Method, apparatus and interface for testing web services

1. A method for testing a web services application, the method comprising:

accessing an application definition;

reading the application definition to determine a function and at least one variable element associated with the function, wherein the variable element comprises a complex type and wherein the complex type includes at least one parameter;

prompting a user to enter data for each variable element requiring user input, wherein prompting a user comprises:

(a) prompting a user to enter data for the each parameter requiring user input;

(b) instantiating a new function using the entered data

(c) determining whether the new function includes at least one variable additional element of the complex type requiring user input by interrogating the new function; and

(d) repeating (a), (b), and (c) in response to determining the new function includes at least one variable element requiring user input; and

creating an application call from the new function and the entered data in response to determining the new function does not include at least one variable element requiring user input.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the variable element comprises substantive data.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the application call to a computer running a service, wherein the service corresponds to the application definition.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising receiving a result from the computer, wherein the result is generated by the service in response to the application call.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein creating an application call comprises creating an application call from the new function.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the complex type comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a circular reference, a variable-length list, a variable number of lists, a variable number of variable-length lists, a combination of a circular reference and a variable-length list, a combination of a circular reference and a variable number of lists, and a combination of a circular reference and a variable number of variable-length lists.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating an HTML document including the application call.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein reading the application definition comprises retrieving the application definition and parsing the application definition to determine a plurality of functions, each with at least one associated variable element.

9. A method for testing web services, the method comprising:

(a) receiving application identification information from a user, wherein the application identification information includes the location of an application definition;

(b) accessing the application definition at the location specified by the application identification information;

(c) retrieving the application definition;

(d) parsing the application definition to determine a function including a variable element, wherein the variable element comprises a complex type, and wherein the complex type includes at least one parameter;

(e) creating a document displaying each parameter requiring user input;

(f) prompting the user to enter data for each parameter requiring user input;

(g) instantiating a new function using the entered data;

(h) determining whether the new function includes at least one additional variable element of the complex type requiring user input by interrogating the new function;

(i) repeating (e), (f), (g), and (h) in response to determining the new function contains at least one variable element requiring user input; and

(j) creating an application call comprising the new function in response to determining the new function does not include at least one variable element requiring user input.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the application identification information further identifies the nature of the application definition.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting the application call to a computer running a service, wherein the service corresponds to the application definition.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising receiving a result from the computer, wherein the result is generated by the service in response to the application call.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising creating an HTML document including the application call.

14. A system for testing web services, the system comprising:

a first computer comprising a processor; and

a computer-readable medium in communication with the processor, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises instructions executable by the processor to:

access an application definition;

read the application definition to determine a function and at least one variable element associated with the function, wherein the variable element comprises a complex type and wherein the complex type includes at least one parameter;

using an output device in communication with the processor, prompt a user to enter data for each variable element that requires user input, wherein prompting a user comprises:

(a) prompting a user to enter data for each parameter requiring user input;

(b) instantiating a new function using the entered data;

(c) determining whether the new function includes at least one additional variable element of the complex type requiring user input by interrogating the new function; and

(d) repeating (a), (b), and (c) in response to determining the new function includes at least one variable element requiring user input; and

create an application call using the new function and entered data in response to determining the new function does not include at least one variable element requiring user input.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the application definition is stored on a second computer remote from the first computer and wherein accessing the application definition comprises establishing a network connection with the second computer.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the application definition is stored on a storage device in communication with the processor.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable medium comprises further instructions executable by the processor to transmit the application call to a third computer running a service, wherein the service corresponds to the application definition.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the computer-readable medium comprises further instructions executable by the processor to receive a result from the third computer, wherein the result is generated by the service in response to the application call.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the third computer is selected from a group consisting of the first computer and the second computer.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein creating an application call comprises creating an application call from the new function.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the complex type comprises a type selected from the group consisting of a circular reference, a variable-length list, a variable number of lists, a variable number of variable-length lists, a combination of a circular reference and a variable-length list, a combination of a circular reference and a variable number of lists, and a combination of a circular reference and a variable number of variable-length lists.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein the computer-readable medium comprises further instructions executable by the processor to create an HTML document including the application call.

23. The system of claim 14 , wherein reading the application definition comprises retrieving the application definition and parsing the application definition to determine a plurality of functions, each with at least one associated variable element.