webservice returning wrong object

please help!

I have a webservice with a webmethod tat returns a MessageCollection object that contains Message objects. My problem is that when i call the method from a client, i don't get a messagecollection object returned. the return value of the webmethod is a message object (which isn't correct)

here is the webmethod

Code:

---

    <WebMethod()> _
    Public Function GetMessage(ByVal userName As String, ByVal lastMessageID As Integer) As OI.Messages.MessageCollection
        'could check if message needs to be returned by checking lastid passed here.
        'get arraylistlist of groups to message. from most recent message
        'get list of ous from username
        'iterate thru ous from username
        'if arraylist of groups to message contains a ou
        'and the messageid > lastmessageid then return an arraylist containing
        'messageid, message, sender
        'first off check if there has been a new message
        If Handshake() > lastMessageID Then
            'there has been a more recent message, so go get it
            Dim arrListOfUserOUs As ArrayList
            Dim colMessage As I4M.I4M.its4meOI.Messages.MessageCollection

            Dim enMsg As IEnumerator
            Dim en As IEnumerator
            Dim i As Integer
            arrListOfUserOUs = GetOUFromUserName(userName)
            'returns messagecollection of message
            colMessage = GetOUsToMessage(lastMessageID)
            'enumerate
            en = arrListOfUserOUs.GetEnumerator

            For i = 0 To colMessage.Count - 1
                While en.MoveNext
                    If colMessage.Item(i).OUArrayList.Contains(en.Current()) Then
                    Else
                        colMessage.RemoveAt(i)
                    End If
                End While
            Next
            'ok we have got a list of goodies lets return it to the client.
            Return colMessage
        Else
            Return Nothing
        End If

    End Function

---

here is the code for the message and messagcollection objects

Code:

---

Imports System

Namespace OI.Messages
<serializable> _
Public Class Message

#Region "constructor"
    Public Sub New()
    End Sub
#End Region

#Region "membervariables"
        Private iMessageID As Integer
        Private dDateSent As Date
        Private sMessageText As String
        Private sSentBy As String
        Private arrOUs As ArrayList

#End Region

#Region "properties"


        Public Property MessageID() As Integer
            Get
                Return iMessageID
            End Get
            Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
                iMessageID = Value
            End Set
        End Property

        Public Property DateSent() As Date
            Get
                Return dDateSent
            End Get
            Set(ByVal Value As Date)
                dDateSent = Value
            End Set
        End Property

        Public Property MessageText() As String
            Get
                Return sMessageText
            End Get
            Set(ByVal Value As String)
                sMessageText = Value
            End Set
        End Property

        Public Property SentBy() As String
            Get
                Return sSentBy
            End Get
            Set(ByVal Value As String)
                sSentBy = Value
            End Set
        End Property

        Public ReadOnly Property OUArrayList() As ArrayList
            Get
                Return arrOUs
            End Get
        End Property
#End Region

        Public Sub SetOUArray(ByVal strOU As String)
            Dim arrOUsPass As New ArrayList(Split(strOU, ","))
            arrOUs = arrouspass
        End Sub

End Class
End Namespace

'''the message collection object

Imports System
Imports System.Collections

Namespace OI.Messages
    <Serializable()> _
        Public Class MessageCollection : Inherits CollectionBase


        Public Overridable ReadOnly Property IsFixed() As Boolean
            Get
                Return False
            End Get
        End Property

        ''' <summary>
        ''' Indicates if the collection is read only.
        ''' </summary>
        Public Overridable ReadOnly Property IsReadOnly() As Boolean
            Get
                Return False
            End Get
        End Property

        Default Public Overridable Property Item(ByVal index As Integer) As OI.Messages.Message
            Get
                Return CType(Me.List(index), OI.Messages.Message)
            End Get
            Set(ByVal Value As OI.Messages.Message)
                Me.List(index) = Value
            End Set
        End Property

        ''' <summary>
        ''' Returns the index (position) of an item in the collection.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="item">Item to be searched.</param>
        ''' <returns>Returns the index(position) of the item.</returns>
        Public Overridable Function IndexOf(ByVal item As OI.Messages.Message) As Integer
            Return Me.List.IndexOf(item)
        End Function

        ''' <summary>
        ''' This method appends an item to the collection.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="item">Item to be appended.</param>
        ''' <returns>Returns an integer that indicates if the item was successfully appended.</returns>
        Public Overridable Function Add(ByVal item As OI.Messages.Message) As Integer
            Return Me.List.Add(item)
        End Function

        ''' <summary>
        ''' Removes an item from the collection.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="item">Item to be removed from the collection.</param>
        Public Overridable Sub Remove(ByVal item As OI.Messages.Message)
            Me.List.Remove(item)
        End Sub


