SOAP Sniffer Help

1. What is SOAP Sniffer
2. Getting Started
3. "File" Menu
4. "Edit" Menu
5. "Go" Menu
6. "Help" Menu

SOAP Sniffer is new tool, its intended main usage is to debug SOAP service calls and responses. It is written with powerful Mozilla modules to handle SOAP calls, XML parsing and many other functions.

WARNING! This tool is in early development stage and is distributed AS IS.

What SOAP Sniffer Can Do

• WSDL parsing;
• SOAP call template creating;
• Interactions with SOAP server;
• Raw message display for debugging.

What SOAP Sniffer Does

Main SOAP Sniffer usage is to debug SOAP service interactions, so it is built to simplify this task.

First operation is to parse WSDL and create its representation both for user and for further use in SOAP service requests.

Second operation is to represent selected WSDL operation as user-readable input form, so user can enter data to be sent and thus prepare new SOAP request.

Third operation is to encode data to SOAP call and send it to SOAP server.

Fourth and the last operation is to get response from SOAP server and display it to user in readable form.

SOAP Sniffer also gives user ability to correct generated message or manually create a new message and send it to the chosen server. Saving messages on every stage of work is also supported.

To do this, use "Edit Source" from Edit menu and "Save As" from File menu correspondingly.

1. Open WSDL file either from File menu, Bookmarks, or enter its URL straight into address line (input field just under the menu bar) and press 'Load' button.
2. When file is loaded it is represented as shown on picture: If it is correct WSDL file, you can choose one of SOAP service functions just by clicking on one of "<operation ..." lines (they are also highlighted gray).
3. Another window appears, where there is one or more parameters to fill: After filling those parameters, click the "Send" button.
4. Wait. Getting response from distant server may take several minutes, especially in case of low-bandwidth connection or slow SOAP server. You can save it for further use/study.
5. If all was right, new window containing formatted response from SOAP service appears.

File menu consists of these entries:

• "Open" - shows a dialog where you can choose what file to load. File can be WSDL or plain message.
• "Open in New Window" - the same as previous, but opens file in a new window.
• "Create New Message" - creates new windows, where you can compose and send to SOAP server new message.
• "Save As" - saves content of current window to a file.
• "Save to Mailbox" - append message to your 'mbox' file. (WARNING! - non-functional yet!)
• "Close" - closes current window.

• "Edit Source" - opens a new window with raw message (either created by choosing operation in WSDL file or response from server). This option is useful for understanding message structure, tweaking message parameters before sending or formatting response message before saving.
• "Properties" - opens a properties dialog. (WARNING! - non-functional yet!)

• "Go Location" - gives focus to address line (where you can give new address to open).
• "Make Bookmark" - creates new bookmark with the current address in address line in "Bookmarks" menu. You will be prompted for bookmark name. Leave it blank to use URL also as bookmark name.
• "Bookmarks" - this menu contains your bookmarks, which can be used to store heavily-used addresses of WSDLs and local files.

• "Contents" - opens this help file.
• "About" - open "About..." dialog.