Running Services from a Browser
You can use the Run in Browser command to run a service from a browser (that is, to simulate a browser-based client). When you use this command, Designer prompts you for the service’s input values, builds the URL necessary to invoke the service with the inputs you specify, and then passes the URL to your browser. When you use this command to run a service, your browser (not Designer) actually invokes the service and receives its results.
If you are developing services that will be invoked by browser-based clients, particularly ones whose output will be formatted using output templates, you will want to test those services using the Run in Browser command to verify that they work as expected.
To run a service using a browser as the client
1. In Package Navigator view, select the service you want to run.
2. In Designer: Run > Run As > Run in Browser
If you have unsaved edits, Designer prompts you to save them.
3. If the service has input parameters, type the input values for each variable in the Input dialog box or click the Load button to retrieve the values from a file. For more information, see Entering Input for a Service. Note: | Run in Browser only submits String and String List inputs to the service. If you want to pass other types of inputs, use the Run > Run As > Run Service option or set the values in the service instead of entering it in the Enter Input for serviceName dialog box. |
4. If you want to pass empty variables (variables that have no value) to the service, select the Include empty values for String Types check box. When you select this option, empty Strings are passed with a zero-length value. If you do not select this option, Designer excludes empty variables from the query string that it passes to the browser.
5. If you want to save the input values that you have entered, click Save. Input values that you save can be recalled and reused in later tests. For more information about saving input values, see Saving Input Values. 6. Click OK. Designer builds the URL to invoke the service with the inputs you have specified, launches your browser, and passes it the URL.
If the service executes successfully, the service results appear in your browser. If an output template is assigned to the service, the template will be applied to the results before they are returned.
If the service execution fails with an error, an error message is displayed in the browser.
