Question

I’d like to return a list through a web service that takes a string which updates the SQL that supplies the list. I’m not too familiar with building lists, but I already have a list in my class. Again, I’d like to return this list through the web service.

My current list in my table class:

static public List<Skills> GetSkillsList(string like)
{
    List<Skills> thelist = new List<Skills>();

    string sql = "SELECT * FROM Skills WHERE SkillName LIKE '%" + like + "%'";

    SqlDataReader dr = DBUtil.FillDataReader(sql);

    while (dr.Read())
    {
        Skills obj = new Skills();

        obj.skillID = Convert.ToInt32(dr["skillID"].ToString());
        obj.skillName = Convert.ToString(dr["skillName"].ToString());
        obj.skillReviewed = Convert.ToBoolean(dr["skillReviewed"].ToString());
        obj.skillActive = Convert.ToBoolean(dr["skillActive"].ToString());

        thelist.Add(obj);
    }
    return thelist;
}

Dummy list in the web service:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Services;

[WebService(Namespace = "http://tempuri.org/")]
[WebServiceBinding(ConformsTo = WsiProfiles.BasicProfile1_1)]

[System.Web.Script.Services.ScriptService]
public class AutoComplete : System.Web.Services.WebService 
{
   [WebMethod]
   public IList<string> GetSkills(string contains)
   {

       IList<string> output = new List<string>();
       output.Add("Apple");
       output.Add("Ajax");
       output.Add("Alpha");
       output.Add("Alphred");
       return output;    
    }
}

I’d like to return the Name and the ID fields in the web service list.

I would think it would be something like:

[WebMethod]
public IList<string> SkillsList(string like)
{
    IList<string> output = new List<string>();

    output = Skills.GetSkillsList(like);

    return output;
}

but I know this is incorrect.

Any help is appreciated!

Answer 1

Here’s how to do it in the WebMethod you provided. As suggested, a new class to hold the ID and Name would be best. Although you could do a delimited string if you have a requirement to use List.

public class Pair
{
     public string ID { get; set; }
     public string Name { get; set; }
}

[WebMethod]
public IList<Pair> SkillsList(string like)
{
    IList<Skills> mySkills = new List<Skills>();
    IList<Pair> output = new List<Pair>();
    mySkills = Skills.GetSkillsList(like);

    foreach(Skills currentSkill in mySkills)
    {
        Pair p = new Pair();
        p.ID = currentSkill.ID;
        p.Name = currentSkill.Name;

        output.Add(p);
    }

    return output;
}