Cape Clear Software has announced the availability of a free WSDL Editor graphical tool "that enables you to create and edit WSDL definitions of Web services. It facilitates the creation of Web Services Description Language (WSDL) files and manages WSDL file syntax and validation." Designed for programmers interested in working with Web Services, the Cape Clear WSDL Editor "delivers the first complete environment for rapid Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) development. It supports novice programmers, while also providing sophisticated features for more experienced Web Services developers. The WSDL Editor includes powerful wizards that eliminate the complexity of WSDL, as well as WSDL validation, which simplifies testing, and support for the rapid creation of Web Services from XML Schema. It offers an intuitive graphical environment for the design of Web Services and, in particular, assists developers who wish to create Web Services from existing XML interfaces such as SWIFT, ACORD, BAPI, and RosettaNet. The WSDL Editor is an early access component of CapeStudio, Cape Clear's integrated Web services development environment. CapeStudio's design-time components include a WSDL Generator (generates WSDL files from existing server-side component interfaces, such as Java classes, Enterprise JavaBeans, or CORBA IDL definitions), a WSDL Assistant (automatically creates Visual Basic and Java client proxies, JSP pages to be deployed as Web clients, and Java and EJB skeleton code for server-side components), an XSLT Installer, and a Deployment Wizard." The Java-based WSDL Editor tool is available for download.

From the announcement:

Cape Clear Software, a leading provider of Web Services technology, today released a free graphical WSDL Editor for programmers interested in working with Web Services. The Cape Clear WSDL Editor delivers the first complete environment for rapid Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) development. It supports novice programmers, while also providing sophisticated features for more experienced Web Services developers. The WSDL Editor includes powerful wizards that eliminate the complexity of WSDL, as well as WSDL validation, which simplifies testing, and support for the rapid creation of Web Services from XML Schema.

The WSDL Editor offers a rich set of features for programmers looking to create and edit Web Services:

• Intuitive graphical environment for viewing and editing WSDL files.
• Web Services creation wizard, which automates the creation of service definitions, port types, binding, template operations, and messages.
• Fully automated wizards for creating and editing XML schema, schema array, complex types, simple types, and enumerations.
• Import of any XML Schema, including industry standards such as ACORD and SWIFT.
• Support for WSDL validation, where WSDL is tested against WSDL Schema.
• Support for WSDL profiling, so WSDL can be validated against customized profiles for specific requirements such as standards compatibility (for example, .NET and WS-I)
• Support for advanced WSDL capabilities such as imports, faults, SOAP headers, multiple bindings, and parameter ordering.
• Support for the latest WSDL specification.
• Rich editing features.
• Retrieval of WSDL from across networks, UDDI repositories, or Internet locations.
• Full support for WSDL documentation.
• Detailed user's guide, which simplifies the WSDL learning curve, and full access to the CapeScience forum.

From the User's Guide: "The WSDL Schema: Web Services Description Language (WSDL) schema is an XML document, developed to define the XML message, operation, and protocol mapping of a Web service that is accessed using SOAP or another XML protocol. WSDL defines a Web service as an endpoint that operates on XML messages. The WSDL syntax allows both the messages and the operations on the messages to be defined abstractly. In this way, they can be mapped to multiple physical implementations..."

From the WSDL 1.1 specification: "WSDL is an XML format for describing network services as a set of endpoints operating on messages containing either document-oriented or procedure-oriented information. The operations and messages are described abstractly, and then bound to a concrete network protocol and message format to define an endpoint. Related concrete endpoints are combined into abstract endpoints (services). WSDL is extensible to allow description of endpoints and their messages regardless of what message formats or network protocols are used to communicate, however, the only bindings described in this document describe how to use WSDL in conjunction with SOAP 1.1, HTTP GET/POST, and MIME."

WSDL Editor system requirements: (1) Windows NT 4.0 with service pack 6a, or Windows 2000 version 5.0 with Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2; (2) Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.3.1_0x.

"Cape Clear Software has one focus: creating Web Services technology that reduces the business costs of software development and integration. CapeConnect is a Web Services based platform for enterprise integration that is simple, fast, and cost-effective to deploy and maintain. CapeStudio is an integrated Web Services development environment, simplifying design, development, integration, and deployment of Web Services applications using XML, WSDL, and UDDI. Cape Clear's products link packaged business applications, such as ERP and CRM, and diverse technologies, such as Java, J2EE, CORBA, and Microsoft .NET, across intranets and the Internet. Founded in 1999, Cape Clear is a privately held firm with offices in Dublin, London, California, Colorado and Massachusetts."