Importing and Calling Web Services from your CA Plex Applications Session Code: Lab13 Rob Layzell

Why do we need it? A brief history of CA Plex and SOA How was this done before Plex r7.0? How do we do it? What can you import? How are services represented in the Plex model? Calling Web Services What gets deployed Advanced topics: Web Services versus WCF Services Configuring proxy servers Demo, Q&A, Summary agenda

why do we need web service import? a brief history of CA Plex and SOA Before SOA: Monolithic Applications Ridged Business Processes Functional Duplication Proprietary Communications Maintenance Complexity Tight-coupling between application, services and platforms

why do we need web service import? a brief history of CA Plex and SOA After SOA: Modularized Applications Flexible Business Processes Functional Reuse Standardized Communication Maintenance Simplification Loose-coupling between application, services and platforms ? ? ?

why do we need web service import? How was this done before CA Plex r7.0? Method 1: Hand Coding XNo model representation XManual setup Flexible XCant maintain easily XError prone Method 2: TransactXML ­Familiar pattern modeling XFairly complex setup Flexible modeling Easy maintenance High degree of automation

Anything with a WSDL SOAP-based Web service Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) HTTP-based Service how do we do it? what can we import? 1. Enter WSDL address, press Go 2. Review service details and descriptions 3. Enter service name, press OK

Query WSDL Generate Temporary.NET Stub Assembly Import.NET Stub Types into Plex how do we do it? how are services imported into the Plex model?

how do we do it? how are services represented in the Plex model? Document Service Name Operation Name Input Message Output Message Package Component Function Input Parameters Returns Parameter Web ServicePlex Model Object

Simple parameters Hold a single, discrete value Similar to COM Import, these are inherited from standard field objects Inherited from fields under System.Value Unlike COM Import, System.Value fields are created in the local model double GetQuote(string symbol) how do we do it? how are services represented in the Plex model?

Complex parameters Hold multiple values Structure defined in WSDL schema elements Imported as Plex structure fields under Package leaf fields are simple data types Inherited onto input and return parameters how do we do it? how are services represented in the Plex model?

QuoteData GetQuoteDetails(string symbol) how do we do it? how are services represented in the Plex model?

Enumerators Special case simple parameters imported as a System.Value.Enum type Each value imported as using FLD value VAL triples … Arrays Any data type can be an array Array sizes are currently fixed at 64 Change the FLD occurs NBR triple if you are expecting more or less data how do we do it? how are services represented in the Plex model?

Create an Object Reference Field to access imported Web Service in AD code Add field to Local variable group in a function Expand field in AD palette to see service operations how do we do it? calling web services

Use Call statement to call a service operation Parameters mapped the same as for other call types No need to create object instance using New statement how do we do it? calling web services

Monitor state of call using Environment Check application event log for actual runtime exceptions Returns value placed in the Output variable group how do we do it? calling web services

ObIn & ObOut classes for each service operation Web Service Client Stub assembly for imported service how do we do it? what gets generated and deployed?

how do we do it? what gets deployed? Web Service Client Stub generated based on WSDL address Address stored in Narrative for imported Package object Update address if location of web service changes and then regenerate & build your stub

Can also generate a WCF Proxy assembly for imported service Can only be used for remote services that use WCF (e.g. Plex WCF Service Connectors). advanced topic web services versus WCF services

Unless you have a specific need for a feature in the WCF column; Web Service Client Stub is recommended Type of stub generated decided by a Build File option: [CSharp build] ServiceWrapperType=Web|Wcf advanced topics web services versus WCF services Web Service Client StubWCF Service Client Stub SOAP 1.1 onlyAny WCF http-based protocol Black box proxyProxy has external configuration Widest platform availabilityDeepest.NET integration

Some corporate networks use Proxy Servers to facilitate access to the internet Configure the proxy server using the element in your Plex.NET application configuration file <proxy bypassonlocal = "true" proxyaddress = /> See MSDN Element documentation for more detailsMSDN Element advanced topics configuring proxy servers

Explains the following: General Web Service Import mechanism How different data types are represented Web and WCF Service client deployment CA Plex Partner Training Resources: Lab13 - Importing and Calling Web Services from your CA Plex Applications demo

? questions?

If you understand the Plex Object Model; you can understand imported Web Services If you understand Plex Fields (structure fields, arrays), then you can understand Web Service operation parameters If you can troubleshoot the Plex.NET runtime, you can troubleshoot Web Service operation call failures Currently only supports.NET runtime (client and server) Possible enhancements: Support other generators (e.g. Java) Add imported service type triple (PKG service type SYS/Web/WCF) Support non-http WCF protocols (e.g. TCPIP, named-pipes) summary