Retrieving data from facebook in a winform

Question

Hey,

I understand that using the facebook API I need an api key to connect, but I still don't understand how i would go about doing this, and how can i retrieve information upon users using the API (i'm only interested in retrieving the information that is publicly available e.g: username, birthdate, and other info that a specific user left public)

I downloaded the facebook development kit, and tried adding the FacebookService control, but i don't get it... All the examples/samples i found on the internet are older than the version i have and therefore work a little different..

Can someone please post an example of how i would connect, using a certain API key, and retrieve someones public info/public photos (if there are any) ??

Thanks. :)

Answer 1

You should spend some time reading the Facebook Developer Wiki. Facebook development requires understanding how facebook applications are structured and how developers must configure them with the Facebook site to get them to work. You can't just drop a control in your app and expect to be able to get it to work.

The wiki has articles that explain how to get a developer ID, what FBML is, what an API key is, and so forth. If you plan to do any serious FB development, the wiki is an excellent resource.

There is a good article here about setting up a profile and using FB toolikit to create an application. Perhaps that can help get you a quicker start.

Answer 2

I won't talk about the .NET way of doing it since this is regarding to how to get the API key from Facebook.

1. Login to Facebook Developers page (using your Facebook credentials). In there, create an Application. Once successful, Facebook will provide you an Application ID and Application Secret. You will need the 2 to use the Facebook API. Never show these details to anyone else anybody can use it for malicious purposes.
2. Follow the Facebook API to understand what methods to call and what the API expects in order to make the call successful.

Follow an example here (http://blog.theunical.com/facebook-integration/facebook-java-api-example-to-publish-on-wall/) on how to create a Facebook Application.