Prepare SOAP Requests in Scripts

Applies to TestComplete 15.47, last modified on January 20, 2023
Testing web services with TestComplete is obsolete. We recommend that you use ReadyAPI, another SmartBear's automated testing tool for SOAP and REST web services.
If needed, you can run ReadyAPI tests from TestComplete.

Usually, to perform functional testing of a web service with TestComplete, you add your tested web service to the WebServices collection in your TestComplete project and call the needed service’s methods from your tests directly (see Creating Web Service Tests). However, sometimes, you may need to submit custom requests to your tested web service. This topic describes how you can create a custom SOAP request in TestComplete scripts and send the request to your tested web service.

About the SOAP Request Format

Web services use the SOAP protocol to transmit data in the XML format to web service methods and to return the results to the caller.

According to the SOAP protocol, XML data transmitted to a web service as a request contains a root Envelope element that includes:

  • The required Body element (the SOAP body part). Method parameters are transferred in the request’s SOAP body.

  • An optional Header element (the SOAP header part). SOAP headers can contain some additional information transmitted to the web service. For instance, SOAP headers may be used for passing authentication credentials to the web service.

For more information on the format of SOAP requests, see the Understanding SOAP article in the MSDN Library.

How to Prepare SOAP Requests in Scripts

In TestComplete, to create a custom SOAP request, you can use the WebServiceInfo.PrepareRequestObject method. Use the object the method returns to specify the parameters to be passed to your tested web service. Then use the WebServiceInfo.PrepareRequest method to create an XML document with the specified parameters in the SOAP body. This way, you do not need to manually create and edit the XML data to be sent to your server.

Note: However, the generated SOAP request will not contain any headers. To add a header to your request, you will have to create the appropriate XML elements and add them to the request manually.

The instructions below explain how to create a custom SOAP request, add headers to it, and then send the request to the tested web service:

  1. If your TestComplete project does not have the WebServices collection, add it. See Creating Web Service Tests.

    Add the WebServices collection to your TestComplete project

    Click the image to enlarge it.

  2. (Optional.) Add your tested web service to the WebServices collection. See Creating Web Service Tests.

    Add a WebService item to your TestComplete project

    Click the image to enlarge it.

  3. In your script, create a WebServiceInfo object that will provide access to your tested web service methods and data types.

    If your tested web service is added to your project’s WebServices collection, use the WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfoFromItem method:

    JavaScript

    let serviceInfo = WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfoFromItem("SampleWebService");

    JScript

    var serviceInfo = WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfoFromItem("SampleWebService");

    Python

    serviceInfo = WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfoFromItem("SampleWebService")

    VBScript

    Set serviceInfo = WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfoFromItem("SampleWebService")

    DelphiScript

    var serviceInfo;

    serviceInfo := WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfoFromItem('SampleWebService');

    C#Script

    var serviceInfo = WebServices["CreateWebServiceInfoFromItem"]("SampleWebService");

    Otherwise, use the WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfo method:

    JavaScript

    let URL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx?WSDL";
    let serviceName = "SampleWebService";
    let soapVersion = WebServices.svSoap11;

    let serviceInfo = WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfo(URL, serviceName, soapVersion);

    JScript

    var URL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx?WSDL";
    var serviceName = "SampleWebService";
    var soapVersion = WebServices.svSoap11;

    var serviceInfo = WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfo(URL, serviceName, soapVersion);

    Python

    URL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx?WSDL"
    serviceName = "SampleWebService"
    soapVersion = WebServices.svSoap11

    serviceInfo = WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfo(URL, serviceName, soapVersion)

    VBScript

    URL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx?WSDL"
    serviceName = "SampleWebService"
    soapVersion = WebServices.svSoap11

    Set serviceInfo = WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfo(URL, serviceName, soapVersion)

    DelphiScript

    var URL, serviceName, soapVersion, serviceInfo;

    URL := 'http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx?WSDL';
    serviceName := 'SampleWebService';
    soapVersion := WebServices.svSoap11;

    serviceInfo := WebServices.CreateWebServiceInfo(URL, serviceName, soapVersion);

    C#Script

    var URL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx?WSDL";
    var serviceName = "SampleWebService";
    var soapVersion = WebServices["svSoap11"];

    var serviceInfo = WebServices["CreateWebServiceInfo"](URL, serviceName, soapVersion);
  4. Use the WebServiceInfo.PrepareRequestObject to create a helper object that will store the parameters to be passed to a web service method:

    JavaScript

    let methodName = "SetSampleObject";
    let requestObj = serviceInfo.PrepareRequestObject(methodName);

    JScript

    var methodName = "SetSampleObject";
    var requestObj = serviceInfo.PrepareRequestObject(methodName);

