cs_create_index() returns an error

[laknath123]

Describe the bug
when I run the following code it returns

library(compstatr)
i <- cs_create_index()

Error in read_xml.response(x$response, ..., as_html = as_html) : 
  Internal Server Error (HTTP 500).
In addition: Warning message:
In cs_request_POST(session, url, body = list(`__EVENTTARGET` = "GridView1",  :
  Internal Server Error (HTTP 500).

[chris-prener]

hi @laknath123 - thanks for opening this! there appears to be an issue with SLMPD's website right now - there is an invisible 10th page of crime reports, which is empty, that is causing cs_create_index() to error. I'm going to let this sit for a couple of days to see if this is resolved when they post the February 2020 data. If it is not, I'll post a workaround...

[chris-prener]

hi @laknath123 - quick update - the February data are now available, and the cs_create_index() function is working again. Will keep this open - I'm going to try make this function more robust against errors on SLMPD's website..

If you're willing, I'd love to hear how you're using the package if you don't mind sharing! Feel free to drop me an email at chris.prener@slu.edu

[chris-prener]

The warning is being drawn from here, the error originates from here.

One early strategy is to catch 500 and other problematic status codes here, but that will only work for when the site itself is down.

A second strategy is to test the output of this line for 500 and other problematic status codes - this will address the core issue.

[chris-prener]

An update - the output for cs_create_index() now contains an indicator for empty that is TRUE if the table has been updated but the data are not available yet. Will continue to work on making sure the get functions fail elegantly if that is the case. This is also the source of the error in #24.