[RESOLVED] Webservice - return multiple records from table

[snufse]

I need to write a webservice that returns multiple rows from a table. I am familiar with return of a single object.

I am calling a stored procedure in the webservice that populates a data table.

I guess I need to define an object collection to be returned. Should this be an array or can I return the data table itself?

Any input is appreciated. Thank you.

[honeybee]

You could use the dataset object available in ADO.Net. You could also write the dataset contents into an XML file and return that file (as a string). These are just the simpler of the ways so you can be comfortable with returning multiple rows.

.

[snufse]

I was playing with returning datatable and it semms to work fine

- <myDataTable diffgr:id="myDataTable1" msdata:rowOrder="0"> 
<SHKCOO>00000</SHKCOO> 
<SHDOCO>100</SHDOCO> 
<SHDCTO>SD</SHDCTO> 
<SHMCU>30</SHMCU> 
<SHAN8>4243</SHAN8> 
<SHSHAN>4243</SHSHAN> 
<SHPA8>0</SHPA8> 
<SHTRDJ>112197</SHTRDJ> 
<SHADDJ>0</SHADDJ> 
<SHVR01 xml:space="preserve"></SHVR01> 
<SHPTC xml:space="preserve"></SHPTC> 
<SHAFT>Y</SHAFT> 
</myDataTable>

So is there a difference using a DataSet or what is the preference? Thank you.

[techgnome]

my personal preference would be to return a list(of) rather than the datatable. Using the datatable implies that the source is a database (it may not be) and the implementation is then also tied to the database (what if a field is added, do you want it or not? or what if a field is removed from the db?) To me it just seems a little more ideal to isolate things as much as you can. Then the calling code doesn't care what the implementation is... all it sees is the object.

The way I'd do it is to implement a custom class and collection (that is a List(Of)), fill it, serialize it to XML, compress it, and return it. On the calling side, it would be decompressed and deserialized back into a list.

-tg

[snufse]

Hello,

What you say makes sense. I would like to try that approach. Is there a chance you have a reference or a code snippet that I could start working from?

I searched for List(Of....) but could not find anything. Is this the same as using ArrayList Class?
IList?

Thank you.

[techgnome]

Sadly, I do not happen to have something handy. A year ago I might have... but I've "moved on" ... :/

basically, the idea is to create a list(Of T) ... where T is your custom class, then use XMLSerializer to serialize it to a MemoryStream and send it into an array of bytes. The WebService method would then return an array of bytes... on the client site, take the array of bytes, send it back into a new memory stream and feed that into the XMLSerializer to be deserialized back into the List(of T) object....

Hmmm... I missed something there... the compression... umm... it goes in there somewhere, probably somewhere between the serialization and the conversion to byte array, you'll probably want to look it up. .NET does have a compression class built-in... it might be easier to initially get the process working w/o the compression, and then add it in later.

-tg

[gep13]

Hello,

Have a look at this thread here:

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=655303

It should be able to provide what you need.

Gary

[snufse]

Now, I am trying to use the List(OF....). It looks like it is working as I have the correct values in the ListOf objects. I am getting an error on the return in the web method where I have specified the ListOf as an Object:

System.InvalidOperationException: There was an error generating the XML document. ---> System.InvalidOperationException: The type System.Collections.Generic.List`1[[GetCustomerOrderHeaders.OrderList, GetCustomerOrderHeaders, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null]] may not be used in this context. 

<WebMethod()> _
    Public Function GetCustomerRecords_ListOf(ByVal myDateFrom As DateTime) As Object  'ListOf

        OpenConnection()
        GetRecords(myDateFrom)
        CloseConnection()
        ListOf = GetListOf()
        Return ListOf

    End Function

Public Class OrderList

    Private _shkcoo As String
    Public Property SHKCOO() As String
        Get
            Return _shkcoo
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As String)
            _shkcoo = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Private _shdoco As String
    Public Property SHDOCO() As Integer
        Get
            Return _SHDOCO
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Integer)
            _SHDOCO = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Sub New()

    End Sub

    Public Sub New(ByVal _shkcoo As String, ByVal _shdoco As String)
        SHKCOO = _shkcoo
        SHDOCO = _shdoco
    End Sub

End Class

Public Function GetListOf() As List(Of OrderList)

        Dim ListOf As New List(Of OrderList)
        Dim myDataRow As DataRow

        For Each myDataRow In mySqlDataTable.Rows
            ListOf.Add(New OrderList(myDataRow.Item("SHKCOO").ToString, CInt(myDataRow.Item("SHDOCO"))))
        Next

        Return ListOf

    End Function

[techgnome]

Almost....

