Web Services Question, prett basic

[mcmcom]

Hi all,

I have to build a web service thats going to facilitate us getting some customer info and a file to a 'partner'. I've never wrote a service before and had one question.

1. Can the service run at a set time without something repeatedly running to check the time? Are any services run this way? (at like midnight say).

I dont know the answer to that so i am thinking of doing it this way.


1. Create a html page to log into.
2. Once there they press a button like get Info or something
3. It runs the service that returns the results and writes a web page
4. Redirects the user to the new page to print the information and follow links
to pictures.
5. - ALTERNATIVELY - Creates a text file for import (basically same as web page)

This method is a good idea as far as im concerned, but if the 'partner' wants it sent to them (via email) or something, i dont want to have to activate this, so i ask again, can a service run at a certain time without creating extra load on the server?

THANKS IN ADVANCE
MCM

[TheCPUWizard]

A Web Service is a Service.....Now isnt that enlightening :rolleyes:

Serously, a WebService (typically) side and waits for a request, processes that request and sends back a response.

If doe not (typically)

1) Initiate actions on its own
2) Maintain state between requests [there are many exceptions to this one]

So a typical scenario might be:

a) Company Alpha has a Web Service that makes a file available to authorized users
b) Company Beta Runs a scheduled job each night (just a command line console application running off the Windows Scheduler) that accesses Company Alpha'a WebService to authenticate itself, ant retrieve the information (typically in XML).


Does that clear things up?

[mcmcom]

that is the most perfect answer to any question i have ever asked!! Ratings to you my friend.


Thanks, thats what i figured. This is something that should be called upon when needed. And thats what im doing. A secure logon to a site that calls this service and grabs what it needs to.

Thanks again,
MCM