Creating a service requester application from a Web service description

Using the CICS® Web services assistant, you can create a service requester application from a Web service description.

Your Web services description must be in a file in HFS.
  1. Generate a Web service binding file. Use batch program DFHWS2LS to generate a Web service binding file.
    Important: Do not specify the PROGRAM parameter when you use DFHWS2LS. This parameter applies only to a service provider.
    As well as the Web service binding file, the program generates a language data structure.
  2. Copy the Web service binding file to the pickup directory of the PIPELINE resource that you want to use for your Web service application. Make sure that the PIPELINE is configured for a service requester - that is, the top level element of the configuration file specified in the CONFIGFILE attribute is <requester_pipeline>.
  3. Use the language data structure generated in 1 to write your wrapper program. Use an EXEC CICS INVOKE WEBSERVICE command in your wrapper program to communicate with the Web service.The options on the command include:
    • The name of the WEBSERVICE resource
    • The operation for which the Web service is being invoked
  4. If you do not have a suitable pipeline configuration file, create one.

    Typically, many service requester applications can use the same pipeline configuration, and if you already have a suitable configuration file, you do not need to perform this step.

  5. If you do not have a suitable PIPELINE resource definition in your system, create and install one. The PIPELINE resource specifies the name of the pipeline configuration file.

    Typically, many service requester applications can use the same PIPELINE definition, and if you already have a suitable PIPELINE in your system, you do not need to perform this step.

  6. Create and install a WEBSERVICE resource definition. Although you can use RDO to create a WEBSERVICE, the recommended method is to scan for WSBIND files. Use the PERFORM PIPELINE SCAN command. This creates WEBSERVICE definitions which are consistent with the WSDL.
  7. Write a wrapper program that you can substitute for your communications logic.