1) your ListOf variable needs to be defined properly in the first code snip - you don't have option strict or explicit turned on do you? tisk tisk tisk
2) Same code snip, your WebMEthod needs to return List(Of OrderList) since that is what you're returning.
3) This means you need a reference to the OrderList class on the calling end....

This is why I thought serializing it to XML will help... you could define a class on the calling end that LOOKS jsut like OrderList on the server ,but could be in a different namespace (so now you don't need to have a reference to the exact same OrderList class... they just need to look the same. This would change your wbmethod return type to something other than List(Of OrderList) and would be string or an array of bytes...

-tg

[snufse]

Hello

I got the ListOf working doing

<WebMethod()> _
    Public Function GetCustomerRecords_ListOf(ByVal myDateFrom As DateTime) As List(Of OrderList)
        OpenConnection()
        GetRecords(myDateFrom)
        CloseConnection()
        List = GetListOf()
        Return List

    End Function

Thank you.

Now I am trying the "serialized approach....

Have following:

<WebMethod()> _
    Public Function GetCustomerRecords_Serialized(ByVal myDateFrom As DateTime) As StreamWriter

        OpenConnection()
        GetRecords(myDateFrom)
        CloseConnection()
        oStmW = GetSeriaLized()
        Return oStmW

    End Function

Imports System.Xml.Serialization

<XmlRoot(ElementName:="OrderHeader")> _
Public Class OrderHeader
    Private m_sName As String
    Private m_iAge As Integer

    <XmlElement(ElementName:="OrderCompany")> _
    Public Property SHKCOO() As String
        Get
            Return m_sName
        End Get
        Set(ByVal sNewName As String)
            m_sName = sNewName
        End Set
    End Property

    <XmlElement(ElementName:="OrderNumber")> _
    Public Property SHDOCO() As Integer
        Get
            Return m_iAge
        End Get
        Set(ByVal iNewAge As Integer)
            m_iAge = iNewAge
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

Public Function GetSeriaLized() As Object

        Dim oXS As XmlSerializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(OrderHeader))
        Dim myOrderHeader As New OrderHeader()  'create instance of class
        Dim oStmW As StreamWriter
        Dim myDataRow As DataRow

        oStmW = New StreamWriter(Server.MapPath("orderheader.xml"))

        For Each myDataRow In mySqlDataTable.Rows
            myOrderHeader.SHKCOO = myDataRow.Item("SHKCOO").ToString
            myOrderHeader.SHDOCO = CInt(myDataRow.Item("SHDOCO"))
            oXS.Serialize(oStmW, myOrderHeader)
        Next

        oStmW.Close()

        Return oStmW

    End Function

This codes writes the result to a .xml (located within the project). Is it possible to return this .xml file from the web method? If not, how could I write to a memory buffer and return that?

I also tried this:

Public Function GetMemoryStream() As Object

        Dim myDataRow As DataRow
        Dim byteArray As Byte()
        Dim charArray As Char()
        Dim uniEncoding As New UnicodeEncoding()
        Dim myMemoryStream As New MemoryStream
        Dim firstString As Byte()
        Dim secondString As Byte()

        For Each myDataRow In mySqlDataTable.Rows
             firstString = uniEncoding.GetBytes(myDataRow.Item("SHKCOO").ToString)
            secondString = uniEncoding.GetBytes(CInt(myDataRow.Item("SHDOCO")))
            myMemoryStream.Write(firstString, 0, firstString.Length)
            myMemoryStream.Write(secondString, 0, secondString.Length)
        Next

        Return myMemoryStream

    End Function

Thanks again.

[techgnome]

arg... close... so close... you seem to have each of the concepts.. the list, the xml, the byte array... now it's time to put them all together.

I'll put together a little more concrete example later tonight... show how it should all go together.

-tg

[snufse]

That is very kind of you .... thank you

[gep13]

Hello,

There are also some serialization links in my signature that might help you.

