public void makeRequest(String uri, String json) {
        try {
            HttpClient client = new DefaultHttpClient();
            HttpPost httpPost = new HttpPost(uri);
            httpPost.setEntity(new StringEntity(json));
            httpPost.setHeader("Accept", "application/json");
            httpPost.setHeader(getResources().getString(R.string.api_token), getApiKey());
            httpPost.setHeader("class", "Business");
            httpPost.setHeader("attendant_name", ap.getAttendantName());
            httpPost.setHeader("attendant_id", getattendant_id());
            httpPost.setHeader("Content-type", "application/json");
            Log.d("request_headers", "api token:" + getApiKey() + "/");
            Log.d("request_made", "true");
            HttpResponse response = client.execute(httpPost);

            String responseStr = EntityUtils.toString(response.getEntity());
            Log.d("request_made3", responseStr);

            Object jsonObj = new JSONTokener(responseStr).nextValue();
            if (jsonObj instanceof JSONObject) {
                JSONObject jsonObject = (JSONObject) jsonObj;
                //further actions on jsonObjects
                final String message = jsonObject.getString("message");
                runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
                    @Override
                    public void run() {
                        Crouton.makeText(MainActivity.this, message,
                                Style.ALERT, R.id.mysframe).show();

                    }
                });

            } else if (jsonObj instanceof JSONArray) {
                //further actions on jsonArray
                JSONArray jArray = new JSONArray(responseStr);
                for (int i = 0; i < jArray.length(); i++) {
                    JSONObject obj = jArray.getJSONObject(i);
                    Boolean success = obj.getBoolean("success");

                    if (success) {
                        //send firebase push notification here
                        sh.deletePendingSales();
                        Log.d("request_made3", "reached");

                        //get the version number from server
                        Integer minimum_version_code = obj.getInt("minimum-version-code");
                        Integer version_code = obj.getInt("version-code");
                        whats_new = obj.getString("whats-new");
                        minimum_whats_new = obj.getString("minimum-whats-new");
                        //save the subscription values to preferences
                        ap.setExpirationDate(obj.getString("expiring_on"));
                        ap.setPackageName(obj.getString("package_name"));
                        ap.setRequestedAt(obj.getString("requested_at"));
                        //fetch version code from the phone
                        PackageManager manager = getPackageManager();
                        try {
                            PackageInfo info = manager.getPackageInfo(getPackageName(), 0);
                            if (version_code > info.versionCode) {
                                if (minimum_version_code > info.versionCode) {
                                    //force update required
                                    runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
                                        @Override
                                        public void run() {
                                            //forceUpdate(minimum_whats_new);
                                            fireBaseNotificationDialog(minimum_whats_new, "force_update");
                                        }
                                    });
                                } else {
                                    //soft update required
                                    runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
                                        @Override
                                        public void run() {
                                            //softUpdate(minimum_whats_new);
                                            fireBaseNotificationDialog(whats_new, "soft_update");
                                        }
                                    });
                                }
                            }

                        } catch (PackageManager.NameNotFoundException e) {
                            e.printStackTrace();
                        }

                        JSONArray recordArray = obj.getJSONArray("data");
                        for (int record_i = 0; record_i < recordArray.length(); record_i++) {
                            JSONObject record_obj = recordArray.getJSONObject(record_i);
                            String time_code = record_obj.getString("time_code");
                            String business_id = record_obj.getString("business_id");
                            String name = record_obj.getString("name");
                            String quantity = record_obj.getString("quantity");
                            String attendant_name = record_obj.getString("attendant_name");
                            String attendant_id = record_obj.getString("attendant_id");
                            //send alert to devices
                            SendPushNotifications spn = new SendPushNotifications();
                            spn.triggerFirebaseNotificationRequest(time_code, business_id, name, quantity,
                                    attendant_name, attendant_id);
                            //replace _ in keys with -
                            sh.addSaleKey(time_code);
                            Log.d("request_made5", name);
                        }

                    /*
                SendPushNotifications spn=new SendPushNotifications();
                spn.triggerFirebaseNotificationRequest();*/
                        Log.d("request_made6", "reached");
                        //if sync is successful then we simply abort further requests
                        //this is to avoid sending multiple requests
                        // httpPost.abort();

                    } else {
                        //sync failed, update status to pending so sale is not deleted
                        sh.updatePendingSalesToProcessing("pending");
                        //sync has failed
                        final String failed = obj.getString("message");
                        runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
                            @Override
                            public void run() {
                                Crouton.makeText(MainActivity.this, failed,
                                        Style.ALERT, R.id.mysframe).show();

                            }
                        });
                        //logout
                        if (obj.getString("key").equals("auth")) {
                            AppController.getInstance()
                                    .getRequestQueue().getCache()
                                    .clear();
                            SharedPreferences spref2 = getSharedPreferences(
                                    "ACCOUNT", MODE_PRIVATE);
                            SharedPreferences.Editor editor = spref2.edit();
                            editor.putBoolean("loggedin", false);
                            editor.putString("apiKey", "");
                            editor.commit();
                            editor.apply();
                            Intent intent = new Intent(getApplicationContext(), Login.class);
                            intent.putExtra("loggedOut", failed);
                            intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK);
                            startActivity(intent);
                            finish();
                        }

                    }
                }
            }
            Log.d("request_made1", responseStr);

        } catch (UnsupportedEncodingException e) {
            //sync failed, update status to pending so sale is not deleted
            sh.updatePendingSalesToProcessing("pending");
            e.printStackTrace();
        } catch (ClientProtocolException e) {
            doSyncing = true;
            //sync failed, update status to pending so sale is not deleted
            sh.updatePendingSalesToProcessing("pending");
            //sync failed
            runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
                @Override
                public void run() {
                    Crouton.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Syncing failed, retry later",
                            Style.ALERT, R.id.mysframe).show();
                }
            });
            e.printStackTrace();
        } catch (IOException e) {
            //sync failed, update status to pending so sale is not deleted
            sh.updatePendingSalesToProcessing("pending");
            doSyncing = true;
            //sync failed so we rest the syncing icon
            runOnUiThread(new Runnable() {
                @Override
                public void run() {
                    Crouton.makeText(MainActivity.this, "Syncing failed, retry later",
                            Style.ALERT, R.id.mysframe).show();
                }
            });
            e.printStackTrace();
        } catch (JSONException e) {
            //sync failed, update status to pending so sale is not deleted
            sh.updatePendingSalesToProcessing("pending");
            e.printStackTrace();

        }
    }