CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javaeclipseweb-servicescxf
Alkis Kalogeris
Alkis Kalogeris

Reputation: 17765

How does Eclipse web service explorer work?

Provided a WSDL I create a dynamic web service client. What I want is to expose the methods and the types of the parameters those methods have and test the code from a webpage. Bare in mind that the client is dynamic, so what I have to build must me able to work with different WSDLs.

What I want to do is what the Eclipse web service explorer does for testing a web service client from the provided user interface. How does it find the methods and the parameters? Does it parse the WSDL? I've searched for the source code, but I couldn't find anything relevant. I don't even know where to begin.
What I want is suggestions and some guidance of what I have to build, what is already provided out there (that I'm not aware obviously) and a place to begin. I'm not asking for code.

Upvotes: 3

Views: 1551

Answers (1)

Namphibian
Namphibian

Reputation: 12221

Essentially creating a generic web services client would involve the following:

  1. Analyse the WSDL for service definitions i.e. the method names and their definitions. Remember your WSDL defines your service.
  2. Analyse any XSD (embedded or linked) to retrieve the datatypes of the parameters etc.

As a suggestion why not look at the SOAP UI project which is really great as a generic web service test client. As it is open source you might be able to learn how they do it. Go have a look at the project here

Also go look at the Apache CXF framework. This framework will allow you to easily create a webservice client. See this tutorial for more information: how to create a client in CXF. CXF is also usable via javascript so it might be what you are looking for see this link

I would suggest that you try leveraging these tools before you try to invent one yourself as parsing WSDL's and XSD while NOT difficult to parse it going to take a substantial programming effort. CXF already has this covered for you if I read your question right.

Upvotes: 3

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