Gary

[snufse]

I still have an issue with serialization and cannot get it to work:

<WebMethod()> _
    Public Function GetCustomerRecords_Serialized(ByVal myDateFrom As DateTime) As System.IO.MemoryStream

        OpenConnection()
        GetRecords(myDateFrom)
        CloseConnection()
        myFileStream = GetSeriaLized()
        Dim myMemorystream As New System.IO.MemoryStream

        myMemorystream = myFileStream
        Return myMemorystream

    End Function

Public Function GetSeriaLized() As Object

        Dim myXMLSerializer As XmlSerializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(OrderHeader))
        Dim myOrderHeader As New OrderHeader()  'create instance of class
        Dim myDataRow As DataRow

        Dim myFileStream As FileStream = New FileStream("OrderHeader.xml", FileMode.Create)

        For Each myDataRow In mySqlDataTable.Rows
            myOrderHeader.SHKCOO = myDataRow.Item("SHKCOO").ToString
            myOrderHeader.SHDOCO = CInt(myDataRow.Item("SHDOCO"))
            myXMLSerializer.Serialize(myFileStream, myOrderHeader)
        Next

        Return myFileStream

    End Function

When I query the OrderHeader.xml file the content is correct. But the file is not being displayed. Thank you.

[gep13]

Hello,

Have you stepped through the above code in the debugger, and look at the various steps?

Had which point does it stop doing the expected thing?

Gary

[techgnome]

You're still trying to do it in two steps... need to combine it into a single step... don't use the file stream... use the memorystream:

Public Function GetSeriaLized() As MemoryStream 'Return the stream, instead of a generic object

        Dim myXMLSerializer As XmlSerializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(OrderHeader))
        Dim myOrderHeader As OrderHeader
        Dim myOrders as new List(of OrderHeader)

        For Each myDataRow As DataRow In mySqlDataTable.Rows
            myOrderHeader  = New OrderHEader
            myOrderHeader.SHKCOO = myDataRow.Item("SHKCOO").ToString
            myOrderHeader.SHDOCO = CInt(myDataRow.Item("SHDOCO"))
            myOrders.Add(myOrderHeader) ' Add to the list
        Next

        Dim myStream As New System.IO.MemoryStream

        myXMLSerializer.Serialize(myStream, myOrders) ' -- serialize the WHOLE list, not a single item

        Return myStream

    End Function

...

<WebMethod()> _
    Public Function GetCustomerRecords_Serialized(ByVal myDateFrom As DateTime) As Byte() 'Return an array of bytes

        OpenConnection()
        GetRecords(myDateFrom)
        CloseConnection()

        Dim myMemorystream As System.IO.MemoryStream = GetSeriaLized() 'Returns the memorystream

        Return myMemorystream.ToArray() ' Return it as an array of bytes

    End Function

I've made a few changes in there... look through it... I tried to document what was going on where...

-tg

[snufse]

Almost there, getting error:

System.InvalidOperationException: There was an error generating the XML document. ---> System.InvalidCastException: Unable to cast object of type 'System.Collections.Generic.List`1[GetCustomerOrderHeaders.OrderHeader]' to type 'GetCustomerOrderHeaders.OrderHeader'.
   at Microsoft.Xml.Serialization.GeneratedAssembly.XmlSerializationWriterOrderHeader.Write3_OrderHeader(Object o)

Line in error is:

myXMLSerializer.Serialize(myStream, myOrders)

In the meantime I managed to use FileStream and Streamreader to populate an ArrayList, this solution not as good as yours.

[techgnome]

my bad... I missed one more change....

change this:

Dim myXMLSerializer As XmlSerializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(OrderHeader))

to this:

Dim myXMLSerializer As XmlSerializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(List(of OrderHeader)))

That should do it...

-tg

[snufse]

This is the outpout I get

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<base64Binary xmlns="http://GetCustomerRecords.org/">PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIj8+DQo8QXJyYXlPZk9yZGVySGVhZGVyIHhtbG5zOnhzaT0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMj AwMS9YTUxTY2hlbWEtaW5zdGFuY2UiIHhtbG5zOnhzZD0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMS9YTUxTY2hlbWEiPg0KICA8T3 JkZXJIZWFkZXI+DQogICAgPE9yZGVyQ29tcGFueT4wMDAwMDwvT3JkZXJDb21wYW55Pg0KICAgIDxPcmRlck51bWJlcj4xMDA8L0 9yZGVyTnVtYmVyPg0KICA8L09yZGVySGVhZGVyPg0KICA8T3JkZXJIZWFkZXI+DQogICAgPE9yZGVyQ29tcGFueT4wMDAwMDwvT3 JkZXJDb21wYW55Pg0KICAgIDxPcmRlck51bWJlcj4xMDE8L09yZGVyTnVtYmVyPg0KICA8L09yZGVySGVhZGVyPg0KICA8T3JkZX JIZWFkZXI+DQogICAgPE9yZGVyQ29tcGFueT4wMDAwMDwvT3JkZXJDb21wYW55Pg0KICAgIDxPcmRlck51bWJlcj4xMDE8L09yZG VyTnVtYmVyPg0KICA8L09yZGVySGVhZGVyPg0KICA8T3JkZXJIZWFkZXI+DQogICAgPE9yZGVyQ29tcGFueT4wMDAwMDwvT3JkZX JDb21wYW55Pg0KICAgIDxPcmRlck51bWJlcj4xMDM8L09yZGVyTnVtYmVyPg0KICA8L09yZGVySGVhZGVyPg0KICA8T3JkZXJIZW FkZXI+DQogICAgPE9yZGVyQ29tcGFueT4wMDAwMDwvT3JkZXJDb21wYW55Pg0KICAgIDxPcmRlck51bWJlcj4xMDQ8L09yZGVyTn 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I am using:

