IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Create processes in IBM Process Designer > Modeling processes > Integrating with web services, Java and databases

Web services compatibility

Web services conform to a flexible architecture that allows variation in web services implementations. This variation unfortunately can lead to compatibility problems.

If you are experiencing problems when you call an external web service from a business process, you should first check its compatibility with IBM BPM. In XML constructs not supported, these compatibility problems are outlined and explained. Tables are provided that list errors and warnings caused by incompatibilities. Once you know the source of the cause you can correct the web service accordingly.

If you are using IBM BPM Advanced and experiencing web services difficulties associated with incompatibilities, consider using an Advanced Integration Service to give you access to Integration Designer. The web services tools in Integration Designer have a variety of popular bindings and features that can be used to handle most web services interactions.

You also have another alternative, particularly if you have IBM BPM Standard, and that is to use a SOAP connector. In the following sections, which show this approach, it is assumed that you have access to a service using Web Services Description Language (WSDL) and that you can make a call to the web service using the soapUI open source tool or another SOAP tool. These instructions describe testing the web service with soapUI.

If that IBM BPM Standard has the following restrictions:

• SOAP header: There is only support for a request SOAP header that passes complex type parameters. There is no support for a SOAP header, either request or response, that passes simple type parameters.
• SOAP / JMS: SOAP over JMS is not supported.
• SOAP faults are not supported.
• HTTP headers are not supported.

• The Remote Procedure Call (RPC) binding style is not supported.

• Verifying that the web service is working
  First check that the web service is working. The web service must be working before you can call it from a business process.
• Use a SOAP connector to call a web service
  Once you know the web service works, you should test it from within Process Designer.

Integrating with web services, Java and databases

Related information:
Supported web service standards