    Python

    methodName = "SetSampleObject"
    requestObj = serviceInfo.PrepareRequestObject(methodName)

    VBScript

    methodName = "SetSampleObject"
    Set requestObj = serviceInfo.PrepareRequestObject(methodName)

    DelphiScript

    var methodName, requestObj;

    methodName := 'SetSampleObject';
    requestObj := serviceInfo.PrepareRequestObject(methodName);

    C#Script

    var methodName = "SetSampleObject";
    var requestObj = serviceInfo["PrepareRequestObject"](methodName);
  5. The properties of the created helper object correspond to the tested web service method’s parameters. Assign the values you want to pass to your tested web service method to the object properties:

    JavaScript

    // The method takes the obj parameter that is an object of the SampleTestClass
    requestObj.obj = serviceInfo.TypeFactory.SampleTestClass;

    JScript

    // The method takes the obj parameter that is an object of the SampleTestClass
    requestObj.obj = serviceInfo.TypeFactory.SampleTestClass;

    Python

    # The method takes the obj parameter that is an object of the SampleTestClass
    requestObj.obj = serviceInfo.TypeFactory.SampleTestClass

    VBScript

    ' The method takes the obj parameter that is an object of the SampleTestClass
    Set requestObj.obj = serviceInfo.TypeFactory.SampleTestClass

    DelphiScript

    // The method takes the obj parameter that is an object of the SampleTestClass
    requestObj.obj := serviceInfo.TypeFactory.SampleTestClass;

    C#Script

    // The method takes the obj parameter that is an object of the SampleTestClass
    requestObj["obj"] = serviceInfo["TypeFactory"]["SampleTestClass"];
  6. Use the WebServiceInfo.PrepareRequest method to generate an XML document from the helper object:

    JavaScript

    let requestXml = serviceInfo.PrepareRequest(methodName, requestObj);

    JScript

    var requestXml = serviceInfo.PrepareRequest(methodName, requestObj);

    Python

    requestXml = serviceInfo.PrepareRequest(methodName, requestObj)

    VBScript

    Set requestXml = serviceInfo.PrepareRequest(methodName, requestObj)

    DelphiScript

    var requestXml;

    requestXml := serviceInfo.PrepareRequest(methodName, requestObj);

    C#Script

    var requestXml = serviceInfo["PrepareRequest"](methodName, requestObj);

    The generated XML document contains a SOAP body with the specified method parameters to be passed to the tested web service:

    XML

    <s:Envelope xmlns:s="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
      <s:Body xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
              xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
              xmlns:ns1="http://smartbear.com">
        <ns1:SetSampleObject>
          <ns1:obj xsi:type="ns1:SampleTestClass">
            …
          </ns1:obj>
        </ns1:SetSampleObject>
      </s:Body>
    </s:Envelope>

    If needed, you can use properties and methods of the IXMLDOMDocument interface to modify the content of the created XML document. To learn more, see the description of the IXMLDOMDocument interface in the MSDN Library.

    For example, you may need this to add a Header to your SOAP request:

    JavaScript

    let root = requestXml.documentElement;
    let headerElement = requestXml.createElement("s:Header");
    let headerNode = root.insertBefore(headerElement, root.childNodes.item(0));

    JScript

    var root = requestXml.documentElement;
    var headerElement = requestXml.createElement("s:Header");
    var headerNode = root.insertBefore(headerElement, root.childNodes.item(0));

    Python

    root = requestXml.documentElement
    headerElement = requestXml.createElement("s:Header")
    headerNode = root.insertBefore(headerElement, root.childNodes.item[0])

    VBScript

    Set root = requestXml.documentElement
    Set headerElement = requestXml.createElement("s:Header")
    Set headerNode = root.insertBefore(headerElement, root.childNodes.item(0))

    DelphiScript

    var root, headerElement, headerNode;

    root := requestXml.documentElement;
    headerElement := requestXml.createElement('s:Header');
    headerNode := root.insertBefore(headerElement, root.childNodes.item(0));

    C#Script

    var root = requestXml["documentElement"];
    var headerElement = requestXml["createElement"]("s:Header");
    var headerNode = root["insertBefore"](headerElement, root["childNodes"]["item"](0));

    Note: If your tested web service does not require that SOAP requests contain headers, you do not need to add them.

  7. Create an XMLHTTP object:

    JavaScript

    let xmlHttpRequest = getActiveXObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP.3.0");

    JScript

    var xmlHttpRequest = new ActiveXObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP.3.0");

    Python

    xmlHttpRequest = Sys.OleObject["MSXML2.XMLHTTP.3.0"]

    VBScript

    Set xmlHttpRequest = CreateObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP.3.0")

    DelphiScript

    var xmlHttpRequest;

    xmlHttpRequest := Sys.OleObject('MSXML2.XMLHTTP.3.0');

    C#Script

    xmlHttpRequest = new ActiveXObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP.3.0");

    The object allows sending XML data to HTTP servers and receiving server responses.

