Why am I having so much trouble uploading a file in WCF4? - wcf

This has stumped me now for over 4 hours. I can't find a simple example anywhere?
My web application has a WCF Data Service, I would love to be able to just upload an image to a custom operation on that.
Alternatively I have WCF REST TEMPLATE SERVICE that has only a .cs, NO .config to play with and NO .svc file. It does have a route in the global.asax
// Edit the base address of Service1 by replacing the "Service1" string below
RouteTable.Routes.Add(new ServiceRoute("upload", new WebServiceHostFactory(), typeof(UploadService)));
My operation looks like this:
[WebInvoke(Method ="POST", UriTemplate = "update-pic/{id}")]
public Message UploadPic(string id, Stream fileContents)
{
System.Drawing.Image.FromStream(fileContents).Save(string.Format("{0:ddmmss}.jpg"));
return WebOperationContext.Current.CreateTextResponse("Success: " + id);
}
But no matter what I do on the client, when I call the service I get a 400 response. I could facing problems with message size limits, but I don't know how to configure this with the WCF RestTemplate style.
If I do not set the anything to the response stream, then I manage to hit the service.
Does anyone have an end to end service and client example for WCF4 - I'm not interested in 3.5

Related

How to allow all Operations and Namespaces

I'm new to WCF, but not new to C# and .Net. and am using Visual Studio 2008 and .Net 3.5.
I'm trying to build a Web Service that can receive any inbound Request XML and any namespaces. It would behave like a transparent receiver and simply intake the inbound request XML.
Once I get the request I'm going to pass it to some custom .Net C# Project to invoke a MQPUT to IBM MQ Series.
Right now I have the WCF Web Service Application receiving a generic inbound operation called RunTest(). I consume the WSDL into SoapUI, build a sample request and breakpoint and it works. But, when I try to pass our company request XML it doesn't land on the breakpoint.
Here is the ServiceContract and Operation:
[ServiceContract(Name="IService1",Namespace="cfg-env=http://www.co.com/schemas/cfg- env/")]
//[ServiceContract]
public interface IService1
{
[OperationContract]
void RunTest();
[OperationContract]
void CFX();
Here is the Method for the Operation:
public void RunTest()
{ <<<it does break here using the request from the WSDL
string serviceName;
string queueManager;
string queue;
string requestMessage;
//Capture the Service Name
serviceName = "";
//Save the QueueManager
queueManager = "";
//Save the Request Queue
queue = "";
//Save the Message
requestMessage = "";
//Call MQ Put
Engine eng = new Engine();
try
{
eng.Put(serviceName, queue, requestMessage, queueManager);
}
The main thing I need to do is receive the inbound XML, interogate it for a few pieces of information and call this Method to do the MQPUT function on MQ.
The inbound namespace will look like the above but I'd like to ensure I can receive and interogate any XPATH that may be namespace qualified. If I have to I can work with the cfg-env namespace prefix exclusively as our services do use that as a standard.
What are my key hurdles in doing this in VS 2008 WCF? If you have any links please pass them along if you can.
I believe you specify the name property on the OperationContract attribute as "*" to accept all requests. To make the parameter itself schema agnostic, it should be of type System.ServiceModel.Channels.Message.
What you are building is a "WCF router".
Included in the latest .NET release is a configurable Routing Service.
If the routing service doesn't meet your needs, building your own router is possible but can get really complicated when secure messages are a requirement. This set of MSDN articles is the best resource. They answer your question of how to have a service accept any message, and then continue on into addressing and security issues.
Building a WCF Router, Part 1
Building a WCF Router, Part 2

