Exploring Existing XML Web Services Created Using ASP.NET

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Once you know the URL for an XML Web service created using ASP.NET, you can use the URL to access a Web page known as the service help page. This page provides information about the functionality of the XML Web service, including the XML Web service methods it implements, their parameters, and their return types. In addition, you can use the service help page to test the functionality of the XML Web service.

For example, suppose you are accessing an XML Web service called Investor, which is used to retrieve the stock price for a valid stock symbol. You know the base URL for this XML Web service is https://www.contoso.com/Investor.asmx. Entering this URL into a browser with no extensions or parameters produces a Web page with information about the XML Web service and the XML Web service methods it implements.

In addition to viewing information about the XML Web service in the browser, you can also obtain a more formal definition of the XML Web service by viewing its service description, which is an XML document written in the Web Services Description Language (WSDL). A link at the top of the service help page allows you to view the service description. You can use the service description to manually generate a proxy class to the XML Web service. For more information about creating a proxy class, see Creating an XML Web Service Proxy.

To access the service help page for an XML Web service

  • In your browser's address bar, enter the base URL for the XML Web service, using the following format:

    https://servername/vrootname/webservicename.asmx
    Parameter Value
    servername The Web server on which the XML Web service resides.
    apppath The name of the Web application hosting the XML Web service.
    webservicename.asmx The name of the file where the XML Web service is defined.

    For example, to access an XML Web service called StockServices.asmx, residing on a Web server named StockTicker, enter the following:

    http://StockTicker/StockServices.asmx

To access the service description for an XML Web service

  1. Access the service help page for the XML Web service as just described.
  2. Click the Service Description link at the top of the page.

See Also

Building XML Web Service Clients | Discovering XML Web Services | Creating an XML Web Service Proxy | Creating Clients for XML Web Services | Communicating with XML Web Services Asynchronously | Accessing XML Web Services from a Browser