API Query parameter handling

[russell.sage]

I am attempting to write a script to pull events associated with non-meraki-vpns

import requests

def getNetworkAlerts(headers, networkId, startDate, endDate):
    # Define the URL
    url = (f"https://api.meraki.com/api/v1/networks/{networkId}/events")
    params = {
        "productType": "appliance",
        "includedEventTypes[]": "non_meraki_vpn",
        "startingAfter":startDate,
        "endingBefore":endDate
    }
    # what is actually being sent to meraki dashboard
    req = requests.Request('GET', url, headers=headers, params=params)
    prepared_request = req.prepare()
    print(f'The full url to be sent is: {prepared_request.url}')
    # Below in red is what requests builds.
    https://api.meraki.com/api/v1/networks/L_3895050727722058407/events?productType=appliance&includedEventTypes%5B%5D=non_meraki_vpn&startingAfter=2025-08-30+13%3A38%3A05.459567&endingBefore=2025-08-30+14%3A38%3A05.459567
    # Send the GET request
    response = requests.get(url, headers=headers, params=params) status code 400

However, if I build the url manually and don't use the keyword params
url = (f"https://api.meraki.com/api/v1/networks/{networkId}/events?productType=appliacnce&includeEventTypes[]=non_meraki_vpn&startingAfter=2025-08-30 13:52:56.146621&endingBefore=2025-08-30 14:52:56.146621')

I don't get the error. But I can't encode varaiables directly into the url. Research suggests you do this by using the keyword params in the requests library

Any more experienced coders out there got any advice please.

[sungod]

You already posted a similar query https://community.meraki.com/t5/Developers-APIs/GET-networks-networkId-events-productType-appliance-amp/m-p/281786#M12897

If you look at my reply, you'll see that your usage...

        "includedEventTypes[]": "non_meraki_vpn",

...is not correct.

[sungod · Accepted solution]

Also, this is not correct...

       "startingAfter":startDate,
        "endingBefore":endDate

These parameters are used by the pagination mechanism, you'll see that the documentation for the call says... "This parameter should not be defined by client applications."

https://developer.cisco.com/meraki/api-v1/get-network-events/

I just grab the results and filter out the ones that are out of the desired date range.

The endpoint can be fiddly to use, for instance check for a non-Null 'Message' element in the response, this may be used to signal that there are no matching events

[obrigg]

Would you like to try the Meraki Python SDK?

It will mask most of the lower level tweaks and help minimize mistakes.

[sungod]

I'm so used to people using the library that I didn't notice the OP was doing it the hard way.