How to: Bind to a Web Service Using the Windows Forms BindingSource
If you want to bind a Windows Form control to the results obtained from calling an XML Web service, you can use a BindingSource component. This procedure is similar to binding a BindingSource component to a type. You must create a client-side proxy that contains the methods and types exposed by the Web service. You generate a client-side proxy from the Web service (.asmx) itself, or its Web Services Description Language (WSDL) file. Additionally, your client-side proxy must expose the fields of complex types used by the Web service as public properties. You then bind the BindingSource to one of the types exposed in the Web service proxy.
To create and bind to a client-side proxy
Create a Windows Form in the directory of your choice, with an appropriate namespace.
Add a BindingSource component to the form.
Open the Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) command prompt, and navigate to the same directory that your form is located in.
Using the WSDL tool, enter wsdl and the URL for the .asmx or WSDL file for the Web service, followed by the namespace of your application, and optionally the language you are working in.
The following code example uses the Web service located at http://webservices.eraserver.net/zipcoderesolver/zipcoderesolver.asmx. For example, for C# type wsdl http://webservices.eraserver.net.zipcoderesolver/zipcoderesolver.asmx /n:BindToWebService, or for Visual Basic type wsdl http://webservices.eraserver.net.zipcoderesolver/zipcoderesolver.asmx /n:BindToWebService /language:VB. Passing the path as an argument to the WSDL tool will generate a client-side proxy in the same directory and namespace as your application, in the specified language. If you are using Visual Studio, add the file to your project.
Select a type in the client-side proxy to bind to.
This is typically a type returned by a method offered by the Web service. The fields of the chosen type must be exposed as public properties for binding purposes.
<System.SerializableAttribute(), _ System.Xml.Serialization.XmlTypeAttribute( _ [Namespace]:="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")> _ Public Class USPSAddress Private streetField As String Private cityField As String Private stateField As String Private shortZIPField As String Private fullZIPField As String Public Property Street() As String Get Return Me.streetField End Get Set(ByVal value As String) Me.streetField = value End Set End Property Public Property City() As String Get Return Me.cityField End Get Set(ByVal value As String) Me.cityField = value End Set End Property Public Property State() As String Get Return Me.stateField End Get Set(ByVal value As String) Me.stateField = value End Set End Property Public Property ShortZIP() As String Get Return Me.shortZIPField End Get Set(ByVal value As String) Me.shortZIPField = value End Set End Property Public Property FullZIP() As String Get Return Me.fullZIPField End Get Set(ByVal value As String) Me.fullZIPField = value End Set End Property End Class
[System.SerializableAttribute, System.Xml.Serialization.XmlTypeAttribute( Namespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")] public class USPSAddress { private string streetField; private string cityField; private string stateField; private string shortZIPField; private string fullZIPField; public string Street { get { return this.streetField; } set { this.streetField = value; } } public string City { get { return this.cityField; } set { this.cityField = value; } } public string State { get { return this.stateField; } set { this.stateField = value; } } public string ShortZIP { get { return this.shortZIPField; } set { this.shortZIPField = value; } } public string FullZIP { get { return this.fullZIPField; } set { this.fullZIPField = value; } } }
[System::SerializableAttribute, System::Xml::Serialization::XmlTypeAttribute( Namespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")] public ref class USPSAddress { private: String^ streetField; String^ cityField; String^ stateField; String^ shortZIPField; String^ fullZIPField; public: property String^ Street { String^ get() { return this->streetField; } void set( String^ value ) { this->streetField = value; } } property String^ City { String^ get() { return this->cityField; } void set( String^ value ) { this->cityField = value; } } property String^ State { String^ get() { return this->stateField; } void set( String^ value ) { this->stateField = value; } } property String^ ShortZIP { String^ get() { return this->shortZIPField; } void set( String^ value ) { this->shortZIPField = value; } } property String^ FullZIP { String^ get() { return this->fullZIPField; } void set( String^ value ) { this->fullZIPField = value; } } };
Set the DataSource property of the BindingSource to the type you want that is contained in the Web service client-side proxy.
BindingSource1.DataSource = GetType(USPSAddress)
BindingSource1.DataSource = typeof(USPSAddress);
BindingSource1->DataSource = USPSAddress::typeid;
To bind controls to the BindingSource that is bound to a Web service
Bind controls to the BindingSource, passing the public property of the Web service type that you want as a parameter.
textBox1.DataBindings.Add("Text", Me.BindingSource1, "FullZIP", True)
textBox1.DataBindings.Add("Text", this.BindingSource1, "FullZIP", true);
textBox1->DataBindings->Add("Text", this->BindingSource1, "FullZIP", true);
Example
The following code example demonstrates how to bind a BindingSource component to a Web service, and then how to bind a text box to the BindingSource component. When you click the button, a Web service method is called and the results will appear in textbox1.
