Sending complex JSON with fetch, save, and delete on a model or collection - json

Question

We have an internal API that was specifically built to be used with a new piece of software I'm building that runs on Backbone. The API has a single URL and takes JSON as input to determine what it needs to return. It essentially allows me to build custom queries with JSON that return exactly what I'm looking for.
Thing is this JSON can get pretty verbose and is often 3–4 levels deep, but sometimes may just be a few lines and just 1 level deep.
First question first: How do I send a string of JSON along with the ID when I do a fetch()? Do I have to set these parameters as the model or collection's defaults?
Here is an example of a really simple string to get a specific user's info
{
"which" : "object",
"object" : {
"type" : "customer",
"place" : "store",
"customerID" : "14"
}
}

Answer 1

As others have suggested it will likely be challenging to work with SOAP, but it shouldn't be impossible. Backbone models and collections communicate with the server through the sync operation; you should be able to customize that. I think something along these lines might get the ball rolling (for models):
Backbone.SoapyModel = Backbone.Model.extend({
sync: function(method, model, options) {
// force POST for all SOAP calls
method = 'create';
options = _.extend(options, {
// Setting the data property will send the model's state
// to the server. Add whatever complexity is needed here:
data: JSON.stringify({
"which" : "object",
"object" : model.toJSON()
}),
// Set the request's content type
contentType: 'application/json'
});
// Defer the rest to Backbone
return Backbone.sync.apply(this, [method, model, options]);
}
});
var SoapyModelImpl = Backbone.SoapyModel.extend({
url: '/test'
});
var soapTest = new SoapyModelImpl({
id: 42,
name: 'bob',
address: '12345 W Street Dr',
phone: '867 5304'
});
soapTest.fetch();