WCF Transaction Flow Question

Question

I would like to configure WCF service operations to accept a transaction if my client sends one, but not to create one if none is sent. I think this would be similar to the Supported transaction attribute in COM+.

Does anyone know whether this can be accomplished with WCF transactions?

I am trying to accomplish this all by using the WCF transaction programming model (e.g. TransactionFlowAttribute and TransactionScopeRequired on service operations) rather than using the System.Transactions explicit transaction programming model.

Here's an example of why I think I want to be able to do this:

ServiceA implements a high-level business operation which invokes two data services. An operation in Service B does a single database update and an operation in Service C does two database updates.

ServiceA ----> ServiceB ----> <1 DB update>
|
V Service C ----> <2 DB updates>

ServiceC's 2 database updates need to be performed within a transaction with its root on ServiceC. Service B's single database update does NOT need to take place within a transaction. However, ServiceA defines a transaction that requires ServiceB and ServiceC's database updates two happen as an atomic unit of work.

My question is how I can configure ServiceB so that when it's invoked by ServiceA it enlists in that transaction. However, when ServiceB is invoked directly rather than through Service A it does not need to run within a transaction because it's only doing one database update.

Thanks,

David Madrian

Answer 1

Thanks for the very helpful answer. I think your Option 2 gets at the real issue. My only concern with having a transaction in that scenario was performance. But, if performance is not an issue (since a lightweight transaction is used, which doesn't affect performance significantly), I'm fine with letting that transaction be created where it's not really needed.

Answer 2

I posted the same question on MSDN and received some additional answers there that are interesting. Here's the link: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/wcf/thread/7d3541b2-2c23-4a25-91a8-4a889c4d08be/

I'd be curious to hear what anyone thinks about the responses on MSDN.