Re: MSSoap client to Apache Service Complex types

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Discussion of implementing SOAP applications today
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Con Smith
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 9:43 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [SOAP] MSSoap client to Apache Service Complex types
>

> I'm working on an ASP page as an interface between a legacy
> system and a SOAP service implemented using Apache SOAP.

Shouldn't be a problem...but then again you wouldn't be asking unless
there were problems.


> I'm using SOAPClient in the ASP page (VBScript) and my first
> experiments calling methods using simple data types and
> arrays of simple data types were successful.

Excellent.  I'm biased but I would advise grabbing SOAPscope[1] to
inspect the messages as they pass between your client and the service.
It will allow you to see what works and what doesn't.  And, tweak
messages for resend etc. read all about it at [1].

[1] - http://www.mindreef.com/


> However some of the methods require (and return) complex data types
> (structures) and I haven't been able to find any samples or
> documentation covering MS SOAP client to Apache SOAP service
> communication with complex data types.

IIRC, Apache SOAP only allows RPC/Encoded SOAP.  So complex content is
simply aggregations of simpleTypes.  The question is how should the MS
SOAP stakc deserialize the structures?  You need a COM object that
matches the complexType's structure to map into.  There should be plenty
of documentation on this in the MS SOAP Toolkit.


> I am beginning to think that my only option is to scrap the
> ASP approach and implement the interface using JSP.

Absolutely not - Interop between toolkits it the only reason for any of
this SOAP stuff to exist!

Jim