Understanding SOAP : simple object Access protocol

Understanding SOAP begins with a discussion of distributed object computing and review the current technologies. It then discusses the realities that make distributed object computing so difficult. Given these realities, the book then provides a case study of a current technology to show why it is so difficult to distribute objects and why a protocol, such as SOAP, is such an important topic. An in-depth example gives the reader a working scenario of what is involved with distributed object computing and SOAP. Finally, the book discusses the future of SOAP, to include language binding and system integration. This book provides readers with an accelerated approach to understanding how XML applies to distributed systems, specifically using the SOAP protocol.

The Argument for SOAP.
Heavyweight Versus Lightweight Protocols. Advantages and Disadvantages of SOAP. SOAP Myths and Legends.
Comparing Distributed Object Technologies.
Design Considerations. CORBA. DCOM and DCE RPC. Java RMI. SOAP.
Summary.

XMLs Appeal.
Proprietary Formats. Spatial and Referential Schemes. Structured Data Scheme.
Essential XML.
Documents, Elements, and Attributes. Entity References and Character Data (CDATA). Parsers: The DOM and SAX. Choosing a Parser.
URIs and XML Namespaces.
URLs and URNs. XML Namespaces.
XML Schema.
Understanding XML Schemas. An XML Schema Example. SOAP and Schemas.
Style Sheets and Transformations.
The XSLT Vocabulary and Templates.
XLink, XPointer, and XPath.
XLink. XPointer. XPath.
Summary.

Using XML in Distributed Systems.
An Ad Hoc XML Approach. A Generic Approach. Complex Serialization. Realizing SOAP.
The Need for Standardization.
XML-RPC. XMOP. ebXML. SOAP.
The SOAP Specification v1.1.
Frequently Used Terminology. An Overview of the SOAP v1.1 Specification.
Summary.

SOAP and HTTP.
Request and Response Model. HTTP Methods, Headers, and Bodies. Monitoring SOAP Traffic. Bi-Directional HTTP.
SOAP and Other Protocols.
FTP. SMTP and Message Queues.
Layering Protocols for SOAP. Summary.

Serializing Information.
Directed Data Flow. Serialization and SOAP.
A Closer Look at the SOAP Envelope.
The SOAP-ENV:encodingStyle Attribute. Envelope Namespace Declarations. Additional Envelope Attributes. Envelope Versioning. Envelope Sub-Elements.
A Closer Look at the SOAP Header.
Header Element Location. Header Sub-Elements. The Header Element and Its SOAP-ENV:mustUnderstand Attribute. The Header Element and its SOAP-ENV:root Attribute.
A Closer Look at the SOAP Body.
The Call Body Element. The Response Body Element. The Fault Body Element.
Encoding Method Parameters. Summary.

Encoding Data Types in XML.
Encoding Data Types in SOAP. NDR Pointer Types.
Basic SOAP Data Types.
Simple Data Types. Byte Arrays. Strings: The Multi-Reference Simple Type. Enumerations.
Compound SOAP Data Types.
Structures. Generic Compound Types. Arrays.
Default Values. Polymorphic Accessors. Summary.

Remote Procedure Call (RPC).
Remote Endpoints. Wire Representation of Data. Interface Design for Networks. Passing References. Passing Data Structures and Graphs. Exception Handling.
Object Remote Procedure Call (ORPC).
Object References. State Management and Garbage Collection.
SOAP and ORPC.
The SOAP Object Reference. Wire Representation. SOAP Interface Design. Passing References and Interfaces. State Management and Garbage Collection.
Implementing State Management.
Cookies. The SOAP Header.
Understanding Object Activation. Summary.

BizTalk.org. The BizTalk Server.
The BizTalk Server Architecture. The BizTalk Server Tools.
The BizTalk Framework.
The BizTalk Framework: XML Tag Specifications. The BizTalk Framework: Document Design Guide. Comparing the BizTalk Framework to SOAP.
The SOAP Toolkit for Visual Studio 6.
Service Description Language (SDL). Remote Object Proxy Engine (ROPE). Listeners. SOAP Toolkit Benefits and Limitations.
Summary.

Protocol Accepta