How to: Use Svcutil.exe to Export Metadata from Compiled Service Code

Svcutil.exe can export metadata for services, contracts, and data types in compiled assemblies, as follows:

• To export metadata for all compiled service contracts for a set of assemblies using Svcutil.exe, specify the assemblies as input parameters. This is the default behavior.

• To export metadata for a compiled service using Svcutil.exe, specify the service assembly or assemblies as input parameters. You must use the /serviceName option to indicate the configuration name of the service you want to export. Svcutil.exe automatically loads the configuration file for the specified executable assembly.

• To export all data contract types within a set of assemblies, use the /dataContractOnly option.

Note:
Use the /reference option to specify the file paths to any dependent assemblies.

To export metadata for compiled service contracts

1. Compile your service contract implementations into one or more class libraries.1

2. Run Svcutil.exe on the compiled assemblies.

   Note:
   You might need to use the /reference switch to specify the file path to any dependent assemblies.

   svcutil.exe Contracts.dll
   

To export metadata for a compiled service

1. Compile your service implementation into an executable assembly.

2. Create a configuration file for your service executable and add a service configuration.

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
   <configuration>
     <system.serviceModel>
       <services>
         <service name="MyService" >
           <endpoint address="finder" contract="IPeopleFinder" binding="wsHttpBinding" />
         </service>
       </services>
     </system.serviceModel>
   </configuration>
   

3. Run Svcutil.exe on the compiled service executable using the /serviceName switch to specify the configuration name of the service.

   Note:
   You might need to use the /reference switch to specify the file path to any dependent assemblies.

   svcutil.exe /serviceName:MyService Service.exe /reference:path/Contracts.dll
   

To export metadata for compiled data contracts

1. Compile your data contract implementations into one or more class libraries.

2. Run Svcutil.exe on the compiled assemblies using the /dataContract switch to specify that only metadata for data contracts should be generated.

   Note:
   You might need to use the /reference switch to specify the file path to any dependent assemblies.

   svcutil.exe /dataContractOnly Contracts.dll
   

Example

The following example demonstrates how to generate metadata for a simple service implementation and configuration.

To export metadata for the service contract.

svcutil.exe Contracts.dll

To export metadata for the data contracts.

svcutil.exe /dataContractOnly Contracts.dll

To export metadata for the service implementation.

svcutil.exe /serviceName:MyService Service.exe /reference:<path>/Contracts.dll

The <path> is the path to Contracts.dll.

// The following service contract and data contracts are compiled into 
// Contracts.dll.
[ServiceContract(ConfigurationName="IPeopleFinder")]
public interface IPersonFinder
{
    [OperationContract]
    Address GetAddress(Person s);
}

[DataContract]
public class Person
{
    [DataMember]
    public string firstName;
    [DataMember]
    public string lastName;
    [DataMember]
    public int age;
}

[DataContract]
public class Address
{
    [DataMember]
    public string city;
    [DataMember]
    public string state;
    [DataMember]
    public string street;
    [DataMember]
    public int zipCode;
    [DataMember]
    public Person person;
}

// The following service implementation is compiled into Service.exe.   
// This service uses the contracts specified in Contracts.dll.
[ServiceBehavior(ConfigurationName = "MyService")]
public class MyService : IPersonFinder
{
    public Address GetAddress(Person person)
    {
        Address address = new Address();
        address.person = person;
        return address;
    }
}

<!-- The following is the configuration file for Service.exe. -->
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
  <system.serviceModel>
    <services>
      <service name="MyService">
         <endpoint  address="finder"
                    binding="basicHttpBinding"
                    contract="IPeopleFinder"/>
      </service>
    </services>
  </system.serviceModel>
</configuration>
    

See Also

Concepts

Exporting and Importing Metadata

Other Resources

ServiceModel Metadata Utility Tool (Svcutil.exe)

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Build Date: 2009-08-07