# Get rules (getrules)

List style guide rules.

### Request

See [HTTP API Overview](/v6.12.0/api-reference/overview.md).

#### Parameters

| Parameter    | Type   | Required | Default       | Notes                                                                                                                                           |
| ------------ | ------ | -------- | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `cmd`        | string | Yes      | `style_guide` | Command name.                                                                                                                                   |
| `action`     | string | Yes      | `getrules`    | Action name.                                                                                                                                    |
| `lang`       | string | No       |               | <p>Language scope to list rules for (example: <code>en\_US</code> or <code>en</code>).<br>By default returns all rules from every language.</p> |
| `rule`       | string | No       |               | One rule ID, or a comma-separated list of rule IDs. Filter is applied within the selected `lang`.                                               |
| `collection` | string | No       | `style guide` | A name of the collection in which rules are stored.                                                                                             |

### Behavior

* Without `lang`: lists of all the rules under client id.
* Without `rule`: returns all rules for the selected `lang`, grouped by style guide.
* With `collection:` returns all rules for selected `collection`
* With `rule`: returns only the matching rule(s) for the selected `lang`.

### Response

Multiple rule objects are returned.

See [Response schema](/v6.12.0/api-reference/style-guide-api/response-schema.md).

### Errors

See

* [Errors](/v6.12.0/api-reference/style-guide-api/errors.md#getrules-errors).
* [Validation & limits](/v6.12.0/api-reference/style-guide-api/validation-and-limits.md)

### Examples

#### 1) Get all the rules:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Example (JSON body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&action=getrules
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&action=getrules
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```json
{
    "message": "Rules retrieved.",
    "result": [
        {
            "state": true,
            "language": "",
            "id": {
                "category": "STYLE_GUIDE",
                "collection": "style guide",
                "rule": "STYLE_16591413123912100174"
            },
            "patterns": [
                "testtexttobereplaced"
            ],
            "suggestions": [
                "TestTextToBeReplaced"
            ],
            "description": "example",
            "context_include": [],
            "context_exclude": []
        },
        {
            "state": true,
            "language": "en_US",
            "id": {
                "category": "STYLE_GUIDE",
                "collection": "style guide",
                "rule": "STYLE_5933619761905272220"
            },
            "patterns": [
                "webspellchecker"
            ],
            "suggestions": [
                "WebSpellChecker"
            ],
            "description": "",
            "context_include": [],
            "context_exclude": []
        }
    ]
}
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Example (XML body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&action=getrules&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&action=getrules&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```xml
<message>Rules retrieved.</message>

<result>
	<rule>
		<state>true</state>
		<language/>
		<id>
			<category>STYLE_GUIDE</category>
			<collection>style guide</collection>
			<rule>STYLE_16591413123912100174</rule>
		</id>
		<patterns>
			<patterns>testtexttobereplaced</patterns>
		</patterns>
		<suggestions>
			<suggestions>TestTextToBeReplaced</suggestions>
		</suggestions>
		<description>example</description>
		<context_include/>
		<context_exclude/>
	</rule>
	<rule>
		<state>true</state>
		<language>en_US</language>
		<id>
			<category>STYLE_GUIDE</category>
			<collection>style guide</collection>
			<rule>STYLE_5933619761905272220</rule>
		</id>
		<patterns>
			<patterns>webspellchecker</patterns>
		</patterns>
		<suggestions>
			<suggestions>WebSpellChecker</suggestions>
		</suggestions>
		<description/>
		<context_include/>
		<context_exclude/>
	</rule>
</result>
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### 2) Get all the rules of a specific collection:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Example (JSON body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&action=getrules&lang=en_US&collection=A test-collection
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&action=getrules&lang=en_US&collection=A test-collection
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=A test-collection'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=A test-collection'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```json
{
    "message": "Rules retrieved.",
    "result": [
        {
            "state": true,
            "language": "en_US",
            "id": {
                "category": "A_TEST-COLLECTION",
                "collection": "A test-collection",
                "rule": "A_5933619761905272220"
            },
            "patterns": [
                "webspellchecker"
            ],
            "suggestions": [
                "WebSpellChecker"
            ],
            "description": "",
            "context_include": [],
            "context_exclude": []
        },
        {
            "state": true,
            "language": "en_US",
            "id": {
                "category": "A_TEST-COLLECTION",
                "collection": "A test-collection",
                "rule": "A_6313242940900407355"
            },
            "patterns": [
                "replacethis"
            ],
            "suggestions": [
                "replace this"
            ],
            "description": "",
            "context_include": [],
            "context_exclude": []
        }
    ]
}
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Example (XML body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&action=getrules&lang=en_US&collection=A test-collection&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&action=getrules&lang=en_US&collection=A test-collection&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=A test-collection' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'lang=en_US' \
  --data-urlencode 'collection=A test-collection' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```xml
<message>Rules retrieved.</message>

<result>
	<rule>
		<state>true</state>
		<language>en_US</language>
		<id>
			<category>A_TEST-COLLECTION</category>
			<collection>A test-collection</collection>
			<rule>A_5933619761905272220</rule>
		</id>
		<patterns>
			<patterns>webspellchecker</patterns>
		</patterns>
		<suggestions>
			<suggestions>WebSpellChecker</suggestions>
		</suggestions>
		<description/>
		<context_include/>
		<context_exclude/>
	</rule>
	<rule>
		<state>true</state>
		<language>en_US</language>
		<id>
			<category>A_TEST-COLLECTION</category>
			<collection>A test-collection</collection>
			<rule>A_6313242940900407355</rule>
		</id>
		<patterns>
			<patterns>replacethis</patterns>
		</patterns>
		<suggestions>
			<suggestions>replace this</suggestions>
		</suggestions>
		<description/>
		<context_include/>
		<context_exclude/>
	</rule>
</result>
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

#### 3) Get a specific rule:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Example (JSON body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&action=getrules&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&action=getrules&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```json
{
    "message": "Rules retrieved.",
    "result": [
        {
            "state": true,
            "language": "",
            "id": {
                "category": "STYLE_GUIDE",
                "collection": "style guide",
                "rule": "STYLE_16591413123912100174"
            },
            "patterns": [
                "testtexttobereplaced"
            ],
            "suggestions": [
                "TestTextToBeReplaced"
            ],
            "description": "example",
            "context_include": [],
            "context_exclude": []
        }
    ]
}
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Example (XML body)" %}

<details>

<summary>Request URL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
http(s)://server_entry_point/?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&action=getrules&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request URL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```
https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api?cmd=style_guide&access_key=<your-access-key>&serviceid=<your-service-id>&action=getrules&rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174&format=xml
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (on-premises)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "http(s)://server_entry_point" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

<details>

<summary>Request CURL (Cloud)</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```bash
curl -G "https://svc.webspellchecker.net/api" \
  --data-urlencode 'cmd=style_guide' \
  --data-urlencode 'access_key=<your-access-key>' \
  --data-urlencode 'serviceid=<your-service-id>' \
  --data-urlencode 'action=getrules' \
  --data-urlencode 'rule=STYLE_16591413123912100174' \
  --data-urlencode 'format=xml'
```

{% endcode %}

</details>

***

<details>

<summary>Response</summary>

{% code overflow="wrap" %}

```xml
<message>Rules retrieved.</message>

<result>
	<rule>
		<state>true</state>
		<language/>
		<id>
			<category>STYLE_GUIDE</category>
			<collection>style guide</collection>
			<rule>STYLE_16591413123912100174</rule>
		</id>
		<patterns>
			<patterns>testtexttobereplaced</patterns>
		</patterns>
		<suggestions>
			<suggestions>TestTextToBeReplaced</suggestions>
		</suggestions>
		<description>example</description>
		<context_include/>
		<context_exclude/>
	</rule>
</result>
```

{% endcode %}

</details>
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.wproofreader.com/v6.12.0/api-reference/style-guide-api/actions/get-rules-getrules.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.