Custom data types for Web Service services

Question

Instead of language primitives (int, double) or Strings, is it possible to define custom data types (i.e. classes) for use in a service method argument or as a service return type? For example, if I create a class called MyClass then could I use it as an argument n a service as follows: someServiceMethod( MyClass myClassInstance). A service returning the custom type might look like this: MyClass getTheClassServiceMethod(String someString). Are either of these ideas possible?

Answer 1

Hi there,
you can use your own classes as service method argument or return type. But you should not forget to do a type mapping on both the service and client side.
I can tell you, how I am sending and receiving my own datatype called "FileBean" which is a simple JavaBean with getter() and setter() methods for the properties.
I'm using axis for deployment and tomcat as the web server, where my service runs on (currently only local but in future this will be remote).
Service class: "InstallationService.java"
Bean class: "FileBean.java"
Client class: "FileSaving.java"
My deploy.wsdd file has the following entry:
<beanMapping qname="myNS:FileBean"
  xmlns:myNS="http://packageDelarationBackwards"
  languageSpecificType="java:packageDeclaration.FileBean"/>
...The method header in my service:
public FileBean storeAttachments(FileBean file)The important part of my Client:
QName qnFileBean = new QName("http://packageDelcarationBackwards", "FileBean");
call = (Call) service.createCall();
call.setTargetEndpointAddress( new java.net.URL(endpointURL) );
call.setOperationName(new QName("InstallationService","storeAttachments"));
call.setReturnType(qnFileBean);
call.registerTypeMapping(
                        FileBean.class,
                        qnFileBean,
                        new BeanSerializerFactory(FileBean.class, qnFileBean),
                        new BeanDeserializerFactory(FileBean.class, qnFileBean));
....After deploying the service and starting the server I can send my "FileBean", work with it and give it back.
Hope this helped. If you need more information, just let me know.
Steffi