This script will update ckan records using a .csv as the input data. Made in 05/2016, tested in testing site, never used in production. It uses the provided connection script to make api call.

ckan-update.py

import ckanapi
import csv
from copy import deepcopy


def update_dataset_api_call(connection, dataset_data):
    '''
    This function uses the provided connection to make an api call that updates the dataset title
    :param connection:
    :return: None
    '''

    connection.call_action('package_update', dataset_data)


def get_dataset_api_call(connection, dataset_data):

    dataset = {
        'id': dataset_data.get('id')
    }

    return connection.call_action('package_show', dataset)


def get_package_list(connection):
    return connection.call_action('package_list')

def rename_extra_field_for_all_datasets(connection, field_name, new_field_name):
    packages = get_package_list(connection)
    total = len(packages)
    count = 0
    modified_count = 0

    for dataset_name in packages:
        current_data = get_dataset_api_call(connection, {'id': dataset_name})

        extras = current_data.get('extras', [])
        was_modified = False

        for extra in extras:
            if extra.get('key').lower().strip() == field_name.lower().strip():
                extra['key'] = new_field_name
                was_modified = True
                break

        if was_modified:
            update_dataset_api_call(connection, current_data)
            print('Renamed "'+field_name+'" in package with id: ' + str(current_data['id']) + ' to "'+new_field_name+'" sucessfully')
            modified_count += 1

        count += 1
        print("Completed: {0} of {1}".format(count, total))

    print("Renamed a total of {0} from {1} datasets.".format(modified_count, total))

def do_csv_update(connection, csv_filename, nested_columns):
    with open(csv_filename, 'rb') as csvfile:
        reader = csv.DictReader(csvfile)

        for row in reader:
            # comes from csv file which are the new modifications
            update_data = deepcopy(row)

            # comes from api call to get current data
            current_data = get_dataset_api_call(connection, update_data)

            for column in update_data:

                if column not in current_data:
                    # update extras
                    extra_was_not_found = True

                    for extra in current_data['extras']:
                        if extra.get('key') == column:
                            extra['value'] = update_data[column]
                            extra_was_not_found = False

                    if extra_was_not_found:
                        current_data['extras'].append(
                            {
                                'key': column,
                                'value': update_data[column]
                            }
                        )
                else:
                    current_data[column] = update_data[column]

            try:
                update_dataset_api_call(connection, current_data)
                print('Updated package with id: ' + str(current_data['id']) + ' sucessfully')
            except ckanapi.errors.NotFound as err:
                print('Package with id: ' + str(current_data['id']) + ' not found for update.')

# this main is now useless btu i will leave it here
def main_manual_update():
    mysite_connection = ckanapi.RemoteCKAN('http://xxx',
    apikey='xxx',
    user_agent='ckanapiexample/1.0 (+http://example.com/my/website)')

    # do you see that this is still the same as what i had before?
    # i made the function more generlized, now it will work with any dataset id and data i give it
    # for example i want to this:

    # manual data
    data = {
        "id": "7285f5c2-412a-4264-95fe-39c658d8be3z2",
        "title": 'Updated Title UPDATED AGAIN',
        'author': "Jhon Doe",
        'extras': [
            {'key': 'Restricitons', 'value': 'Does not matter.'},
            {'key': 'Creator', 'value': 'This is joe'}
        ]
    }


    # just calling it here with the connection i got
    update_dataset_api_call(mysite_connection, data)

    print("done manual.")


# main that uses csv data to update
def update_from_csv(connection):
    filename = 'data/update_datasets.csv'

    nested_columns = [
        'restrictions',
        'another_column'
    ]

    do_csv_update(connection, filename, nested_columns)

    print("done processing: " + filename)


def main():
    mysite_connection = ckanapi.RemoteCKAN('http://xxx',
    apikey='xxxx')

    # execute updates form data/update_datasets.csv
    #update_from_csv(mysite_connection)

    # rename an extra field
    rename_extra_field_for_all_datasets(mysite_connection, 'frequency', 'Update Frequency')

if __name__ == "__main__":
    # main_manual_update()
    main()