Webservice

[Former Member]

What is a Webservice? where exactly we need to use a WebService?

Whether the same kind of Functionality is available in SAP world?

[moorthy · Accepted solution]

Hi Rohini,

In simpler terms, WebService is an application on the Web/Internet. Wheneever Service is requested by the user, it provides the service (i.e Request/Response)

<i>A web service is a collection of protocols and standards used for exchanging data between applications or systems</i>

In SAP world, we can expose an application into the Webservice. For e.g We can expose ABAP programs into Webservice.

E.g

/people/siva.maranani/blog/2005/05/23/communication-between-sap-system-webservice-using-proxies

/people/daniel.mcweeney/blog/2005/05/20/sap-web-applications-the-google-way

/people/durairaj.athavanraja/blog/2004/09/20/consuming-web-service-from-abap

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Moorthy

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Krishna for your patience. Could you go little bit more with an Example?

Also, I want to understand whether Webservice is a similar term like an RFC or BAPI in the R/3 World or an RMI in Java world?

[moorthy · Accepted solution]

It is not a similar term for RFC/BAPI or RMI.

But it is very easy to expose the RFC as an Webservice.

i.e All remote enabled functions can be exposed as an Webservice. now you can take an example of any RFC right?

As i told, Webservice is in the internet ie. in the Application Server. so it is a 3 tier architecture.

Take any example of online banking.. / logon authentication

Go thru this- you will get the answer more clearly..

https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/336365d3-0401-0010-9884-a65...

/people/thomas.jung3/blog/2005/01/05/develop-a-web-service-that-sends-an-email--in-abap

Regards,

Moorthy

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Rohini,

>><i>What is a Webservice

where exactly we need to use a WebService

Could you go little bit more with an Example?</i>

It is basically an XML code. If you want to use an application software (ex:a calculator/language translator) which is present on another server, say you want to calculate ab and show it on your browser for example. So, you write an XML code which will send the request to the application-> you send the parameters a, b and the operator ''. You will get back the response as the result of the operation(say 'c'). Hence, with the help of a webservice, you avoid writing the code to calculate a+b=c. More about webservices is here:-http://www.w3schools.com/webservices/default.asp

>><i>whether Webservice is a similar term like an RFC or BAPI in the R/3 World or an RMI in Java world?</i>

Yes, it is similar to RFCs and BAPIs. RFC interfaces can be used by external programs to call function modules in SAP systems, and execute them in these systems. Likewise, ABAP programs can also use these interfaces to use functions supplied by external programs. Similarly, BAPI methods allow you to access the data and processes running in an R/3 system.

Regards,

Sushumna

[bhavesh_kantilal · Accepted solution]

Rohini,

Take a look at this link or all info on WebServices,

http://www.webservices.org/

http://www.w3.org/2002/ws/

While RFCs BAPI are all SAP oriented, Webservices are language / environement independent. So, all one has to do is publish a Webservice and any external system by providing the data in the correct format, can get the approopriate response back.

One can write a webservice for a simple addition of 2 numbers to some complex functionality.

If you are planning to do some sample scenario on webservice, try using the StockQuote.WSDL which is simple and easy for any starter.

Take a lookat these docs,

<a href="https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/5f3ee9d7-0901-0010-1096-f5b548ac1555">How to develop a Webservice using XI</a>

<a href="https://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.comhttp://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/servlet/prt/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/befdeb90-0201-0010-059b-f222711d10c0">Howto Set Up a Webservices Scenario in XI</a>

<a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/wsdl">StockQuote.wsdl</a>

Regards,

Bhavesh

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Thanks Bhavesh .

Thanks Sushumna, thats a great explanation and that clarified my the fundamental doubt on the Web service. So Webservice is a Wrapper Class thats Woven over many applications and the clients can talk to the webservice on a standard pattern and Web Service will take care of directing this question and will get the response thats needs to go back to the client.

One another question, so from my browser I am sending the parameters (A,B +) to the Webservice and its going to return the result.

Now I have few other questions : Where is this Web Service Located and where is the Application which add this two parameters I have sent? Once I develop the Application how I am going to Publish my service in the Webservice?

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

GoodMorning Bhavesh and Suhumna. Still my questions stands they are

1) Where is the WEB Service is located and who will be maintaining the Web service

2)Once The application that adds the Numbers (As Per your example) are completed how should I register them in the Web Service

3)If there are more than one application doing the same addition function, then how the Webservice is going to identify which application it has to call or whether the webservice will call all the applications that does the addition?

Thanks friends.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Rohini,

I'l try and answer some of your questions with the help of an example:-

Say, I’m a portal-content developer and I have been asked to provide a new feature on my company’s website: I have to include a postal code validation facility to check that postal codes are correct as customers submit a registration form.

The validation will have to check postal codes for all 30 countries where we do business, and it should also check if the city entry corresponds to the postal code. I don’t have this data, and I suspect it will cost me some serious money to get it.

Rather than buy the data, write the code myself, maintain the data and tune performance of my code, I am going to investigate the UDDI and see if anyone provides a web service that does this sort of work. Navigating to www.uddi.org, I perform a search and find the perfect service from XYZ Corp.

I examine the web service definition (written in the Web Services Description Language, an XML syntax for defining web services) so I am certain the web service does what I need. I then check with my industry buddies that XYZ Corp is solid, and get in touch with XYZ. After buying this "service" from them, I will probably have to write a small piece of code that calls the XYZ service from my JSP page, and voila, instant postal code validation:)

Although i'm not a java expert, i dont think it is anything like a wrapper class.

Regards,

Sushumna

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Wonderful Explanation Sushumna. Greatly appreciate your help and the interest you showed to answer me.

Thanks.

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

My pleasure Rohini:)