Support putting variables in the path of a URL for external tools

[Craig Willis]

Overview of the Feature Request

Adding Binder support has highlighted a limitation in the external tools implementation. As discussed in #4714 (comment), #6807 (comment), and most recently in #6807 (comment), Binder has a specific URL format requires path-based variable replacement on the toolUrl field.

The feature request is to update the external tools integration to allow path-based variable replacement in the toolUrl field to enable creation of a Binder-complatible URL:

https://mybinder.org/v2/dataverse/{datasetPid}

Something like:

{
  "displayName": "Binder",
  "description": "Run on Binder",
  "scope": "dataset",
  "type": "explore",
  "toolUrl": "https://mybinder.org/v2/dataverse/{datasetPid}",
  "toolParameters": {
    "pathParameters": [
      {   
        "datasetPid": "{datasetPid}"
      }
    ]   
  }
}

Current integration depends on an external service that does translation and will be a potential point of failure for anyone that uses. it.

What inspired the request?
#6807 (comment)

What existing behavior do you want changed?

External tools to support Binder URLs without relying on an external service.

Any related open or closed issues to this feature request?

• #4714
• #6807

[Philip Durbin]

Thanks, @craig-willis for opening this issue.

We absolutely still want this feature, the ability to put variables in the path of a URL for an external tool.

Meanwhile, for Binder, yesterday we set up a static page with some Javascript that inserts the DOI in the path:

• https://github.com/IQSS/dataverse-binder-redirect
• #10361
• https://groups.google.com/g/dataverse-community/c/5kQhpKTOVvw/m/xUbPNEmMAQAJ