In a somewhat unrelated project I was looking to integrate a client app with a server that provided a SOAP API. As it turns out, my client app framework would be very simplified if it could use a REST API instead.

Sadly, I went through 3 or 4 Google searches before I thought, "Hey, Convertigo could do that".

So I created my first HTTP Connector. Now what I'm seeing is that the HTTP connector is somewhat similar to CLI/CLP connectors in that the handlers (though restricted to transaction start and XML generation) are simply JavaScript entry points where I can write whatever I want.

The question is, what's the best way to go about writing JavaScript that talks to a SOAP service? I see there's a JQuery plugin, but is there anything more straightforward that I'm missing?

If I understand, you would like to use Convertigo to access the SOAP API of a given Application and to be in turn accessed as a REST service from your Client UI ?

If this is what you want, Convertigo can do this easily. If you have the WSDL of your target SOAP Interface, simple create a new Sequencer project. In this project use right click on the project object and choose 'Import WS reference'. In the dialog box you will have the opportunity to specify the WSDL URL. When you click OK, Convertigo will create a HTTP Connector, and for each SOAP method, will create a Transaction with the needed Variables.

Now you can call in REST format these transactions from any JQuery like client ...

This sounds excellent!

My one trouble is that access to my WSDL requires authentication. Perhaps this is a feature that would have to be added to the studio? Or is there another way?

For now, I'm going to download the WSDL and try to rehost it somewhere without authentication.

The rehost seems to have worked. I do get an error about updating XSD for the project, but the HTTPConnector was created.

But now I'm back to the original problem that the target system requires authentication. For a given transaction within a HTTPConnector, how do I set credentials for basic authentication? In a CWI or CWC, I would use the credentials statement, but that isn't available here.

Basic auth credentials are set directly in the HTTP connector, not at transaction level. Check the "Basic authentication user/password" parameters in your connector for that.

I didn't think that these could be provided by the user (e.g. as transaction variables)? I want each client to be authenticated to the backend SOAP service.

I did try to use these as a temporary workaround for testing. I ended up with a 401.2 error from the server. Since it was specifically 401.2 and not a regular 401, the credentials must have made it there, but the server did not like something about them.

These are the Sharepoint Web Services I'm connecting to BTW. Has anyone had experience attempting to connect c8o to these services?