Web Services

The following section describes what Web Services are, their associated benefits as well as how they can be utilized with Newlook.

What are Web Services?

Put simply, a web service is a service that can be accessed by other applications over the web (HTTP). A web service is not targeted at humans but rather at other programs, its outputs are in a format that can be consumed by another program. By using standard protocols they are platform independent.

Benefits of Web Services?

Web Services allow existing applications to benefit from real-time integration with other applications without significant cost or complexity. Before Web Services, application integration across disparate platforms required expensive software and significant consulting support resulting in projects that often failed.

Web Services reduce complexity by delivering simple, fast and inexpensive application integration.

How Will it Work with newlook?

It is possible to both consume (call) and create web services with Newlook. This topic focuses on the consumption of external web services.

For information on creating web services with Newlook refer to the Web Services overview.

Any traditional (5250 or 3270 based) application can consume an external web service via the use of a simple declare and call macro/script in Newlook.

XML parsing, error handling and HTTP connection initiation and management are managed transparently which means that the developer does not require a detailed knowledge of web service intricacies.

Creating the functionality to consume a web service is a two step process. First, the developer must specify the "WebDeclare" action to define the WSDL or SOAP interface. Second, the developer must specify the "WebCall"’ action which executes the web service returning the result to Newlook.

Click on the links below for more detailed information:

TIP

The creation of web services requires a Newlook Developer license. Further explanation about creating web services can be found in the Developer's Reference section of Help.