how to return xml document from a web service

[R.A.]

Hi,

I have an web service method that accept an xml document and returns a
different xml document.

Based on the input xml I fill a dataset with information from a database.
If the dataset has rows then I need to return those rows to the consumer.
I can't tell if the consumer of the web service will use .Net or maybe java.
1) If the web service method returns a Dataset then the consumer will get
information on the Dataset. What if the consumer has no knowledge what a
Dataset is at all (for example jave)? I know that the datase is returned in
xml represantation - but how will the consumer deal with the data to extract
the rows returned by the dataset?
2) For resone explained in section 1, I chose to return an xml document.
When I use the dataset.writexml (...) it writes only thetables rows
information and doesn't write the xml header. Am I to use XmlDocument to
construct the xml and write to it the datase and then send it as a string
back to the consumer? How can I tell the consumer where is the xsd for this
xml document?
3) How do I pass an XmlDocument to a web service method?

Which of the following will best fit the web service consumer?

XmlDocument webservice method (XmlDocument my xml)
XmlDocument webservice method (string my xml)
Dataset webservice method (Dataset my xml)
Dataset webservice method (string my xml)
string webservice method (XmlDocument my xml)
string webservice method (string my xml)
Thanks

[Drew Marsh]

R.A. wrote:

I have an web service method that accept an xml document and returns a
different xml document.

Based on the input xml I fill a dataset with information from a
database.
If the dataset has rows then I need to return those rows to the
consumer.
I can't tell if the consumer of the web service will use .Net or maybe
java.

... snipped for brevity ...

The best way to work with DataSets in WebMethods is to encapsulate them and use XmlDataDocument to get to/from the XML. Here's an example:

<codeSnippet language="C#">
[WebMethod]
[SoapDocumentMethod(ParameterStyle=SoapParameterSty le.Bare)]
public XmlDataDocument ReturnXmlDataDocument()
{
MyTypedDataSet myDataSet = this.MagicallyFillMyTypedDataSet();

XmlDataDocument result = new XmlDataDocument(myDataSet);

return result;
}
</codeSnippet>

HTH,
Drew

[R.A.]

How would you validate the incomming xml?

Thanks

"Drew Marsh" <dr****@hotmail.no.spamming.com> wrote in message
news:%2****************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

R.A. wrote:

I have an web service method that accept an xml document and returns a
different xml document.

Based on the input xml I fill a dataset with information from a
database.
If the dataset has rows then I need to return those rows to the
consumer.
I can't tell if the consumer of the web service will use .Net or maybe
java.

... snipped for brevity ...
The best way to work with DataSets in WebMethods is to encapsulate them

and use XmlDataDocument to get to/from the XML. Here's an example:
<codeSnippet language="C#">
[WebMethod]
[SoapDocumentMethod(ParameterStyle=SoapParameterSty le.Bare)]
public XmlDataDocument ReturnXmlDataDocument()
{
MyTypedDataSet myDataSet = this.MagicallyFillMyTypedDataSet();

XmlDataDocument result = new XmlDataDocument(myDataSet);

return result;
}
</codeSnippet>

HTH,
Drew

[John Bailo]

R.A. wrote:

Hi,

I have an web service method that accept an xml document and returns a
different xml document.

Based on the input xml I fill a dataset with information from a database.
If the dataset has rows then I need to return those rows to the consumer.
I can't tell if the consumer of the web service will use .Net or maybe java.
1) If the web service method returns a Dataset then the consumer will get
information on the Dataset. What if the consumer has no knowledge what a
Dataset is at all (for example jave)? I know that the datase is returned in
xml represantation - but how will the consumer deal with the data to extract
the rows returned by the dataset?
If you don't know what the client is going to be, then XML is the best
standard.

Quite frankly, I find the XmlDocument a preferrable datatype to the
DataSet or DataReader because it's searchable, it's persistent, and it
doesn't require open connections to the database. I can use an XPath
query to find data within the document.

2) For resone explained in section 1, I chose to return an xml document.
When I use the dataset.writexml (...) it writes only thetables rows
information and doesn't write the xml header. Am I to use XmlDocument to
construct the xml and write to it the datase and then send it as a string
back to the consumer? How can I tell the consumer where is the xsd for this
xml document?
I've used this technique and found that the XML delivered with the
automatic ExecuteXmlReader is really messy.

I ended up putting together my own Xml from the data piece by piece
including the header.

PS -- the consumer will not see the result as an XmlDocument, but as an
XmlNode -- there's an article on the knowledgebase about how to deal
with it.
3) How do I pass an XmlDocument to a web service method?
Just make the return type of your method an XmlDocument

Which of the following will best fit the web service consumer?

XmlDocument webservice method (XmlDocument my xml)
XmlDocument webservice method (string my xml)
Dataset webservice method (Dataset my xml)
Dataset webservice method (string my xml)
string webservice method (XmlDocument my xml)
string webservice method (string my xml)
Thanks

[Drew Marsh]

R.A. wrote:

How would you validate the incomming xml?

I just answered this yesterday I believe. Check out this post: http://groups.google.com/groups?q=cu...phx.gbl&rnum=1

HTH,
Drew