How to Consume MVC 4 WebApi Service

I am new to Web Api world and I see a lot of potential for in the new MVC 4 Web Api. I have generated a WCF Web Service but was planning to get to know Web-APIs and their web service capabilities. Now, is MVC 4 Web-Api Service more as front end? I wrote a sample Service by following some examples online in MVC 4 Web Api but how do I consume the Service in just a basic console app? I have figured out the only way to consume it is by using HttpClient are there other ways? I am used to ASP.NET Web Service and WCF Web Service as where you reference it as a service in your references and then you are able to see all of its objects, properties to make appropriate calls.
What happens if web-api is requesting a object "Task" for post method as an example how am I able to fill an object "Task" and post it back to the web-api? As in WCF I am able to see that "Task" object and its properties because of WSDL so I am able to fill them and send it back to the service how is that done in web-api service?
The webservice would be used internally is it worth it to have an web-api service?
Thank you so much for helping clearing some question of what I have about web-api services.
---Edit as per Comment---
This screenshot shows a possible structure which you can approach. Of course, you can take a design that best suit your application.
So ControllerLib is a separate Class Library project which is brought into the main project as a Service Reference (which is not shown in the screenshot but should be inside the References folder of the SecondMVCApplication project). The two controller file (HomeController.cs and LocationController.cs is a controller file that implemented the Controller class, which is the same thing as a Controller file when you create a new MVC4 application using the template)
So for your question regarding if there is a SVC file. NO. In MVC 4, there is no such thing as a SVC file whether the application is one project or a combination of multiple project (unless I am mistaken). Inside the SecondMVCApplication, there is a file called RouteConfig.cs which holds the routing URL and as long as you add the Service Reference and there controller function exists. The code will run. Also the sample screenshot I showed also includes a WebApiConfig.cs file. You can use that file to do API stuff for mobile if you need. So, the regular RouteConfig.cs handles website request and the WebApiConfig.cs handles API request.
Good to Note: If you are using a Model project as a separate project (which I know you will as it is a M-V-C project...DUH!!). Make sure you put your connection string inside the web.config main project (in this case, the SecondMVCApplication). I remember I was stuck in this problem for 3 days (8 hours each) trying to fix this problem. Hope you don't run into it.
---End Edit---
The following answer to your question is mostly based on my knowledge and may or may not be true to all users.
Is MVC 4 Web-Api Service more as front end?
This depends on how you look at it. Typically, a Web-API service is more suited for creating back-end service to provide a data payload to different platforms, like mobile, desktop apps and so on. However, a MVC4 Internet Application will have front-end aspects in them, namely the Views, which end-users sees.
How do I consume the Service in just a basic console app?
AFAIK, there is two way to do this. One if to consume the APIs as a Service Reference. Another is to use HTTP operation (which I will mention in your question regarding the HTTP client and reserve this answer using the Service Reference method).
This depends on how your application is done. Like I said, if it is a website, your MVC pattern will not need to do anything, but the Models, Views and Controllers all are designed to work together without using any service.
Although, as I mentioned in the comments to the questions, if it is a big application then you will need to break them into different projects that will make the app modular and nimble. So you will end up creating different Service Library. If you go down the Service Library road, then you just make use of the Add Reference option to bring in your API/Projects/Whatever-you-call-it into the project. (For this, I normally put all project inside a single solution and let Visual Studio manage the build order as I am lazy to write up a build script).
Similarly, the same logic could be applied when consuming your web service in a console app.
I have figured out the only way to consume it is by using HttpClient are there other ways?
One way to consume web APIs is using HTTP. Are you aware of how to write http request headers and handle http response. If so, this is the second way I mentioned. You call the web service through it's URL and then get the data and do whatever work. If your answer to use http in console app is NO, then look at this post: Create HTTP post request and receive response using C# console application
What happens if web-api is requesting a object "Task" for post method as an example how am I able to fill an object "Task" and post it back to the web-api?
I think I indirectly answered this in your previous answer (assuming you are going to take the HTTP road). If not, then comment and I'll see if I can find some resource for you.
The webservice would be used internally is it worth it to have an web-api service?
I sort of answered this in the comment to the question. Ask if you need clarification.
Hope all this helps.
you can create your own Client Service class that will serve for every request.
public class ClientService
{
#region async helper methods
private static string m_mediaTypeHeaderValue= "application/json";
static HttpClient client = new HttpClient();
static HttpClient createHttpClientInstance()
{
return client ?? new HttpClient();
}
// SELECT
internal static async Task<T> Get<T>(string endpoint)
{
client= createHttpClientInstance();
var response = await client.GetAsync(endpoint);
string content = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
return await Task.Run(() => JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<T>(content));
}
// INSERT
static async Task<T> Post<T>(string endpoint, object data)
{
client = createHttpClientInstance();
var httpContent = new StringContent(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(data));
httpContent.Headers.ContentType = new MediaTypeHeaderValue(m_mediaTypeHeaderValue);
var response = await client.PostAsync(endpoint, httpContent);
string content = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
return await Task.Run(() => JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<T>(content));
}
// UPDATE
static async Task<T> Put<T>(string endpoint, object data)
{
client = createHttpClientInstance();
var httpContent = new StringContent(JsonConvert.SerializeObject(data));
httpContent.Headers.ContentType = new MediaTypeHeaderValue(m_mediaTypeHeaderValue);
var response = await client.PutAsync(endpoint, httpContent);
string content = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
return await Task.Run(() => JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<T>(content));
}
// DELETE
static async Task<T> Delete<T>(string endpoint)
{
client = createHttpClientInstance();
var response = await client.DeleteAsync(endpoint);
string content = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
return await Task.Run(() => JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<T>(content));
}
#endregion
}

How can I check connection is still valid for Silverlight client using net.tcp for duplex?

