How to add WebService authentication in pl/sql using UTL_HTTP

Question

Hi,
I am passing SOAP request and getting output as a soap response from WebService using UTL_HTTP.
Calling Web service client call from the PL/SQL procedure.
Java web service is a service producer.
Now we needs to add security to the application we are planing to add some of the userid/pwd credientials.
So what needs to be add sql code in the sq/sql for making client call.
i checked from the few of the articles. it shown like
UTL_HTTP.set_authentication(http_req, 'username', 'password' );
is it enough for making clent call or any other changes are required.
Please let me know and any code to be implemented in the jave side aslo(if you knows) :-)
Thanks,
Pradeep.

Answer 1

Okay, backtrack.
A web server can deliver all kinds of content. From static HTML pages, to XML files and videos and dynamic content. Including reports.
The communication language (protocol) used to talk to a web server is HTTP.
UTL_HTTP is an Oracle PL/SQL library that implements the client side of this communication. It allows the developer to write code that acts like a web browser and communicates with a web server.
Now what do you not understand and cannot use?
HTTP is not simple and easy. You need to understand the basics of this communication language in order to communicate successfully with the web server. Like knowing the difference between GET and PUT and POST commands, how the URL query string works and so on.
Once you know that, you can look at how the web server provides reports. How do you authenticate as a web browser with the web reporting system? What URLs do you use to access which reports? How do you pass name-values to the web server as report parameters? What HTTP response formats (MIME types) does the web report server provide? Which one do you plan to use and how do you parse that response into a meaning structured data format?
If you're thinking it is "easy", think again. Sure, someone here can provide sample code that for example grabs a CSV report file from a web server and (using a pipeline table function), turn that into rows and columns. But that will not teach you the fundamentals you need to know and not equip you with dealing with the problem with your own brains, hands and keyboard.
PS. In other words, learn to crawl and walk before trying to run. Get to grips with how HTTP works before diving into the deep end of web report integration.