        ''' <summary>
        ''' Copies an array to another.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="array">Array to be copied.</param>
        ''' <param name="index">Index to begin the copy.</param>
        Public Overridable Sub CopyTo(ByVal array As Array, ByVal index As Integer)
            Me.List.CopyTo(array, index)
        End Sub

        ''' <summary>
        ''' This methoid adds one collection to this collection.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="collection">Collection to be added.</param>
        Public Overridable Sub AddRange(ByVal collection As OI.Messages.MessageCollection)
            Me.InnerList.AddRange(collection)
        End Sub

        ''' <summary>
        ''' This methoid adds one collection to this collection.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="collection">Collection to be added.</param>
        Public Overridable Sub AddRange(ByVal collection As OI.Messages.Message)
            Me.InnerList.AddRange(collection)
        End Sub

        ''' <summary>
        ''' This method tells if the collection contains the item.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="item">Item to be tested.</param>
        ''' <returns>Returns true if the collection contains the item.</returns>
        Public Overridable Function Contains(ByVal item As OI.Messages.Message) As Boolean
            Return Me.List.Contains(item)
        End Function

        ''' <summary>
        ''' Inserts an item in the collection.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="index">Position to be inserted.</param>
        ''' <param name="item">Item to be inserted.</param>
        Public Overridable Sub Insert(ByVal index As Integer, ByVal item As OI.Messages.Message)
            Me.List.Insert(index, item)
        End Sub
    End Class
End Namespace

---

in the client code if i have a line like this which calls the webmethod,
it says it will return a message object

Code:

---

wsOI.GetMessage(UserName, LastMessageID)

---

This is the proxy class that is generated from the wsdl. notice at the bottom it has a definition for a Message class, but defines the arraylistOU as an object rather than an arraylist

and also notice the return values of the get message method. for some reason the proxy calss says it returns a Message object, when we can see in the actual webmethod in my last post that it returns a MessageCollection

Code:

---

'------------------------------------------------------------------------------
' <autogenerated>
'    This code was generated by a tool.
'    Runtime Version: 1.1.4322.2032
'
'    Changes to this file may cause incorrect behavior and will be lost if
'    the code is regenerated.
' </autogenerated>
'------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Option Strict Off
Option Explicit On

Imports System
Imports System.ComponentModel
Imports System.Diagnostics
Imports System.Web.Services
Imports System.Web.Services.Protocols
Imports System.Xml.Serialization

'
'This source code was auto-generated by Microsoft.VSDesigner, Version 1.1.4322.2032.
'
Namespace i4m
   
    '<remarks/>
    <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThroughAttribute(),  _
    System.ComponentModel.DesignerCategoryAttribute("code"),  _
    System.Web.Services.WebServiceBindingAttribute(Name:="its4meOISoap", [Namespace]:="http://tempuri.org/its4meOI/its4meOI")>  _
    Public Class OI
        Inherits System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapHttpClientProtocol
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Sub New()
            MyBase.New
            Me.Url = "http://localhost/OI/OI.asmx"
        End Sub
       
