Starting Simple

A user can discover and generate Mathematica functions for each web service operation using a WSDL file. The WSDL file specifies operations and data types that are used for a particular web service. A user generates functions that interface with these operations by passing a WSDL file to the InstallService function. InstallService creates a function for each operation defined in the WSDL.

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The functions created by InstallService are returned in a list. After the service is installed, a user can find information about the functions by using Information. Information returns text describing the function that is provided by the WSDL file. It also contains a link that will bring up the OperationPalette for a function.

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"Returns the exchange rate between the two currencies\n\nPlease refer to ButtonBox[\"OperationPalette[getRate]\", Active->True, ButtonEvaluator->Automatic, ButtonFunction->OperationPalette[getRate], ButtonStyle->\"Hyperlink\"] for help."

The OperationPalette is a palette that a user can navigate to discover how the web service operation works. The OperationPalette lists the parameters needed to invoke the operation and the data returned by the operation. The OperationPalette also contains a Types section that may be used to view information about each type used by an operation. A user can access this information by using hyperlinks or manual navigation. The OperationPalette reveals that two parameters of type {http://www.w3.org/1999/XMLSchema}string are required to invoke the getRate function. The Types section specifies that the parameters for this function are represented by strings in Mathematica. A user can make calls to getRate using two strings as parameters.

As a convenience the user can paste a template for a function call by clicking the Paste button in the OperationPalette. This will paste the function as it should be called in Mathematica, but it will contain place holders for the values.

The OperationPalette will specify an operation signature and data types required for an operation. But often further documentation is needed and can be found on websites documenting a particular web service.

To find out more information about the Enchange Rate Web Service please visit http://www.xmethods.com.

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When a function is evaluated, each function parses user input and creates a SOAP message. It then invokes the appropriate server operation and the function receives the results of the invocation and parses the results into data types Mathematica users will recognize.