WSDL Load Differences

blackwellm

Hi, just tried the latest demo (build 1301) to see how web services are getting along. I used the web service discovery to load in a set of web services from an accounting system we use. The original service has 128 service calls of which AwareIM discovered 52. Hmmm. I converted the wsdl to a text file (using soap UI) and got the same result. I understand that the service (https://securedwebapp.com/api/service.asmx?WSDL) is based on a .NET application. I have successfully imported all the services from VB and C# as well as calling various ones from python - there is also a php library available from a third party. I suggest it is a java problem - the Wavemaker tool (java based) packs in during its discovery phase.

aware_support

It's not a Java problem, but an Aware IM limitation - certain web services are not supported by Aware IM. I believe this is documented somewhere (and I am sure there are several threads about it on this forum)

blackwellm

Thanks for the (as usual) swift response.

I tracked down a comment about a problem with the Ebay wsdl (being too large) and this obviously? applies to the one I am accessing. May I humbly suggest that, where limitations are known, they should be placed in the documentation? One of my gotchas with AwareIM is having to build java-based plugins to extend the functionality - it's a whole world of pain I don't wish to enter.

aware_support

Java plug-ins are not pain - they are dead easy. If you don't want to enter their world, we can write them for you.

Most limitations are documented, maybe this one wasn't, I'm not sure.

Size of a web service is not the problem, but using some features is. Off the top of my head - web services using "any" data type are not recognizable by Aware IM.

blackwellm

Well, I'm sure if you know Java, plug-ins are a breeze. Well done you.

Now, I have analysed the differences between the failed and successful discovered services calls and it boils down to the difference between simple (string,date,integer) and 'complex' data types. Anything complex cannot be handled i.e. going one level down with a 'tns:mydatatype' form of element will fail to be discovered. Thanks for your time.

Sergej

aware_support wrote
Java plug-ins are not pain - they are dead easy. If you don't want to enter their world, we can write them for you.

Most limitations are documented, maybe this one wasn't, I'm not sure.

Size of a web service is not the problem, but using some features is. Off the top of my head - web services using "any" data type are not recognizable by Aware IM.

Hi! I read almost all topics with SOAP keyword and doc files but couldnt find what exactly limitations has SOAP channel. Could you specify please?

aware_support

They are already mentioned in this very thread. Please read it carefully - complex types, arrays and "any" types are not supported

Sergej

So if in API methods arrays is used they will not work even if I write a plug-in? Or they will?
Thanks.

blackwellm

Sergej,

AFAIK, most application development platforms call the WSDL service as part of a one-off generation process. They create the 'stub' code that then allows you to call a set of routines native to the platform. If the service changes you have to regenerate. I have tried many platforms to test the service I wanted to access and quite a few failed, with some successes. As you can see, AwareIM has not considered this a problem worth addressing in the last three years. If you write your own interface to the WSDL service, AwareIM will be talking to your code and so you will probably be fine. I know that the very latest Wavemaker tool works with my WSDL and is Linux/Java based but I have no idea of it's integration facilities. Hope this helps.

Cheers

aware_support

Plugins will work. They can do anything, especially in skilful hands.

Sergej

Thank you very much blackwellm and support for clarifying things for me.