WCF, Typed Datasets and DataContracts

[matthew-andrews@ntlworld.com]

Hi,

I'm new to this WCF world, and have attempted to create a WCF service
which takes a typed dataset as its data contract. I know this isn't
always put forward for interopability, but I'm working in a pure .Net
environment (.Net 3.0) and VS2005.

However, how do I get the client to populate this data object to send
into the WCF service? After I generate the proxy class using svcutil
and do;

TypedDataSet ds = new TypedDataSet();

The 'ds' object isn't what I'd expect from a dataset! So how'd I get
data into it?!??!

Sorry if vague...

Alternatively any good web sites on WCF and data contracts?

Cheers

[Marc Gravell]

Re: WCF, Typed Datasets and DataContracts

If you are working in pure .NET, and have control of both ends (and
are just uwing WCF as a comms layer, rather than an interopability
layer), then a sensible option is assembly sharing; put your contracts
(service and data) into a single assembly, and reference that assembly
from both the service (often running in IIS) and the client (generally
an exe). Now you don't need to use svcutil at all! You just configure
the endpoint in the config file, and use it. Both ends have exactly
the same interpretation of what the data is, and it "just works".

This also means you can have sensible business logic in your entity at
the client, rather than just the raw proxy.

Marc

[Marc Gravell]

Re: WCF, Typed Datasets and DataContracts

I forgot to say... to represent the service, you can subclass
ClientBase<T(wh ich is what svcutil does); but using generics you
only have to do it once (obviously you need to add some other ctors
etc if you want to use non-default endpoints):


public sealed class WcfClient<T: System.ServiceM odel.ClientBase <T>,
IDisposable where T : class
{
void IDisposable.Dis pose() { Dispose(); } // re-implement dispose
public void Dispose()
{
try
{// faulted state is poorly implemented by MS, and blocks
Close() and Dispose()!
switch (State)
{
case CommunicationSt ate.Opened:
case CommunicationSt ate.Opening:
Close(); break;
case CommunicationSt ate.Faulted:
Abort(); break;
}
}
catch { }
}
public T Service
{
get { return base.Channel; }
}
}
[ServiceContract]
interface IFoo
{
[OperationContra ct]
void Bar();
}
static class Program {
static void Main()
{
// use our WCF service
using (WcfClient<IFoo client = new WcfClient<IFoo> ())
{
client.Service. Bar();
}
}
}

[matthew-andrews@ntlworld.com]

Re: WCF, Typed Datasets and DataContracts

On Apr 24, 10:02 am, Marc Gravell <marc.grav...@g mail.comwrote:

I forgot to say... to represent the service, you can subclass
ClientBase<T(wh ich is what svcutil does); but using generics you
only have to do it once (obviously you need to add some other ctors
etc if you want to use non-default endpoints):
>
public sealed class WcfClient<T: System.ServiceM odel.ClientBase <T>,
IDisposable where T : class
{
void IDisposable.Dis pose() { Dispose(); } // re-implement dispose
public void Dispose()
{
try
{// faulted state is poorly implemented by MS, and blocks
Close() and Dispose()!
switch (State)
{
case CommunicationSt ate.Opened:
case CommunicationSt ate.Opening:
Close(); break;
case CommunicationSt ate.Faulted:
Abort(); break;
}
}
catch { }
}
public T Service
{
get { return base.Channel; }
}}
>
[ServiceContract]
interface IFoo
{
[OperationContra ct]
void Bar();}
>
static class Program {
static void Main()
{
// use our WCF service
using (WcfClient<IFoo client = new WcfClient<IFoo> ())
{
client.Service. Bar();
}
}
>
}

Marc,

Many thanks this is exactly what I was looking for, it works a
treat.

Cheers
Mat

[sloan]

Re: WCF, Typed Datasets and DataContracts

You can take a look here as well:

http://sholliday.space s.live.com/Blog/cns!A68482B9628 A842A!158.entry

WCF with Interface Development


If you want to stick with strong datasets, that would work with the above
setup as well.





<matthew-andrews@ntlworl d.comwrote in message
news:cd719bbd-0a85-4495-a64d-0bb2701f2957@34 g2000hsf.google groups.com...

Hi,
>
I'm new to this WCF world, and have attempted to create a WCF service
which takes a typed dataset as its data contract. I know this isn't
always put forward for interopability, but I'm working in a pure .Net
environment (.Net 3.0) and VS2005.
>
However, how do I get the client to populate this data object to send
into the WCF service? After I generate the proxy class using svcutil
and do;
>
TypedDataSet ds = new TypedDataSet();
>
The 'ds' object isn't what I'd expect from a dataset! So how'd I get
data into it?!??!
>
Sorry if vague...
>
Alternatively any good web sites on WCF and data contracts?
>
Cheers