Extending Vista The PowerLinks WebServices SDK John Hallett Senior Product Manager WebCT, Inc

Overview The WebServices interface provides programmatic access to common user- level functions Actions are subject to same security as events processed by the UI, specifically: –Events are executed as a user (password req’d) –User cannot exceed their authorization (same as UI)

Overview The WebServices Definition Language files live behind axis on your Vista server. For more info, look at WSDL XML can be imported into many languages, but is also useful for a casual review of the available services

Request Processing* *Image not to scale Client Browser Request Vista Auth Handler Vista Auth Service Request Vista Service Dispatch Vista Core Service Normal Request External Program Request WS Auth Handler Request WS Service Dispatch WebServices Request

Feature Overview The WS SDK is broken up into discrete areas, much like the Vista UI Each tool has (or will have) a corresponding WebService that matches the tool’s UI features As each tool is updated in new Vista versions, new features will be added to the WS SDK

Access Options 3 ways to get at WebServices SDK.NET DLL Client Java SDK Client Vista WebServices Here Be Vista Outside World Direct WSDL in your favorite language Vista Gradebook Vista Mail Service

Context WebService Before you do anything, you have to log in. This is the primary reason for the Context WebService’s existence Also provides access to enrollment information

Context WebService Capability summary –Log a user in, and receive a session object (must be used in all other WS calls) –Get a list of Learning Contexts a user is enrolled in, and what roles the user has in those –Get ID of template associated with LC

Context Webservice login method can also be used to invoke an AuthModule for password-less authentication Supporting methods for retrieving section instructor (e.g. for submitting grades)

Calendar WebService Gives access to Vista Calendar tool Ideal for synchronizing external calendars, scheduling applications & portal channels Capability Summary –Support for full Create, Read, Update, Delete calls –Bulk call for retrieving all entries for a user –Editable check

GradeBook WebService Great for assignment or testing integration, portals Capability summary –Basically everything, CRUD for columns, values, types, meta-date, attributes (25 methods in total) –Common gotcha: students can not set their own grades; only instructors can do this

Mail WebService Good for campus mail integration, portals, implementing outside in Vista Capability summary –CRUD for messages, mailboxes (per course), marking mail read/unread –Support for bulk transactions, attachments Could even be used to build out an IMAP layer for Vista mail (go for it!)

File Manager WebServices Provides access to Vista file system Good for managing content, portals (isn’t everything?), client integration Capability Summary –CRUD for files, folders, plus duplicate, rename, upload –Editable permissions (read/write)

IMSQuestionAndTestService WS Access to Vista Quiz/Question engine based on IMS QTI (Question and Test Interoperability) Capability Summary –CRUD for questions, quizzes –All via the IMS QTI format (

Versioning All interfaces contain methods for determining version compatibility Compatibility guaranteed for at least two major Vista revisions Now Vista 4.0Vista

Documentation Full Web Services Javadoc included in SDK Client Distribution SDK Programmer’s Guide covers best- practices and higher-level documentation

Questions? How do I...? What is...? Are you free Friday...?

Thank you For more info, please contact me: John Hallett Senior Product Manager WebCT, Inc or, see the WebCT Developer’s Network: