Hosting ASMX Web Services in Console Applications

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 27 views

Introduction

Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 3.0 is a powerful tool that extends the .NET Framework 2.0 ASMX Web Services, providing additional messaging abilities. In this hands-on lab, we will explore the capabilities of WSE 3.0 and learn how to create Web services that can be hosted in console applications, send binary data efficiently using MTOM (Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism), and build a peer-to-peer instant messaging program.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following installed on your system:

.NET Framework 2.0
Visual Studio 2005
Web Services Enhancements 3.0 (WSE 3.0)

Hosting ASMX Web Services in Console Applications

One of the key features of WSE 3.0 is the ability to host ASMX Web services in console applications. This allows you to create Web services that can be run as standalone applications, rather than being hosted in a traditional Web server.

To get started, create a new console application in Visual Studio 2005. Add a reference to the WSE 3.0 DLLs, and create a new class that will serve as the Web service.

using System;
using System.Web.Services;
using Microsoft.Web.Services3;

[WebService(Namespace = "http://tempuri.org/")]
public class MyWebService : WebService
{
    [WebMethod]
    public string HelloWorld()
    {
        return "Hello, World!";
    }
}

In this example, we've created a simple Web service that returns a string. To host this Web service in a console application, we need to create a new class that will serve as the host.

using System;
using System.Web.Services;
using Microsoft.Web.Services3;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Create a new instance of the Web service
        MyWebService service = new MyWebService();

        // Create a new instance of the Web service host
        WebServiceHost host = new WebServiceHost(service);

        // Open the host
        host.Open();

        // Call the HelloWorld method
        Console.WriteLine(service.HelloWorld());

        // Close the host
        host.Close();
    }
}

In this example, we've created a new instance of the Web service and the Web service host. We've then opened the host, called the HelloWorld method, and closed the host.

Using MTOM to Send Binary Data Efficiently

Another key feature of WSE 3.0 is the ability to use MTOM to send binary data efficiently. MTOM is a mechanism that allows you to send binary data as a single chunk, rather than breaking it up into smaller pieces.

To get started, create a new Web service that will serve as the sender. In this example, we'll create a Web service that will send a binary file.

using System;
using System.Web.Services;
using Microsoft.Web.Services3;

[WebService(Namespace = "http://tempuri.org/")]
public class MyWebService : WebService
{
    [WebMethod]
    public void SendFile(byte[] file)
    {
        // Send the file
        Console.WriteLine("Sending file...");
    }
}

In this example, we've created a simple Web service that will send a binary file. To use MTOM to send the file, we need to add a new attribute to the Web method.

[WebMethod(MessageDirection = MessageDirection.Request)]
[MTOM]
public void SendFile(byte[] file)
{
    // Send the file
    Console.WriteLine("Sending file...");
}

In this example, we've added the MTOM attribute to the Web method. This will allow us to send the binary file as a single chunk.

Building a Peer-to-Peer Instant Messaging Program

Finally, let's build a peer-to-peer instant messaging program using WSE 3.0. In this example, we'll create a simple chat program that will allow two users to communicate with each other.

To get started, create a new Web service that will serve as the chat server. In this example, we'll create a Web service that will handle incoming messages.

using System;
using System.Web.Services;
using Microsoft.Web.Services3;

[WebService(Namespace = "http://tempuri.org/")]
public class MyWebService : WebService
{
    [WebMethod]
    public void SendMessage(string message)
    {
        // Handle the message
        Console.WriteLine("Received message: " + message);
    }
}

In this example, we've created a simple Web service that will handle incoming messages. To build the chat program, we need to create a new client that will connect to the chat server.

using System;
using System.Web.Services;
using Microsoft.Web.Services3;

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        // Create a new instance of the chat client
        MyWebService service = new MyWebService();

        // Create a new instance of the chat client host
        WebServiceHost host = new WebServiceHost(service);

        // Open the host
        host.Open();

        // Send a message
        Console.WriteLine("Sending message...");
        service.SendMessage("Hello, World!");

        // Close the host
        host.Close();
    }
}

In this example, we've created a new instance of the chat client and the chat client host. We've then opened the host, sent a message, and closed the host.

Conclusion

In this hands-on lab, we've explored the capabilities of WSE 3.0 and learned how to create Web services that can be hosted in console applications, send binary data efficiently using MTOM, and build a peer-to-peer instant messaging program. With WSE 3.0, you can create powerful Web services that can be used in a variety of applications.

Additional Resources

For more information on WSE 3.0, please refer to the following resources:

Web Services Enhancements 3.0 Documentation
WSE 3.0 Samples
WSE 3.0 Forums
Web Services Enhancements Hands On Lab - Messaging Q&A =====================================================

Introduction

In this Q&A article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 3.0 and its capabilities. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, this article will provide you with the information you need to get started with WSE 3.0.

Q: What is Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 3.0?

A: Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 3.0 is a powerful tool that extends the .NET Framework 2.0 ASMX Web Services, providing additional messaging abilities. With WSE 3.0, you can create Web services that can be hosted in console applications, send binary data efficiently using MTOM (Message Transmission Optimization Mechanism), and build a peer-to-peer instant messaging program.

Q: What are the system requirements for WSE 3.0?

A: The system requirements for WSE 3.0 are:

.NET Framework 2.0
Visual Studio 2005
Web Services Enhancements 3.0 (WSE 3.0)

Q: How do I install WSE 3.0?

A: To install WSE 3.0, follow these steps:

Download the WSE 3.0 installer from the Microsoft website.
Run the installer and follow the prompts to install WSE 3.0.
Once the installation is complete, restart your computer.

Q: How do I create a Web service using WSE 3.0?

A: To create a Web service using WSE 3.0, follow these steps:

Create a new project in Visual Studio 2005.
Add a reference to the WSE 3.0 DLLs.
Create a new class that will serve as the Web service.
Add the necessary attributes to the class to enable WSE 3.0 functionality.

Q: How do I host a Web service in a console application using WSE 3.0?

A: To host a Web service in a console application using WSE 3.0, follow these steps:

Create a new console application in Visual Studio 2005.
Add a reference to the WSE 3.0 DLLs.
Create a new class that will serve as the Web service host.
Add the necessary attributes to the class to enable WSE 3.0 functionality.
Create a new instance of the Web service and the Web service host.
Open the host and call the necessary methods to enable WSE 3.0 functionality.

Q: How do I use MTOM to send binary data efficiently using WSE 3.0?

A: To use MTOM to send binary data efficiently using WSE 3.0, follow these steps:

Create a new Web service that will serve as the sender.
Add the MTOM attribute to the Web method that will send the binary data.
Use the MTOM attribute to send the binary data as a single chunk.

Q: How do I build a peer-to-peer instant messaging program using WSE 3.0?

A: To build a peer-to-peer instant messaging program using WSE 3.0, follow these steps:

Create a new Web service that will serve as the chat server.
Add the necessary attributes to the class to enable WSE 3.0 functionality.
Create a new client that will connect to the chat server.
Use the WSE 3.0 functionality to send and receive messages between the client and the server.

Conclusion

In this Q&A article, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 3.0 and its capabilities. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, this article will provide you with the information you need to get started with WSE 3.0.

Additional Resources

For more information on WSE 3.0, please refer to the following resources: