The Dreamweaver web service workflow

To create a page or site that is a consumer of a web service using Dreamweaver, you must perform the following tasks:

1. Install and configure a proxy generator.

   Proxy generators generate a web service proxy, a software component that a web page uses to communicate with the web service publisher. The web service proxy is generated from the Web Service Description Language (WSDL) that describes the web service. Depending on the server technology you want to develop web service consumers for, you may need to install and configure a proxy generator that supports that technology.

   Dreamweaver comes pre-configured with AXIS, the Apache SOAP proxy generator that supports JSP web service development. If you are developing ColdFusion 6 pages, the web service proxy generator is included in the ColdFusion server. Establishing a connection to the ColdFusion server gives you access to the proxy generator.

   If you are developing web service pages for use with ASP.NET, you must install the ASP.NET SDK, which is available from Microsoft.

   For information on installing and configuring a proxy generator not supplied with Dreamweaver, see About proxy generators.

2. Using a browser, view a web-based registry of web services.

   There are several sources of web services, ranging from web service registry sites to simple lists. The registries use UDDI, a standard that lets service providers and requestors find and transact with one another. UDDI allows businesses to locate services on the web that meet their needs. For example, using UDDI you can specify certain criteria such as the lowest price for a certain service, or that specific information be returned.

   For more information see Setting the UDDI Site dialog box options.

3. After locating and selecting a web service that provides the functionality you need, enter the URL of the WSDL in the Adding a Web Service dialog box.

   For more information see Setting the Web Services Chooser dialog box options.

4. Generate a proxy for the web service from the WSDL description of the service publisher.

   To embed a web service into a web page, you must create a proxy. The proxy provides the web page with the necessary information to communicate with the web service, and access the methods the web service provides.

   To create a proxy from the WSDL file, use a proxy generator. After you create the proxy, you can install it on either of the following:

   • The local computer where you are developing the web service consumer.
   • The server computer running the application server. To deploy the web page and have it communicate with the web service publisher you must install the proxy on the server.

   For more information, see About proxy generators.

5. Using Dreamweaver, add the web service to a page and edit the necessary parameters and methods to make use of the service’s functionality.

   For more information, see Adding a web service to a page.