C# .NET WEB SERVICE (How to read a SOAP XML Doc and Return SOAP XML DOC Back Using C#)

The .NET Framework makes implementing WebServices very easy (not perfect though).  As this is a "crash course" feel free to ask any questions on anything you don't understand.

If you want the Web Servise to exclusivly serve out SOAP (note there is now a SOAP 1.2 specification the is not supported by .NET)  You will have to turn off the other transport protocals.  To do this simply comment out the
<webServices><protocols>
<add name=" protocal name "/>
(note – don’t turn off the documentation generation for now)
</protocols></webServices>
lines in the C:\WINNT\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.1.4322\CONFIG\machine.config  file.
(I believe you can also remove them at the application level by adding a “remove” entry to Web.config file.)

The Sever:
Next create a new Web Service C# project.  There are a number of easy ways to create your WSDL file (none of which work %100, I can’t get over that the WSDL generation does not support facets), but I’ll explain the easiest here.

You create a public class the describes your data structure (SOAP Envelope).  Such as:
public class MyClass
{
public string first_name;
public string middle_name;
public string last_name;
}

(note – for the serialization to work, everything has to be public)

Then add it as a parameter to the demo “HelloWorld” method:
[WebMethod]
public string HelloWorld(MyClass my_class)
{
      //write your database data upload logic here
}


Now try running the WebService application.  The auto generated documentation  will appear in your browser.  Click the Service Description link which will forward you to the WSDL file.  Make sure you WSDL file is described how you wish.

You can modify how the WSDL is generated by adding C# attibutes to your class.  You’ll have to look these up…

The Soap Envelops will be automatically serialized and deserialized to and from your class.

The Client:
Create a new C# project in a new Visual Studio IDE.  With the WebServer running (in a different IDE) create a Web Reference to it.  Visual Studio will then create proxy classes (from the WSDL) to accommodate your Web Service.

Create and Fill a MyClass (proxy class) with data.  Then create the WebService object “Service1” and call the HelloWorld method passing in your MyClass instance.

Voila you have a Web Service and a Client.

Cheers!