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Drawing
Imports System.Windows.Forms
Namespace BindToWebService
Class Form1
Inherits Form
<STAThread()> _
Shared Sub Main()
Application.EnableVisualStyles()
Application.Run(New Form1())
End Sub
Private BindingSource1 As New BindingSource()
Private textBox1 As New TextBox()
Private textBox2 As New TextBox()
Private WithEvents button1 As New Button()
Public Sub New()
textBox1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(118, 131)
textBox1.ReadOnly = True
button1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(133, 60)
button1.Text = "Get zipcode"
ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(292, 266)
Controls.Add(Me.button1)
Controls.Add(Me.textBox1)
End Sub
Private Sub button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) _
Handles button1.Click
textBox1.Text = "Calling Web service.."
Dim resolver As New ZipCodeResolver()
BindingSource1.Add(resolver.CorrectedAddressXml("0", "One Microsoft Way", "Redmond", "WA"))
End Sub
Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
BindingSource1.DataSource = GetType(USPSAddress)
textBox1.DataBindings.Add("Text", Me.BindingSource1, "FullZIP", True)
End Sub
End Class
<System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThroughAttribute(), _
System.ComponentModel.DesignerCategoryAttribute("code"), _
System.Web.Services.WebServiceBindingAttribute(Name:="ZipCodeResolverSoap", _
[Namespace]:="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")> _
Public Class ZipCodeResolver
Inherits System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapHttpClientProtocol
Private CorrectedAddressXmlOperationCompleted As _
System.Threading.SendOrPostCallback
Public Sub New()
MyBase.New()
Me.Url = _
"http://webservices.eraserver.net/zipcoderesolver/zipcoderesolver.asmx"
End Sub
Public Event CorrectedAddressXmlCompleted As _
CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventHandler
<System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapDocumentMethodAttribute( _
"http://webservices.eraserver.net/CorrectedAddressXml", _
RequestNamespace:="http://webservices.eraserver.net/", _
ResponseNamespace:="http://webservices.eraserver.net/", _
Use:=System.Web.Services.Description.SoapBindingUse.Literal, _
ParameterStyle:=System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapParameterStyle.Wrapped)> _
Public Function CorrectedAddressXml(ByVal accessCode As String, _
ByVal address As String, ByVal city As String, ByVal state As String) _
As USPSAddress
Dim results() As Object = Me.Invoke("CorrectedAddressXml", _
New Object() {accessCode, address, city, state})
Return CType(results(0), USPSAddress)
End Function
'''<remarks/>
Public Function BeginCorrectedAddressXml(ByVal accessCode As String, _
ByVal address As String, ByVal city As String, ByVal state As String, _
ByVal callback As System.AsyncCallback, ByVal asyncState As Object) _
As System.IAsyncResult
Return Me.BeginInvoke("CorrectedAddressXml", _
New Object() {accessCode, address, city, state}, callback, asyncState)
End Function
Public Function EndCorrectedAddressXml(ByVal asyncResult _
As System.IAsyncResult) As USPSAddress
Dim results() As Object = Me.EndInvoke(asyncResult)
Return CType(results(0), USPSAddress)
End Function
End Class
<System.SerializableAttribute(), _
System.Xml.Serialization.XmlTypeAttribute( _
[Namespace]:="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")> _
Public Class USPSAddress
Private streetField As String
Private cityField As String
Private stateField As String
Private shortZIPField As String
Private fullZIPField As String
Public Property Street() As String
Get
Return Me.streetField
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
Me.streetField = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property City() As String
Get
Return Me.cityField
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
Me.cityField = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property State() As String
Get
Return Me.stateField
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
Me.stateField = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property ShortZIP() As String
Get
Return Me.shortZIPField
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
Me.shortZIPField = value
End Set
End Property
Public Property FullZIP() As String
Get
Return Me.fullZIPField
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
Me.fullZIPField = value
End Set
End Property
End Class
Public Delegate Sub CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventHandler(ByVal sender As Object, _
ByVal args As CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventArgs)
Public Class CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventArgs
Inherits System.ComponentModel.AsyncCompletedEventArgs
Private results() As Object
Friend Sub New(ByVal results() As Object, ByVal exception As System.Exception, _
ByVal cancelled As Boolean, ByVal userState As Object)
MyBase.New(exception, cancelled, userState)
Me.results = results
End Sub
Public ReadOnly Property Result() As USPSAddress
