Problem with return type in webservice

[Peter Longstaff]

Hi All,

I am having trouble with my first effort at developing a web service.

I have a methods, outlined below which should return a DataTable.

[WebMethod(Description = "Gets details for contact for the ID provided")]
public DataTable GetContactsforCompany(string sID)
{
if (sID == string.Empty)
return new DataTable();

return getContactsForCompany(sID);

}
Unfortunately when I call the methood in an application the return type
is: GetContractsForCompanyResponseGetContactsForCompan yResult

and the only properties avaialable are "Any"

Can anybody tell me why?

TIA
Peter Longstaff

[Peter Bromberg [C# MVP]]

Try adding the DataTable to a DataSet in the WebMethod and return a DataSet.
At the client, you can get your DataTable back out with
MyDataSet.Tables[0]

Peter

--
Co-founder, Eggheadcafe.com developer portal:
http://www.eggheadcafe.com
UnBlog:
http://petesbloggerama.blogspot.com


"Peter Longstaff" wrote:

Hi All,

I am having trouble with my first effort at developing a web service.

I have a methods, outlined below which should return a DataTable.

[WebMethod(Description = "Gets details for contact for the ID provided")]
public DataTable GetContactsforCompany(string sID)
{
if (sID == string.Empty)
return new DataTable();

return getContactsForCompany(sID);

}
Unfortunately when I call the methood in an application the return type
is: GetContractsForCompanyResponseGetContactsForCompan yResult

and the only properties avaialable are "Any"

Can anybody tell me why?

TIA
Peter Longstaff

[Arne Vajhøj]

Peter Longstaff wrote:

I am having trouble with my first effort at developing a web service.

I have a methods, outlined below which should return a DataTable.

[WebMethod(Description = "Gets details for contact for the ID provided")]
public DataTable GetContactsforCompany(string sID)
{
if (sID == string.Empty)
return new DataTable();

return getContactsForCompany(sID);

}

Why pay the huge overhead of converting to a technology
neutral format like SOAP and then return a data type that
is .NET specific ?

I would either use a binary protocol like .NET Remoting
with the DataTable/DataSet or use SOAP/HTTP with a
portable data type (like array of object with properties).

Arne

[Peter Bromberg [C# MVP]]

Arne,
You are way over the OP's head - this is his first webservice and he *wants*
to return a Datatable (actually he *would* need a dataset containing a
datatable).

I agree about returning provider-neutral types wholeheartedly. However, if
you are starting out with a webservice to begin with, this idea of a "huge
overhead" becomes a moot issue, IMHO.
Peter
--
Co-founder, Eggheadcafe.com developer portal:
http://www.eggheadcafe.com
UnBlog:
http://petesbloggerama.blogspot.com


"Arne Vajhøj" wrote:

Peter Longstaff wrote:

I am having trouble with my first effort at developing a web service.

I have a methods, outlined below which should return a DataTable.

[WebMethod(Description = "Gets details for contact for the ID provided")]
public DataTable GetContactsforCompany(string sID)
{
if (sID == string.Empty)
return new DataTable();

return getContactsForCompany(sID);

}

Why pay the huge overhead of converting to a technology
neutral format like SOAP and then return a data type that
is .NET specific ?

I would either use a binary protocol like .NET Remoting
with the DataTable/DataSet or use SOAP/HTTP with a
portable data type (like array of object with properties).

Arne