Invoking .NET Web Services from COBOL

As a rule, .NET Web services include a C# proxy. This C# proxy contains program code that resolves function calls and connections to the server -side .NET Web service. The proxy is compiled into the client application which uses the proxy to connect to and retrieve information from the server-side .NET Web service.

1. A .NET programmer writes a .NET Web service using ASP.NET, C#, or VB.NET.
2. This programmer generates a C# proxy from the Web service using the Microsoft WSDL utility that comes with .NET.

   The client needs this proxy so that it can connect to the service over the Internet and call methods that reside in the service.

3. The programmer writes a client-side .NET control in C# or VB.NET that accesses the Web service (via the proxy).
4. A COBOL programmer runs the NETDEFGEN utility on the control as he would any .NET control. refer to the section Using .NET assemblies in COBOL for instructions.
5. The COBOL programmer copies the resulting COPY file into the ACUCOBOL-GT program, then uses the CREATE, DISPLAY, INQUIRE, and MODIFY statements to access the .NET control methods and events.