I'm putting together a WCF service using net.tcp and netTcpBinding to get duplex comms with my Silverlight client. I call into the service from the Silverlight app and the service calls out to another server, passing it a callback method in the WCF service class. The remote server calls back several times and each time it does, the WCF service uses the callbackchannel to send the data to the Silverlight client. It all works nicely most of the time.
If the user puts in a big request, I get a TimeoutException after a large number of callbacks have already worked. (Clearly, there's some work to do elsewhere to prevent this but I'd like to robustify the service, first.)
I was expecting to do some kind of 'if (client.ConnectionState == faulted)' check before trying to call back to the Silverlight client but I can't seem to find the object that holds the state of the connection. Is there one? Am I approaching this from the wrong side?
This is my first venture into a service net.tcp and duplex. I just moved house and my WCF bible is still in a box. Somewhere. :-) So, I can't do my usual background reading.
Any pointers would be gratefully received. Here's some bare code in case my description is too soupy:
private IActiveDirectoryClient client;
private AsyncSearchRunner runner;
public void Search(Request request)
{
this.client = OperationContext.Current.GetCallbackChannel<IActiveDirectoryClient>();
runner = new AsyncSearchRunner();
runner.Run(request.SearchRoot, request.SearchFilter, request.PageSize,
System.DirectoryServices.Protocols.SearchScope.Subtree, SendObjects);
}
private void SendObjects(List<DirectoryObject> items)
{
Response response = new Response();
response.DirectoryObjects = items.ToArray();
client.SendResponse(response);
}
Yes, there is a State property that is defined in the ClientBase<> class (all the proxy classes are derived from ClientBase<>).
There are some proxy wrappers out there that handle fault states of the connection and re-establish connections as needed. Google for "wcf proxy wrapper".
You can also home-brew something if you use some kind of ServiceLocator pattern.

How to port WCF RESTful web service to Axis 2/C (or WSO C++)

We are looking at redoing some web service applications (currently in prototype phase) from WCF/C# to a C++ cross platform web service framework. So, I'm looking at Axis2/C or WSO2 WSF/C++ as possible frameworks. I'd really like to port the functionality already written in the WCF service to the other service frameworks.
Here's the functionality:
Web GET calls return JSON - supported by Axis2/Java (not sure about C/C++ versions yet)
Can also return arbitrary content (like generated images or pages).
In WCF, you can return JSON by decorating the service operation like this:
[OperationContract]
[WebGet(UriTemplate = "/calltimings", BodyStyle = WebMessageBodyStyle.Bare, ResponseFormat = WebMessageFormat.Json)]
TimingInfo[] CallTimings();
where TimingInfo is a simple data contract that serializes to JSON. I can find how to do the same in Axis2 (Java version anyways).
The other call my webservice supports is:
[OperationContract]
[WebGet(UriTemplate = "/ping.htm")]
Stream PingHTML();
where the html page is generated dynamically. There are other similar calls that return a Stream that contains the contents of generated images. The WCF framework magically takes the Stream and puts the contents directly into the HTTP response body. That is great for images, because I can write web client code like this:
<img id="viewportX" src="http://www.myservice.com/getimage?rotation=93"/>
So, my question is: How can I write an Axis2/C service operation that will return image content directly to the caller?
How can I write this in the web client?
<img id="viewportX" src="http://www.myservice.com/axis2/some_service/getimage?rotation=93"/>
Can I?

Type 'System.Web.HttpRequest' cannot be serialized

I am trying to design an Picture Upload feature into a web site.
I am using ASP.NET 3.5, C#, and WCF.
I have been asked to accomplish the following:
1) Make the Uploader a Web Service
2) Return progress updates to the user as files are uploaded.
3) Log other relevant user-selected options in the database.
So, I have started off by creating a WCF web client with the
below service contract:
IService.UploadPictures(HttpRequest request);
private UploadServiceClient upload;
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
upload = new UploadServiceClient();
upload.UploadPictures(Request.Files);
}
When I compile, I get the below error:
Type 'System.Web.HttpRequest' cannot
be serialized. Consider marking it
with the DataContractAttribute, and
marking all of its members you want
serialized with the
DataMemberAttribute attribute.
So, I went back into my service contract and
changed [OperationContract] to [DataContract]
but the change produced the same error.
Can somebody kindly tell me what I am doing wrong
and provide examples as to how to best move forward?
Thanks for your time.
You cannot use something like a HttpRequest as a WCF parameter. The error messages says it all - the HttpRequest is not serializable, and in order to work with WCF, types have to be serializable.
Also, you need to remember: you're not just passing an object instance to a method here - what you're really doing is having the WCF runtime serialize your request (the method name to call plus all the parameters passed in) into a message (think: e-mail or xml file), sending it to the server, deserialising there and building up a new copy of the given datatype (as defined in your DataContract), and doing something with it.
Your WCF service could well be self-hosted, e.g. running in a NT Service or console app - no HttpRequest available in those circumstances!
You need to definitely rearchitect your solution - you need to either check into WCF streaming to upload files to WCF (google for it - you'll find plenty of hits) or you'll need to find another way to pass the relevant info (e.g. list of filenames) to the WCF service without use of a HttpRequest object.
Marc
You are submitting a request as a parameter to a request. This is not what you want to do. I'm assuming that "Request.Files" is an array of files. This is what you want to upload. So something like:
IService.UploadPictures(List<SomeFileType> request);