File Extension Database

Open WSDL File

WSDL files, or Web Services Description Language files, are XML-based documents used to describe web services and how to interact with them. They provide essential information like service endpoints, available functions, message formats, and transport protocols. These files provide an essential interface description language for web services, allowing developers to create programs that communicate with the provided services without having to know their underlying implementations. This article will review the possible formats and ways to open or use files with WSDL file extensions.

WSDL File Formats

WSDL files are typically written in the XML syntax, which makes them easily readable by both humans and computers. They are structured into various elements and attributes that define the different components of a web service. The primary elements of a WSDL document include:

<definitions>: The root element of the WSDL document, containing service and messages definitions.
<message>: Describes the data being exchanged between the web service and its client.
<portType>: Defines a group of operations, or functions, that can be performed by the web service.
<binding>: Specifies the concrete protocol and data format for the operations and messages defined by a particular portType.
<service>: Describes a collection of related port bindings.

Opening WSDL Files

Since WSDL files are XML-based, they can be opened in various ways:

Text Editor: You can open and view WSDL files using any text editor, such as Notepad, Sublime Text, or Notepad++. This allows developers to inspect and even modify the content of the WSDL document conveniently.
XML Editor: An XML editor like oXygen XML Editor provides advanced features to inspect, validate and edit WSDL files, benefiting from features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and validation.
Web Browsers: Modern web browsers can also display WSDL files since they support XML parsing. It will not show advanced features like code completion, however, it's a good option for quickly viewing or sharing a WSDL document with others.
WSDL Tools & Libraries: Various tools and libraries available can read and process WSDL files to generate client code, documentation, and test scripts, making it easier for developers to work with web services based on WSDL files. An example of a WSDL tool is WSDLTool, an online web service testing platform that takes WSDL files as input and generates required artifacts for testing purposes.

Using WSDL Files in Programming Languages

WSDL files serve as an interface for web services, and many programming languages provide utilities or libraries to interact with WSDL files. Here are a few examples:

Java: In Java, you can use the JAX-WS (Java API for XML Web Services) to create web service clients using a WSDL file. The wsimport tool provided by the Java Development Kit (JDK) allows generating the necessary Java classes from the WSDL.
.NET (C#, VB.NET): The .NET Framework provides a utility called WCF Web Service Reference for generating a web service client code and configuration files based on a WSDL file. It can be used with C# or VB.NET languages.
Python: Python features several libraries for interacting with WSDL files, such as Suds and Zeep. These libraries make it easy to create web service clients in Python using WSDL files.

WSDL File Important Information

WSDL files are an essential part of web service development, as they help ensure interoperability between various platforms and programming languages. They provide a standardized way of describing web services, making it easier for developers to create applications that communicate with these services. Opening and using WSDL files can be accomplished by using text editors, XML editors, web browsers, or programming languages with specialized tools and libraries. By understanding the structure and usage of WSDL files, developers can facilitate the development and integration of web services into their applications.

Typical WSDL application file locations:

"g:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" /dde
c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe /dde
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" /dde
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\vsta.exe" /dde
c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\vsta.exe /dde
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\vsta.exe" /dde

Typical WSDL mime types:

application/xml

Frequently used application names to open WSDL files:

Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0
Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0
Microsoft Visual Studio 8

Frequently associated Windows objects:

VisualStudio.wsdl.10.0
VisualStudio.wsdl.9.0
VSTA.wsdl.8.0
VSTA.wsdl.9.0

How Can I Open WSDL File on Windows

We researched and learned that the best way to open WSDL file is to find a WSDL file in question in Windows OS File Explorer and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a WSDL file is not opened in an application and you instead get a "Windows can't open a file" error message you should try looking for an application which can open the file in question.
If you know the application which can open WSDL file then run it and see if there is a File->Open main menu option in the application.
If you don't know the application which function as WSDL file opener then try to search online for "WSDL viewer", "application to open WSDL file" or "open WSDL file" queries in the search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can open WSDL file

How Can I Open WSDL File on Mac OS

We recommend to find a WSDL file in question in Mac OS Finder and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a WSDL file is not opened in a Mac OS application and you instead get a "There is no application set to open the file" error message you can click on "Search App Store" in the error dialog and Mac OS will show you applications compatible with WSDL file.
If you know the Mac OS application which can work as WSDL file opener you can choose the "Choose Application..." option in the error box to associate the file extension and open WSDL file in it.
If you don't know the application which can open WSDL file then try to search for "WSDL viewer", "application to open WSDL file" or "read WSDL file" queries in the online search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can read WSDL file

How Can I Open WSDL File on Android

If you downloaded a WSDL file on Android device you can open it by following steps below:

In the Android apps list on your Android device find "My Files" or "File manager" app and tap to start it.
Tap on "Downloads" folder inside the app.
You should see your downloaded WSDL file in that folder.
Tap on the file. If Android device supports opening the file you downloaded it will open in the corresponding app.
If file does not open you can look for the corresponding app that can open the file by searching Android App Store for the "WSDL".
If you cannot open the file with the apps from Android App Store it is possible that the file could only be opened on desktop platforms such as Windows or Mac OS. Try searching for "WSDL viewer", "WSDL file reader" online and see if any desktop applications can open it.
It is also possible that the file you downloaded is outdated and is no longer supported.

How to Open WSDL File on iPhone or iPad

To open WSDL File on iOS device follow steps below:

We advies to open Files app on your iPhone or iPad device. You can find it by swiping down on the home screen and typing "Files" in the search bar.
Tap on the Downloads folder on the Files app home screen.
You will see all files that you recently downloaded. Tap on the WSDL file to view it.
If you have the right app that can open it it will automatically launch and open your file.
If you don't have the app which can open it you need to serch Apple app store for "WSDL". This way you can find apps which can open WSDL files.
If this doesn't help it is possible that your file could be opened only by the desktop application. To find an app which can open it on desktop look for "WSDL viewer" or "WSDL file" online in your favorite search engine.

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