Question

Just started using soapUI and I like it a lot.

In a particular case using REST, I’m receiving serialized object.

I would like :

• to retrieve the serialized byte array and transform it into a Java object

• re-transform the java object into an XML response (using JAXB)
  so it can be human readable.

Is this feasible?

Answer 1

Be sure to consider using XML serialization (e.g. XStream) instead of binary one to avoid version compatibility problems before using the next solution:

1. Import your Java class to SoapUI groovy script (as described there) or re-define your Java class in Groovy code with Serializable interface implemented:

   class Person implements Serializable { String name; int age }
   

2. Use ObjectInputStream and classLoader to load deserialize objects into object:

   // use your byte array variable instead of yourByteArray
   input = new ByteArrayInputStream(yourByteArray)
   // use your object variable instead of yourObject
   yourObject = null
   input.withObjectInputStream(getClass().classLoader){ ois -> yourObject = ois.readObject() }
   

3. Use ObjectOutputStream to serialize updated objects and save them to an XML response:

   output = new ByteArrayOutputStream()
   output.withObjectOutputStream { oos -> oos << yourObject }
   //save serialized data as byte array
   output.toByteArray()