Getting Started
Client-side web-service access is provided as part of the Windows application framework. To create and access web services, your DataFlex application must have Internet access. Web-service client access will be added to an application by following these steps:
- Finding a web-service description on the web (i.e., locating a service’s WSDL).
- Using the Web Service Client Class Generator to point to the WSDL and build a new class that represents the service.
- Adding the client service to any application by creating an object based on this client class (a drag-and-drop operation).
- Calling the operation within the object, passing and returning data as required.
The easiest way to get started is to build a web-service client for a web service created using the DataFlex web-application server. Doing this will allow you to see the entire process. You will be able to build a service, view its description (the WSDL), see how it is modeled as a client class, and see how it is added and used within your application. If you’ve already created a web service on your development machine, that web application’s service should be running and waiting to be used.