How to Hide Web Methods in ASMX web service?

[cl0306]

Does anyone know if it is possible to have a web service whose methods are hidden/visible according to some programatic critera e.g.

if (x=1) Expose Methods 1, 2, 3

if (x=2) Expose Methods 2,3

if (x=3) Expose Method 3

I know .NET allows conditional compilation using conditional attributes but this responds to whether something is #define'd doesnt it? So I dont think this would be suitable. I need something that reacts at runtime to a value derrived from a database.

Or would the only way to do it be to use inheritance?

[zachwieja]

You can add a Application_BeginRequest handler to the global handler, lookup the name of the web method based on the URL and cause the call to fail if you don't find the right setting in the database.

This requires a database lookup everytime. Another possibility is to add an Application_Start handler, spin through the database and build a collection of valid methods in the application cache, and then check the cached collection in Application_BeginRequest. However, then you need a mechanism to trigger a reload of the methods when the database changes.

You can do either of these things in an HttpModule as well.