If the WebMethod returns string it gets serialized to xml.
I want to return byte[] with responding ContentType - can I also specify it?.
Can it be done in ASP.NET web service web method?
views:
184answers:
3
+2
A:
ASMX web services use SOAP and the content type will always be application/soap+xml and the content represent xml. Even if you return a byte[] from your method this array will be base64 encoded into the soap body.
Darin Dimitrov
2009-12-29 15:47:28
So there is no way to bypass this limitation? :)
zproxy
2009-12-29 16:09:31
It's not a limitation, it's part of the standard. If you don't want to return a response that a SOAP client can understand, then don't use a SOAP (ASMX) page in the first place - use one of the more generic HTTP handlers and write to the Response object.
David
2009-12-29 16:29:14
+2
A:
You can return a byte array from a web service, but it will still be serialised into the response message. (Typically as base-64 in a SOAP XML response.)
If you want to return only the binary content you shouldn't use a web service. Instead you can use Response.BinaryWrite with a regular page with no html content, or context.BinaryWrite in a http handler.
Guffa
2009-12-29 15:54:39
+2
A:
Instead of a web service, use a Generic Handler (.ashx).
A Generic Handler accepts get/post requests and gives you the ability to completely control the output via the HttpContext.
I typically use these for sending files (pdfs, etc) to the browser.
Chris Lively
2009-12-29 16:13:16