Using remote lookup field to get currency exchange rate

The remote lookup field is a great way to get data from external systems into your forms. 

Using JSON for currency exchange rate

Let’s look at a common use case for getting a current currency exchange rate. We want to convert an order entered in USD into GBP.  

In the Kissflow form, start with a currency field called PO value that shows the total price of the PO in USD.

Then add a remote lookup field called GBP conversion rate. In the URL field, enter the URL to direct toward the API.

In this example, we are going to get the conversion URL to use a third-party API from CurrencyLayer. You can sign up for a free account at https://currencylayer.com/product. 

Back in the Kissflow form, enter this link in the URL field. In the body section, provide the access key. 

1. The remote lookup allows a GET or POST request. This example is a GET. 
2. Next, you can add Header and Body parameters to the API request. These are useful when authenticating calls to other API services. 
3. Click +Add body, then in the name field type access_key. In the value field, enter the actual access key. Find your access key in Step 3 of the Quickstart guide from CurrencyLayer. With CurrencyLayer’s free account, your source currency will always be USD. 
4. In the field, What is the format of the response data you are working with? choose JSON.
5. In JSON path of value in result, enter $.quotes.USD[CurrencyType]. In our case, the JSON path will be: $.quotes.USDGBP.
6. In What kind of data are you working with? choose Text.
7. In How should the result be chosen? choose Autopopulate a value. 

In the live form, you’ll see a button for GET requests that says Get data. Click the button, and Kissflow will perform a remote call and fetch the live value.  

If you want to calculate the converted amount automatically, add a new currency field with two decimal places called PO in GBP. Mark it as a computed field and enter the formula:

PO_Value.value() * number(GBP_Conversion_Rate)

Pro tips

In addition to currency rates, you can use the remote lookup field to:

• Get stock and bullion rates.
• Refer to data on a different MDM system.