IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Authoring services in Integration Designer > Services and service-related functions > Calling services

WSDL import and export files

Web Services Description Language (WSDL) files are commonly shared among users working on SOA projects. You can import and export WSDL files with options to make the WSDL files interoperable with different vendors, and reusable within your workspace.

If you need to use a WSDL file in a module, you can copy it to the module. Alternately, you can copy the WSDL file to a library and, in the module, set a dependency on the library so that you can use the library's resources. If you try to drag a WSDL file from another type of project, for example a web project, an error message prompts you to copy the WSDL file to the module or library.

Interoperability and reuse are two good reasons to use the importing and exporting WSDL file wizards in IBM Integration Designer instead of any manual process.


Interoperability

SOA projects by definition integrate a wide spectrum of applications. Although these applications are themselves defined as services, that is, they have an XML layer of code that separates them from the actual implementation, even that XML layer can have inconsistencies. These inconsistencies can lead to interoperability problems. Typically, these interoperability problems occur when enterprises are building their SOA applications with development products from several vendors. One common difference is that some vendors place the port type, that is, the interface in IBM Integration Designer in one file, and the types it references in separate schema files. Other vendors place their schemas within the same file; a technique known as inline schemas or inline business objects.

IBM Integration Designer has an import wizard that can extract a web service endpoint into a separate file and extract inline schemas into separate schema files.

You also have the option of importing a WSDL file containing its web service endpoint and inline schemas and extracting these elements later with a refactoring wizard.

An export wizard can place an interface and business objects inline, if they are in an external file and referenced by the WSDL file. If an endpoint such as a port is defined in one file and a port type (or interface) is defined in another file, then this wizard can merge them also.

Using these importing, exporting, and refactoring wizards, you can share WSDL files created in IBM Integration Designer with others in your organization regardless of the different development environments. Conversely, you can share WSDL files and refactor WSDL files produced by other tools from different vendors inside IBM Integration Designer.


Reuse

When you are working on large SOA projects that share many modules among many developers, reuse can play a significant role in reducing development time. On SOA projects, sharing interfaces and business objects in libraries is a good programming practice to minimize development time. The wizard supports and encourages reuse.

For example, the import wizard can extract a service endpoint from a WSDL file, so that the port type can be reused. It can also extract inline schemas so that the business objects can be reused. The extracted business objects can themselves be extended and reused.

Calling services