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.NET Forum / ASP.NET / Web Services / February 2005DataSet Vs Xml string
Hi All, I am very new to web services, so am struggling to understand exactly what I am doing with regards to its returns etc. I have been given the task of designing and developing a web service which will allow external companies, access to our information. The problem for me is that these companies will be using different platforms from which to consume our web service. My question is what I should use as the return type for more complex data structures. Should I use the intrinsic dataset object and return that, should I create a typed dataset as then a definitive XML Schema will be produced, or should I just build and XML string from the information I return from the database and send that back across. I know that all the return types are serialized into XML, but does this mean that they can be accessed when they get to other end?? I would really appreciate some input here, if anyone can help me understand this that would be great! Thanks, Rob Take alook at Christian Weyer WS-Contract first, it's good tool for you to get started in designing web services. Remember services rely on schema as a contract not type. BTW, avoid ADO.Net dataset at all cost. It will not work since dataset is a strongly related to .Net. regards erymuzuan mustapa > Hi All, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Rob Hi Erymuzuan, Does this mean i should generate my own XML to send back, again i have not done loads of XML so this will take some doing, would it be best to send the XML back with a schema, or just send the XML down the wire as a string? Rob > Take alook at Christian Weyer WS-Contract first, it's good tool for you > to get started in designing web services. Remember services rely on [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > > > Rob Not necessarily, the best practive is to design the XML schema for your web services interface. the use the tool to generate server's web services stub. or you can use xsd.exe to generate .Net types from your XML Schema regards erymuzuan mustapa > Hi Erymuzuan, > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >>> >>>Rob Rob, In my opinion you should build and return an XML string. In fact, the best way to do it is to build your xml string and return it as a byte array for quick performance. Let me know if you'd like a code sample. I have build several Web Services this way. In fact, I had questions such as yours and I went straight to Francesco Balena (if you know who he is) and this method was highly recommended. This way any company or customer can read it and you are not tied to any platform or language, that is the beauty of XML. HOpe this helps. Scott > Hi All, > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Rob Hi Scott, I was planning on using the XMLTextWriter class to create XML on the fly and return it as a string. I have read alot about XML but never really used it commercially, so i want to get it write (also i have only been at this job a month and trying to impress :)) Some code samles would be great if you could send them. Thanks in Advance, Rob > Rob, > [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > > > Rob Ask and ye shall receive. Web Service Code: <WebMethod()> _ Public Function GetData() As Byte() Dim ms As MemoryStream Dim xmlms() As Byte ms = New MemoryStream 'code to get data goes here 'Now create your xml doc xtw.Formatting = Formatting.Indented xtw.Indentation = 2 xtw.QuoteChar = """"c xtw.WriteStartDocument(True) xtw.WriteComment("Data from db") xtw.WriteStartElement("Data") xtw.WriteStartElement("Employee") Dim xtw As New Xml.XmlTextWriter(ms, System.Text.Encoding.UTF8) xtw.WriteElementString("FirstName", "Evel") xtw.WriteElementString("LastName", "Knievel") xtw.WriteEndElement() 'closes the data node xtw.WriteEndElement() 'closes the employee node xtw.WriteEndDocument() xtw.Flush() xmlms = ms.ToArray ms.Close() xtw.Close() Return xmlms End Function Hope this help! Scott > Hi Scott, > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > > > > > Rob Thanks Scott, Has given me some ideas Rob > Ask and ye shall receive. > [quoted text clipped - 95 lines] > > > > > > > > Rob OK, let me know if you have any question. There is a copy/paste error in the code below. The "Dim xtw As New Xml.XmlTextWriter(ms, System.Text.Encoding.UTF8)" statement should go with the rest of the other Dim statements. Sorry about that. Scott > Thanks Scott, > [quoted text clipped - 101 lines] > > > > > > > > > > Rob Thanks again Scott, I do have a quick question, but you may or may not have the answer, have you ever created any sort of schema(xsd) to be passed back with your XML, if so how did you do it? Thanks in advance, Rob > Hi Scott, > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > > > > > Rob Unfortunately, I have not. But i can point you to some great references on XSD schemas if you want them. Scott > Thanks again Scott, > [quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > > > > > > > > Rob That would great. I think i was being a bit dim before, you can reference the schema from anywhere, so as long as it is accessible on the web, you can point you XML to use it, not sure how well that works for web services, but i am sure i will find out soon enough. Cheers! Rob > Unfortunately, I have not. But i can point you to some great references on > XSD schemas if you want them. [quoted text clipped - 60 lines] > > > > > > > > > > Rob if you are getting data from DataSet then dataset itself represent all data in xml... n prob . u dont need to write your own parser > That would great. I think i was being a bit dim before, you can reference > the schema from anywhere, so as long as it is accessible on the web, you can [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > Rob Hi Dev, I know that the DataSet can pump out XML based on the data contained within it, the problem with it is that it creates elements with names that are not always particularly descriptive for third parties. We wanted a bit more control over the XML so i am choosing to write it myself, that way we know what we are sending across and can document the web service to tell third parties what to expect, safe in the knowledge that they are recieving what we intended to send them as set out in our documentation. Regards, Rob > That would great. I think i was being a bit dim before, you can reference > the schema from anywhere, so as long as it is accessible on the web, you can [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > Rob Scott - Tried your code and it worked but when I call the HelloWorld function from Cold Fusion I'm not getting data, just alot of numbers. I like this idea and seems easy but how does the end user (consumer) see the correct data? > Hi Dev, > [quoted text clipped - 83 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Rob Hi Daniel, What you are returning is an array of bytes that represent the file, what you need to do is using the cold fusion file system objects (Not sure what they are) and generate a file using the byte array provided. I am sorry if this is a bit vague but i know nothing about cold fusion. Regards, Rob > Scott - Tried your code and it worked but when I call the HelloWorld function > from Cold Fusion I'm not getting data, just alot of numbers. I like this [quoted text clipped - 87 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Rob Modica - Have you successfully created any webservices that are being access by non microsoft consumers? I've been following this post and would like to see what others have done. thanks. > Hi Daniel, > [quoted text clipped - 98 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Rob Hi Daniel, I am in the process of designing a web service wich will have to have a very high level of interopability becuase it is going to be used on a cobol site for starters. I have not implemented it so i cant vouch if my approach is the best, but what i have done is different to the approach i started out with here. What i am doing is desiging my messages (request and response) as XML Schemas (XSD files) which i will then go onto generate my WDSL file from, the link for the article i used is below. So instead of using XML as strings, which actually get serialized differently to say an XML document, which actually gets serialized as XML, i am going to pass back XML with classes that will be generated from my Schema. I hope that makes sense. http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/02/12/WebServicesDesign/ Hope that helps, Rob > Modica - Have you successfully created any webservices that are being access > by non microsoft consumers? I've been following this post and would like to [quoted text clipped - 104 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Rob Free MagazinesGet these publications absolutely FREE for up to 12 months. There are no hidden fees and no obligation. Simply choose a title, complete the application form and submit it. Read more ...
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