<WebMethod()> _
    Public Function GetCustomerRecords_Serialized(ByVal myDateFrom As DateTime) As Byte() 'Return an array of bytes

        OpenConnection()
        GetRecords(myDateFrom)
        CloseConnection()

        Dim myMemorystream As System.IO.MemoryStream = GetSeriaLized() 'Returns the memorystream

        Return myMemorystream.ToArray() ' Return it as an array of bytes

    End Function

The value of myOrders is correct:

(1) = {GetCustomerOrderHeaders.OrderHeader}
m_iAge = 100
m_sName = "00000"
SHDOCO = 100
SHKCOO = "00000"

[techgnome]

riiight.... ok... now how are you calling it? On the calling side, you have to reverse the process. take the returned byte array (on the client side now) ... use it to feed into a memory stream, feed that into the xml deserialization process and you should get a List(of OrderHeader) on the other end.

-tg

[snufse]

OK, you are way ahead of me. What you say makes sense. Since I now have 3 web method options I think I should be OK and I have learned alot.

I also created another method that uses a entry in c:\temp with arraylist.

Bottom line, I thank you very much for ALL you help and patience.

'<WebMethod()> _
    'Public Function GetCustomerRecords_Serialized(ByVal myDateFrom As DateTime) As ArrayList

    '    OpenConnection()
    '    GetRecords(myDateFrom)
    '    CloseConnection()
    '   Dim myArrayList As New ArrayList() = GetSeriaLized()
    '    Return myarraylist

    'End Function

'Public Function GetSeriaLized() As Object

    '    Dim myXMLSerializer As XmlSerializer = New XmlSerializer(GetType(OrderHeader))
    '    Dim myOrderHeader As New OrderHeader()  'create instance of class
    '    Dim myDataRow As DataRow

    '    Dim myFileStream As FileStream = New FileStream("C:\Temp\OrderHeader.xml", FileMode.Create, FileAccess.ReadWrite)

    '    For Each myDataRow In mySqlDataTable.Rows
    '        myOrderHeader.SHKCOO = myDataRow.Item("SHKCOO").ToString
    '        myOrderHeader.SHDOCO = CInt(myDataRow.Item("SHDOCO"))
    '        myXMLSerializer.Serialize(myFileStream, myOrderHeader)
    '    Next

    '    Dim myArrayList As New ArrayList()
    '    Dim myStreamReader As New StreamReader(myFileStream)
    '    myStreamReader.BaseStream.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin)
    '    While myStreamReader.Peek() > -1
    '        myArrayList.Add(myStreamReader.ReadLine())
    '    End While

    '    myStreamReader.Close()
    '    myFileStream.Close()

    '    Return myArrayList

    'End Function

Result like this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> 
- <ArrayOfAnyType xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns="http://GetCustomerRecords.org/">
  <anyType xsi:type="xsd:string"><?xml version="1.0"?></anyType> 
  <anyType xsi:type="xsd:string"><OrderHeader xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"></anyType> 
  <anyType xsi:type="xsd:string"><OrderCompany>00000</OrderCompany></anyType> 
  <anyType xsi:type="xsd:string"><OrderNumber>100</OrderNumber></anyType> 
  <anyType xsi:type="xsd:string"></OrderHeader><?xml version="1.0"?></anyType> 
  <anyType xsi:type="xsd:string"><OrderHeader xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"></anyType> 
  <anyType xsi:type="xsd:string"><OrderCompany>00000</OrderCompany></anyType> 
  <anyType xsi:type="xsd:string"><OrderNumber>101</OrderNumber></anyType>