Sending HTTP endpoint requests

You can send requests to services that use an HTTP endpoint.

Before you begin

If the service uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) authentication, create an SSL configuration before sending the request. For more information, see Creating SSL configurations.

If the service uses SOAP security for encryption, signature, or other security algorithms, you must first configure the environment with the correct libraries and configuration files, and then create a security profile for the WSDL file. For more information, see Creating security profiles for WSDL files

Procedure

To send a request to an HTTP service:
  1. Click the Open the Generic Service Client toolbar button Open the Generic Service Client button and select the Requests page.
  2. Click the Add icon Add button and click a type of request that you want to send or in Request Library, right-click EndPoints and select a type of request that you want to send.
  3. In the Configure Protocol window, select HTTP and specify the HTTP transport configuration.
    If necessary, click New to create an HTTP transport configuration for the call.

    To send the HTTP/2 requests, in the Create HTTP Protocol configuration window, click the Activate check box. Before capturing the HTTP/2 traffic, configure the computer. See Preparing to record a test for the HTTP/2 service for instructions.

  4. Type the URL of the call, the HTTP method and version, and specify any header or cookie properties.
    Click the Rest mode check box to split the URL into resource and parameters.
  5. Click Next.
  6. On the Select Root Element page, if the service uses a specific XML Schema Definition (XSD), select one from the list or click Browse to import the XSD file, and then, select the root element for the request.
    If no XSD is available for the service, select No Schema.
  7. Click Finish.
    The request is added to the Endpoints section of the Request Library.
  8. In the Request Library, select the request element.
    The generic service client shows three steps: Edit Request, Invoke, and View Response. The details for the request are displayed under the Edit Request step.
  9. Based on the request selected in Step 2, on the Message page, use the Form, Tree, or Source views to edit the contents of the request.
    Each view shows a different format of the same data. To add or remove XML elements in the Form or Tree view, click Schema > Validate and Assist to comply with an XSD specified in the schema catalog.
  10. On the Attachments page, specify any file attachments to send with the request.
    To add an attachment, click Add and follow the wizard to attach a file with the request.
  11. On the Transport page, if necessary, change the transport configuration to be used by the request.
    To create and edit transport and security configurations, use the Transport tab.
  12. If you selected SOAP XML request in step 2, on the Request Stack page, specify whether you want to override the security or processing algorithms that are applied to the outgoing request for the WSDL file.
    To add a Response Stack page to edit the security or processing algorithms for incoming responses, click Show Response Stack.
    Note: These settings apply only to the current request. To edit the request or response stack for all requests that use the current WSDL file, click Edit WSDL Security to open the WSDL Security Editor.
  13. When you are ready, click Invoke to send the service request.
    The generic service client sends the request and displays the message return under the View Response step.

What to do next

Successful requests are recorded and added to the Request History list. If you are using IBM® Rational® Performance Tester or IBM® Rational® Service Tester for SOA Quality, you can create a service test by clicking the Generate Test Suite button (Generate Test Suite).