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Product Spotlight: Sigma Web Services
SigmaConnect is a plug-and-play Web services toolkit for connecting third-party applications to Controller+ and eController. Today, many companies and organizations use Web Services internally to solve application and platform integration issues and externally to expose core business functionality to customers and partners.
A Web service is a collection of rules and standards that allows software
applications to exchange data over computer networks such as the Internet.
As applications grow more complex, Web services will continue to provide interoperability between disparate applications and platforms.
SigmaConnect's Web services toolkit provides universal support for your Controller+ order management system and platform independence for your eCommerce initiatives.
How it works
A SigmaConnect Web services implementation can be segmented into three phases: development, request, and response.
Development. The first phase is the development of the application that will utilize the Web services. Using a compatible Integrated Development Environment (IDE) such as Eclipse, the Web service's self-defining document, called a WSDL, is used to create the application framework for the Web service. The application framework is further enhanced with appropriate business logic so it can send requests and receive responses from the Web services.
Request. The second phase is the transmission of the request data across a network such as the Internet. The transaction data of the request is transmitted across a network such as the Internet in the form of SOAP envelopes.
Response. The third phase is the receipt, processing
and response by the Web service provider. The application server receives
the SOAP envelope, which then uses the WSDL to translate the information
inside of the envelope into usable data for the Web services. The Web services process the data, obtaining a response from the Controller+ (or
some other application) which it then transmits back to the requesting
application.
SigmaConnect Requirements
The basic requirements for using Sigma Web services are:
-
Base Version 9.0 or greater of the Controller+™, or otherwise appropriate customization will be needed to support Sigma Web services. Additional AcuCobol Runtime licenses may also be needed. This will be determined prior to implementation.
- A license for the Orion Application Server.
- Version 1.4.1 or greater of Java.
The prerequisites for anyone designing and creating Web services are:
-
A thorough understanding of object-oriented programming and design,
A working knowledge of XML, SOAP, WSDL and Internet protocols,
The ability to install and configure application servers,
Experience in using of an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to generate an application framework using WSDL (while not required this is the preferred method).
Sigma Web Services
Universally supported
Platform independent
Evolutionary
Business oriented