Sun Java System Portal Server |

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> # Simple Web Service Channels

> Simple Web Service Channels dynamically generate the user interfaces for interaction with relatively simple web services. Some examples of simple web services might include:

> - Stock quote web service
> - Currency exchange web service
> - FedEx tracking web service

> For example, a web service channel might enable the user to interact with a Currency Exchange web service. The Channel will dynamically construct the front end user interface that will allow the user to supply values for the input parameters required by the Currency Exchange web service, and upon submission of the input form, invoke the designated method on the web service subsequently rendering the results received back from the web service.

> The simple web service channels are:

> - Sample Pre-Configured Web Service Channel
> - Sample Configurable Web Service Channel

> The Sample Pre-Configured Web Service Channel is available on the standard Portal Desktop by default. The Sample Configurable Web Service Channel can be added by the administrator.

> ## Sample Pre-Configured Web Service Channel

> The sample pre-configured web service channel provides a sample currency converter service.

> ### To Use the Web Service

> 1. Enter values for the input parameters.

> Default values are already displayed, but you can delete these values from the field and enter your own values.

> 2. Choose Run.
> 3. Choose OK when you are finished.

> ### To Set the Default Values For the Web Service

> Default values are automatically displayed in the currency converter fields. To change these values, do the following:

> 1. Choose edit from the channel toolbar.
> 2. Enter values to be used for the default input parameters.
> 3. Choose Finished to save your settings and return to the standard Portal Desktop page, or choose Cancel to return to the standard Portal Desktop without making changes.

> ## Sample Configurable Web Service Channel

> The Configurable Web Service Channel allows the capability to switch the channel to point to a user specified web service. This is achieved by giving the user the ability to modify values for the WSDL URL and the method name belonging to the web service. However, unlike the pre-configured channel type, the configurable web service channel will not allow the user any facility to store default values for the web service input parameters.

> At any given time, a channel based on the Simple Web Service Provider can be bound to a single web service and associated method.

> As the name suggests, the Configurable Simple Web Service Channel will only be suited to use with relatively simple web services, for example web services that have non-complex input and output parameters and user interface presentation requirements.

> The Simple Web Service Provider will only support simple data types, such as integer, string, double. There will no support for arrays in the input or output parameters.

> The only exception to this will be support for user-defined types, that consist of simple types themselves and have only one level of nesting, for example they cannot contain other user-defined types.

> The Simple Web Service Provider will support the following WSDL configuration property types:

> - SOAP Binding Style: rpc & document
> - SOAP Encoding Type: encoded & literal

> Notes | The rpc/literal combination will not be supported. Support for .Net based web services might be limited.

> The Simple Web Service Provider will not support the use of import statements or fault data in the binding operations in the WSDL Definition.

> If the Simple Web Service Provider detects that it is not equipped to handle a particular web service, it will display a suitable message to the user.

> ### To Configure the Channel to Point to a Web Service

> 1. Choose edit from the channel toolbar.
> 2. Enter the WSDL Location of the web service to point to.
> 3. Enter the Method Name on the specified web service to invoke.
> 4. Choose Finished to save your settings and return to the standard Portal Desktop page, or choose Cancel to return to the standard Portal Desktop without making changes.

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