Understanding Web Service References

To utilize Web services in Oracle Application Express, you create a Web service reference using a wizard. Web service references can be based on a Web Services Description Language (WSDL) document, RESTful style, or created manually by supplying information about the service.

When you create a Web service reference based on a WSDL, the wizard analyzes the WSDL and collects all the necessary information to create a valid SOAP message, including:

• The URL used to post the SOAP request over HTTP(S)
• A Universal Resource Identifier (URI) identifying the SOAP HTTP request
• Operations of the Web Service
• Input parameters for each operation
• Output parameters for each operation

When you create a Web service reference manually, you supply the necessary information to create a valid SOAP request, including:

• The URL used to post the SOAP request over HTTP(S)
• A Universal Resource Identifier (URI) identifying the SOAP HTTP request
• The SOAP envelope for the request, including any item substitutions
• Optionally the name of a collection to store the response from the Web service

When you create a RESTful Web service reference, you supply the necessary information about the structure of the request and response including:

• A Universal Resource Identifier (URI) identifying the RESTful request
• The HTTP method identifying the method of the Web service
• HTTP Headers, if required, that are part of the request
• The type of input expected by the Web service
• The format of the response and how to identify the response parameters
  

  Accessing the Web Service References Page

  You manage Web service references on the Web Service References page.
  To access the Web Service References page:
  

  1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.
  2. Select an application.
  3. Click Shared Components.
     The Shared Components page appears.
  4. Under Logic, click Web Service References.
     The Web Service References page appears.

  Specifying an Application Proxy Server Address

  If your environment requires a proxy server to access the Internet, you must specify a proxy server address on the Application Attributes page before you can create a Web service reference.
  To specify a proxy address for an application:
  

  1. On the Workspace home page, click the Application Builder icon.
  2. Select an application.
     Application home page appears.
  3. Click the Edit Application Properties button.
  4. Under Name, enter the proxy server in the Proxy Server field.
  5. Click Apply Changes.