        '<remarks/>
        <System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapDocumentMethodAttribute("http://tempuri.org/its4meOI/its4meOI/Test", RequestNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", ResponseNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", Use:=System.Web.Services.Description.SoapBindingUse.Literal, ParameterStyle:=System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapParameterStyle.Wrapped)>  _
        Public Function Test() As Object
            Dim results() As Object = Me.Invoke("Test", New Object(-1) {})
            Return CType(results(0),Object)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function BeginTest(ByVal callback As System.AsyncCallback, ByVal asyncState As Object) As System.IAsyncResult
            Return Me.BeginInvoke("Test", New Object(-1) {}, callback, asyncState)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function EndTest(ByVal asyncResult As System.IAsyncResult) As Object
            Dim results() As Object = Me.EndInvoke(asyncResult)
            Return CType(results(0),Object)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        <System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapDocumentMethodAttribute("http://tempuri.org/OI/OI/GetMessage", RequestNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", ResponseNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", Use:=System.Web.Services.Description.SoapBindingUse.Literal, ParameterStyle:=System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapParameterStyle.Wrapped)>  _
        Public Function GetMessage(ByVal userName As String, ByVal lastMessageID As Integer) As Message()
            Dim results() As Object = Me.Invoke("GetMessage", New Object() {userName, lastMessageID})
            Return CType(results(0),Message())
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function BeginGetMessage(ByVal userName As String, ByVal lastMessageID As Integer, ByVal callback As System.AsyncCallback, ByVal asyncState As Object) As System.IAsyncResult
            Return Me.BeginInvoke("GetMessage", New Object() {userName, lastMessageID}, callback, asyncState)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function EndGetMessage(ByVal asyncResult As System.IAsyncResult) As Message()
            Dim results() As Object = Me.EndInvoke(asyncResult)
            Return CType(results(0),Message())
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        <System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapDocumentMethodAttribute("http://tempuri.org/OI/OI/SendMessage", RequestNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", ResponseNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", Use:=System.Web.Services.Description.SoapBindingUse.Literal, ParameterStyle:=System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapParameterStyle.Wrapped)>  _
        Public Function SendMessage(ByVal message As String, ByVal userName As String, ByVal csListOfGroups As String) As Integer
            Dim results() As Object = Me.Invoke("SendMessage", New Object() {message, userName, csListOfGroups})
            Return CType(results(0),Integer)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function BeginSendMessage(ByVal message As String, ByVal userName As String, ByVal csListOfGroups As String, ByVal callback As System.AsyncCallback, ByVal asyncState As Object) As System.IAsyncResult
            Return Me.BeginInvoke("SendMessage", New Object() {message, userName, csListOfGroups}, callback, asyncState)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function EndSendMessage(ByVal asyncResult As System.IAsyncResult) As Integer
            Dim results() As Object = Me.EndInvoke(asyncResult)
            Return CType(results(0),Integer)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        <System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapDocumentMethodAttribute("http://tempuri.org/OI/OI/GetAllGroups", RequestNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", ResponseNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", Use:=System.Web.Services.Description.SoapBindingUse.Literal, ParameterStyle:=System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapParameterStyle.Wrapped)>  _
        Public Function GetAllGroups() As String
            Dim results() As Object = Me.Invoke("GetAllGroups", New Object(-1) {})
            Return CType(results(0),String)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function BeginGetAllGroups(ByVal callback As System.AsyncCallback, ByVal asyncState As Object) As System.IAsyncResult
            Return Me.BeginInvoke("GetAllGroups", New Object(-1) {}, callback, asyncState)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function EndGetAllGroups(ByVal asyncResult As System.IAsyncResult) As String
            Dim results() As Object = Me.EndInvoke(asyncResult)
            Return CType(results(0),String)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        <System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapDocumentMethodAttribute("http://tempuri.org/OI/OI/UserHandshake", RequestNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", ResponseNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", Use:=System.Web.Services.Description.SoapBindingUse.Literal, ParameterStyle:=System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapParameterStyle.Wrapped)>  _
        Public Function UserHandshake() As Integer
            Dim results() As Object = Me.Invoke("UserHandshake", New Object(-1) {})
            Return CType(results(0),Integer)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function BeginUserHandshake(ByVal callback As System.AsyncCallback, ByVal asyncState As Object) As System.IAsyncResult
            Return Me.BeginInvoke("UserHandshake", New Object(-1) {}, callback, asyncState)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function EndUserHandshake(ByVal asyncResult As System.IAsyncResult) As Integer
            Dim results() As Object = Me.EndInvoke(asyncResult)
            Return CType(results(0),Integer)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        <System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapDocumentMethodAttribute("http://tempuri.org/OI/OI/AdminHandshake", RequestNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", ResponseNamespace:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI", Use:=System.Web.Services.Description.SoapBindingUse.Literal, ParameterStyle:=System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapParameterStyle.Wrapped)>  _
        Public Function AdminHandshake() As Integer
            Dim results() As Object = Me.Invoke("AdminHandshake", New Object(-1) {})
            Return CType(results(0),Integer)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function BeginAdminHandshake(ByVal callback As System.AsyncCallback, ByVal asyncState As Object) As System.IAsyncResult
            Return Me.BeginInvoke("AdminHandshake", New Object(-1) {}, callback, asyncState)
        End Function
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public Function EndAdminHandshake(ByVal asyncResult As System.IAsyncResult) As Integer
            Dim results() As Object = Me.EndInvoke(asyncResult)
            Return CType(results(0),Integer)
        End Function
    End Class
   
    '<remarks/>
    <System.Xml.Serialization.XmlTypeAttribute([Namespace]:="http://tempuri.org/OI/OI")>  _
    Public Class Message
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public MessageID As Integer
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public DateSent As Date
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public MessageText As String
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public SentBy As String
       
        '<remarks/>
        Public OUArrayList() As Object
    End Class
End Namespace

---

In the end i thought f**k it and created a dataset into which i stuck my message objects, knowing that a dataset will return in the correct format.

I have seen loads of stuff whilst googling of people haviong the exact same problem as i had. making sure a complex type returns from the web service as it should. i haven't found any answer other than someone saying they edited the auto generated proxy class which is a pretty naf way of doing this i think.

if anyone has surmounted this problem please let me know, it al works swimmingly now, but i'm a bit pissed off that i have to use an ms object instead of my own in order to make sure that i return the correct object.