Get
Me.RaiseExceptionIfNecessary()
Return CType(Me.results(0), USPSAddress)
End Get
End Property
End Class
End Namespace
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Windows.Forms;
namespace BindToWebService {
class Form1: Form
{
[STAThread]
public static void Main()
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
Application.Run(new Form1());
}
private BindingSource BindingSource1 = new BindingSource();
private TextBox textBox1 = new TextBox();
private TextBox textBox2 = new TextBox();
private Button button1 = new Button();
public Form1()
{
this.Load += new EventHandler(Form1_Load);
textBox1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(118, 131);
textBox1.ReadOnly = true;
button1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(133, 60);
button1.Click += new EventHandler(button1_Click);
button1.Text = "Get zipcode";
ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(292, 266);
Controls.Add(this.button1);
Controls.Add(this.textBox1);
}
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
textBox1.Text = "Calling Web service..";
ZipCodeResolver resolver = new ZipCodeResolver();
BindingSource1.Add(resolver.CorrectedAddressXml("0",
"One Microsoft Way", "Redmond", "WA"));
}
public void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
BindingSource1.DataSource = typeof(USPSAddress);
textBox1.DataBindings.Add("Text", this.BindingSource1, "FullZIP", true);
}
}
[System.Web.Services.WebServiceBindingAttribute(Name="ZipCodeResolverSoap",
Namespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")]
public class ZipCodeResolver:
System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapHttpClientProtocol
{
public ZipCodeResolver() : base()
{
this.Url =
"http://webservices.eraserver.net/zipcoderesolver/zipcoderesolver.asmx";
}
//''<remarks/>
[System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapDocumentMethodAttribute
("http://webservices.eraserver.net/CorrectedAddressXml",
RequestNamespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/",
ResponseNamespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/",
Use=System.Web.Services.Description.SoapBindingUse.Literal,
ParameterStyle=System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapParameterStyle.Wrapped)]
public USPSAddress CorrectedAddressXml(string accessCode,
string address, string city, string state)
{
object[] results = this.Invoke("CorrectedAddressXml",
new object[]{accessCode, address, city, state});
return ((USPSAddress) results[0]);
}
//''<remarks/>
public System.IAsyncResult BeginCorrectedAddressXml(string accessCode,
string address, string city, string state,
System.AsyncCallback callback, object asyncState)
{
return this.BeginInvoke("CorrectedAddressXml",
new object[]{accessCode, address, city, state}, callback, asyncState);
}
public USPSAddress EndCorrectedAddressXml(System.IAsyncResult asyncResult)
{
object[] results = this.EndInvoke(asyncResult);
return ((USPSAddress) results[0]);
}
}
[System.SerializableAttribute, System.Xml.Serialization.XmlTypeAttribute(
Namespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")]
public class USPSAddress
{
private string streetField;
private string cityField;
private string stateField;
private string shortZIPField;
private string fullZIPField;
public string Street
{
get
{
return this.streetField;
}
set
{
this.streetField = value;
}
}
public string City
{
get
{
return this.cityField;
}
set
{
this.cityField = value;
}
}
public string State
{
get
{
return this.stateField;
}
set
{
this.stateField = value;
}
}
public string ShortZIP
{
get
{
return this.shortZIPField;
}
set
{
this.shortZIPField = value;
}
}
public string FullZIP
{
get
{
return this.fullZIPField;
}
set
{
this.fullZIPField = value;
}
}
}
public delegate void CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventHandler(object sender,
CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventArgs args);
public class CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventArgs:
System.ComponentModel.AsyncCompletedEventArgs
{
private object[] results;
internal CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventArgs(object[] results,
System.Exception exception, bool cancelled, object userState) :
base(exception, cancelled, userState)
{
this.results = results;
}
public USPSAddress Result
{
get
{
this.RaiseExceptionIfNecessary();
return ((USPSAddress) this.results[0]);
}
}
}
}
#using <System.Windows.Forms.dll>
#using <System.dll>
#using <System.Drawing.dll>
#using <System.Web.Services.dll>
#using <System.Xml.dll>
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Collections::Generic;
using namespace System::ComponentModel;
using namespace System::Drawing;
using namespace System::Windows::Forms;
namespace BindToWebService {
[System::SerializableAttribute, System::Xml::Serialization::XmlTypeAttribute(
Namespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")]
public ref class USPSAddress
{
private:
String^ streetField;
String^ cityField;
String^ stateField;
String^ shortZIPField;
String^ fullZIPField;
public:
property String^ Street
{
String^ get()
{
