So far, we've looked at how to create SOAP-based web services. Let's now take a look at how we can consume those services from within NetBeans. Unlike web services, web service clients can be used in all sorts of applications whether they are standalone Java desktop applications, or running within an EJB framework, or anywhere in between. To invoke a web service, we first need to define a web service client. A web service client is configured with the WSDL for a web service and therefore, knows all of the web service operations and parameters.
To create a web service client, invoke the New File wizard and select Web Service Client from the list of File Types within the Web Services category.
Within the New Web Services client dialog, we are provided with four different ways to select a WSDL file:
Project: This allows a WSDL file to be selected by browsing through all of the WSDL files available within the currently open projects in NetBeans.
Local File: This allows...