C# client how to invoke wsdl file

Question

My customer gave me a .wsdl file to access their webservices. Using VS2008 I can create a project, but I don't know how to use the .wsdl file in it.

Answer 1

You don't invoke WSDL file, you add service reference from the file.

To add reference, right click on the project, select Add Service Reference. Paste path to your wsdl file and hit Go.

If you want to use legacy Web Service client, select Add Web Reference and paste path to the wsdl file from there.

I recommend to use WCF (Add Service Reference option).

To use the service reference add code like this:

var serviceClient = new ServiceReferenceName.MyClassClient();
serviceClient.DoSomething();

You also need to update config file with the server URL that you customer should provide you with:

<client>
  <endpoint address="http://UrlFromYourCustomerHere"
            binding="basicHttpBinding"
            bindingConfiguration="xxx"
            contract="MyServiceReference.xxx"
            name="xxx/>
</client>

Answer 2

A Web reference enables a project to consume one or more XML Web services. Use the Add Web Reference Dialog Box to search for Web services locally, on a local area network, or on the Internet.

After adding a Web reference to your current project, you can call any methods exposed by the Web service.

To add a Web Reference

1. On the Project menu, click Add Web Reference.

2. In the URL box of the Add Web Reference dialog box, type the URL to obtain the service description of the Excel Web Services, such as http:////_vti_bin/excelservice.asmx or http:///_vti_bin/excelservice.asmx. Then click Go to retrieve information about the Web service. Note Note:

   You can also open the Add Web Reference dialog box in the Solution Explorer pane by right-clicking References and selecting Add Web Reference.

3. In the Web reference name box, rename the Web reference to ExcelWebService.
4. Click Add Reference to add a Web reference for the target Web service.
5. Visual Studio downloads the service description and generates a proxy class to interface between your application and Excel Web Services.

Read

How to: Add and Remove Web References