return this->streetField;
}
void set( String^ value )
{
this->streetField = value;
}
}
property String^ City
{
String^ get()
{
return this->cityField;
}
void set( String^ value )
{
this->cityField = value;
}
}
property String^ State
{
String^ get()
{
return this->stateField;
}
void set( String^ value )
{
this->stateField = value;
}
}
property String^ ShortZIP
{
String^ get()
{
return this->shortZIPField;
}
void set( String^ value )
{
this->shortZIPField = value;
}
}
property String^ FullZIP
{
String^ get()
{
return this->fullZIPField;
}
void set( String^ value )
{
this->fullZIPField = value;
}
}
};
[System::Web::Services::WebServiceBindingAttribute(Name="ZipCodeResolverSoap",
Namespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/")]
public ref class ZipCodeResolver:
public System::Web::Services::Protocols::SoapHttpClientProtocol
{
public:
ZipCodeResolver() : SoapHttpClientProtocol()
{
this->Url =
"http://webservices.eraserver.net/zipcoderesolver/zipcoderesolver.asmx";
}
//''<remarks/>
[System::Web::Services::Protocols::SoapDocumentMethodAttribute
("http://webservices.eraserver.net/CorrectedAddressXml",
RequestNamespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/",
ResponseNamespace="http://webservices.eraserver.net/",
Use=System::Web::Services::Description::SoapBindingUse::Literal,
ParameterStyle=System::Web::Services::Protocols::SoapParameterStyle::Wrapped)]
USPSAddress^ CorrectedAddressXml(String^ accessCode,
String^ address, String^ city, String^ state)
{
array<Object^>^ results = this->Invoke("CorrectedAddressXml",
gcnew array<Object^>{accessCode, address, city, state});
return ((USPSAddress^) results[0]);
}
//''<remarks/>
System::IAsyncResult^ BeginCorrectedAddressXml(String^ accessCode,
String^ address, String^ city, String^ state,
System::AsyncCallback^ callback, Object^ asyncState)
{
return this->BeginInvoke("CorrectedAddressXml",
gcnew array<Object^>{accessCode, address, city, state}, callback, asyncState);
}
USPSAddress^ EndCorrectedAddressXml(System::IAsyncResult^ asyncResult)
{
array<Object^>^ results = this->EndInvoke(asyncResult);
return ((USPSAddress^) results[0]);
}
};
ref class Form1: public Form
{
public:
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application::EnableVisualStyles();
Application::Run(gcnew Form1());
}
private:
BindingSource^ BindingSource1;
TextBox^ textBox1;
TextBox^ textBox2;
Button^ button1;
public:
Form1()
{
this->Load += gcnew EventHandler(this, &Form1::Form1_Load);
textBox1->Location = System::Drawing::Point(118, 131);
textBox1->ReadOnly = true;
button1->Location = System::Drawing::Point(133, 60);
button1->Click += gcnew EventHandler(this, &Form1::button1_Click);
button1->Text = "Get zipcode";
ClientSize = System::Drawing::Size(292, 266);
Controls->Add(this->button1);
Controls->Add(this->textBox1);
BindingSource1 = gcnew BindingSource();
textBox1 = gcnew TextBox();
textBox2 = gcnew TextBox();
button1 = gcnew Button();
}
private:
void button1_Click(Object^ sender, EventArgs^ e)
{
textBox1->Text = "Calling Web service..";
ZipCodeResolver^ resolver = gcnew ZipCodeResolver();
BindingSource1->Add(resolver->CorrectedAddressXml("0",
"One Microsoft Way", "Redmond", "WA"));
}
public:
void Form1_Load(Object^ sender, EventArgs^ e)
{
BindingSource1->DataSource = USPSAddress::typeid;
textBox1->DataBindings->Add("Text", this->BindingSource1, "FullZIP", true);
}
};
public ref class CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventArgs:
public System::ComponentModel::AsyncCompletedEventArgs
{
private:
array<Object^>^ results;
internal:
CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventArgs(array<Object^>^ results,
System::Exception^ exception, bool cancelled, Object^ userState) :
AsyncCompletedEventArgs(exception, cancelled, userState)
{
this->results = results;
}
public:
property USPSAddress^ Result
{
USPSAddress^ get()
{
this->RaiseExceptionIfNecessary();
return ((USPSAddress^) this->results[0]);
}
}
delegate void CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventHandler(Object^ sender,
CorrectedAddressXmlCompletedEventArgs^ args);
};
}
int main()
{
BindToWebService::Form1::Main();
return 1;
}
Compiling the Code
This is a complete example that includes a Main method, and a shortened version of client-side proxy code.
This example requires:
- References to the System, System.Drawing, System.Web.Services, System.Windows.Forms and System.Xml assemblies.
For information about building this example from the command line for Visual Basic or Visual C#, see Building from the Command Line (Visual Basic) or Command-line Building With csc.exe. You can also build this example in Visual Studio by pasting the code into a new project. How to: Compile and Run a Complete Windows Forms Code Example Using Visual Studio
How to: Compile and Run a Complete Windows Forms Code Example Using Visual Studio
How to: Compile and Run a Complete Windows Forms Code Example Using Visual Studio
How to: Compile and Run a Complete Windows Forms Code Example Using Visual Studio
See Also
Tasks
How to: Bind a Windows Forms Control to a Type