  8. Use the open and send methods of the created XMLHTTP object to send the created SOAP request to the tested web service:

    JavaScript

    let serviceURL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx";
    xmlHttpRequest.open("POST", serviceURL, false);
    xmlHttpRequest.send(requestXml);

    JScript

    var serviceURL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx";
    xmlHttpRequest.open("POST", serviceURL, false);
    xmlHttpRequest.send(requestXml);

    Python

    serviceURL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx"
    xmlHttpRequest.open("POST", serviceURL, False)
    xmlHttpRequest.send(requestXml)

    VBScript

    serviceURL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx"
    Call xmlHttpRequest.open("POST", serviceURL, False)
    xmlHttpRequest.send(requestXml)

    DelphiScript

    var serviceURL;

    serviceURL := 'http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx';
    xmlHttpRequest.open('POST', serviceURL, false);
    xmlHttpRequest.send(requestXml);

    C#Script

    var serviceURL = "http://secure.smartbearsoftware.com/samples/testcomplete15/webservices/Service.asmx";
    xmlHttpRequest["open"]("POST", serviceURL, false);
    xmlHttpRequest["send"](requestXml);
  9. (Optional.) To get the server response in your script, use the responseXML property of the XMLHTTP object:

    JavaScript

    let responseXML = xmlHttpRequest.responseXML;

    JScript

    var responseXML = xmlHttpRequest.responseXML;

    Python

    responseXML = xmlHttpRequest.responseXML

    VBScript

    Set responseXML = xmlHttpRequest.responseXML

    DelphiScript

    var responseXML;

    responseXML := xmlHttpRequest.responseXML;

    C#Script

    var responseXML = xmlHttpRequest["responseXML"];

    It returns the response body as an XML document.

    You can use the WebServiceInfo.ParseResponse method to process the response and get the object whose properties contain the output parameters of a method of the web service:

    JavaScript

    let response = serviceInfo.ParseResponse(methodName, responseXML);
    Log.Message("Result Value: " + response.SetSampleObjectResult);

    JScript

    var response = serviceInfo.ParseResponse(methodName, responseXML);
    Log.Message("Result Value: " + response.SetSampleObjectResult);

    Python

    response = serviceInfo.ParseResponse(methodName, responseXML)
    Log.Message("Result Value: " + response.SetSampleObjectResult)

    VBScript

    Set response = serviceInfo.ParseResponse(methodName, responseXML)
    Call Log.Message("Result Value: " & response.SetSampleObjectResult)

    DelphiScript

    var response;

    response := serviceInfo.ParseResponse(methodName, responseXML);
    Log.Message('Result Value: ' + response.SetSampleObjectResult);

    C#Script

    var response = serviceInfo["ParseResponse"](methodName, responseXML);
    Log["Message"]("Result Value: " + response["SetSampleObjectResult"]);

You can view the whole sample code that shows how to prepare and send SOAP requests below.

How to Add WCF Authentication Headers to SOAP Requests

If your tested web service uses the WCF technology and requires complex authentication, you cannot create a proper request header from scripts directly. As a workaround, you can do the following:

  1. Add your tested web service to the WebServices collection in your project.

  2. Add the Events collection to your TestComplete project:

    Add the Events collection to your TestComplete project

    Click the image to enlarge it.

  3. Add an Event Control item to the collection and then add a handler for the OnWebServiceRequest event:

    Add a handler for the OnWebServiceRequest event

    Click the image to enlarge it.

    TestComplete will call the handler whenever your test sends a request to the tested web service.

  4. The event handler provides access to the content of the SOAP request to be sent and to the method of the tested web service to which the request is being sent. In the event handler, you can:

  5. Send a request to your tested web service using the appropriate method of the WebServices.Your_WebService_Item_Name object.

    Before sending a request, TestComplete will raise the OnWebServiceRequest event handler and process your request.

Example

The code below shows how you can prepare SOAP requests and send them to your tested web service from scripts.

The code sends a SOAP request to the SetSampleObject method of the tested SampleWebService web service. The method takes the obj input parameter that is an object of the SampleTestClass class. The object has the following properties:

  • X - Integer.

  • Y - Integer.

  • Name - String.

  • IntArray - Array of integers.

In addition, the code adds authentication credentials to the request’s header: the Credentials element with the UserID and Password child elements. The code shows how to add such a header to the request using the IXMLDOMDocument interface.

Example

See Also

About Testing Web Services
Creating Web Service Tests
WebServiceInfo Object
About Testing Web Services

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