Real World XML Web Services: For VB and VB .NET Developers

5.6. Using the Low Level API

In addition to the high level API, the SOAP Toolkit provides another way of exposing and invoking Web services, called the low level API. When I hear “low level API” I think of opening a TCP socket and sending/receiving network packets, something that most VB developers would like to avoid. But the toolkit's low level API is nothing like that. Instead, it's a nice, clean COM-based object model that lets you form and parse SOAP messages directly. Since you already know XSD, SOAP, and WSDL (you've read Chapters 2 through 4 haven't you?), you have nothing to fear. You should embrace this low level API as the quickest way to get the results you need even with the most complex SOAP message requirements. I'll explain how ...