Defining a Web Service

A web service definition basically consists of a name and one or more functions. These functions are the 'Endpoints' in the WSDL (Web Services Description Language) and define the application functionality that may be called by an external application.

A function first needs you to define a connector. This connector defines the instance of the application by connecting to a particular application server. So, for example, you may have a 'Live' and a 'Test' version of your PROIV application and have a connector for each one.

Once you have chosen a connector you can select a function from the list available for that connector. The function list is automatically generated by the web services application. It does this by connecting to the application and asking for the function list. As this can take some time it is only done the first time a connector is used. Subsequent uses of the connector display a cached list of functions.

When you select a function the web services application automatically builds a definition of the function so that it can be used as a WSDL Endpoint. This definition includes the input and output parameters with a name, type, description and size for each one. You can alter some of the parameter properties.

You can have as many functions as you like in a web service and these can use different connectors. Each function will be available as a WSDL Endpoint.

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Topic ID: 400006