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WSDL

Web Services Description Language (WSDL) is a recognized industry standard for describing Web services. Web service technology provides application system functionalities by network, regardless of platform. WSDL is used to define the key elements of a Web service, such as name, address, interfaces and operations, as well as the expected message formats. In recent years, it has become an established standard and is supported by many middleware providers. The WSDL standard defines an XML format, but no graphical standard for modeling. Similarly, it describes technical details, but not the functionality of the Web service.

ARIS SOA Architect enables users to import and graphically display existing WSDL descriptions. UML models are used here. To make the functionality more comprehensible to non-technical users, semantic descriptions can be added to the imported Web services. The data formats used by the Web service are also imported and incorporated into the enterprise-wide data model.

Screenshots

: UML component diagram

UML component diagram for WSDL import
WSDL import into ARIS SOA Architect automatically generates a diagram containing the technical details of the WSDL file. A UML component diagram is used to display the technical content in an intuitive, accessible way.

: Access diagram

Access diagram with application system type and component
A WSDL service should not be used directly by business users, since technical details are of little relevance at the business level. For this reason, the Web service is linked in ARIS SOA Architect to the application system type object, which can be used in the normal way for business modeling. Further business details can be added to the access diagram, such as the functionalities of the service.

: Service browser

Service browser for service allocation
It is often not apparent which service can support a business function in a business process. Therefore, ARIS SOA Architect provides an innovative search function to locate services that match specific business requirements.

: Use of a service

Use of a service in the EPC
The imported services can be used in ARIS SOA Architect in business process models to automate business functions. The screenshot shows how the invoice service automates the Calculate Price business function.