horizontal_accuracynumberThe GPS latitude and longitude accuracy in meters.
_vertical_accuracynumberThe GPS altitude accuracy in meters. (Only reported on iOS devices)

SQL Reference Material