Blackbaud AppFx Web Service (AppFxWebService.asmx)

Note: For examples that use Blackbaud AppFx Web Service, see AppFxWebService.asmx API.

Note: AppFxWebService is the base Web API for Infinity. Other Web APIs for Infinity are wrapper APIs around AppFxWebService.

This is the main API used by our client browser, the shell. In other words, the shell is the primary user interface for an Infinity-based application.

The AppFxWebService.asmx exposes every application feature including data lists, data forms, query, batch, security, and more. The AppFxWebService.asmx is a general purpose API that does not know anything about specific catalog specs/features. For example, you won't find an AddPhone web method. Instead there is the DataFormSave method that takes an ID of a catalog item. So to save a phone number, you call DataFormSave and one of the parameters is the ID of the AddPhoneForm catalog item. Infinity applications are N-Tiered, which means the code that makes up the application is split into separate layers.

Pros of the AppFxWebService

• Lightweight

• Lower level

• General purpose/access any Infinity feature

• Can be accessed by all types of clients including non-Windows-based clients

Cons of the AppFxWebService

• Lower level

• Loosely typed nature makes it cumbersome to use

• Not focused on individual, specific features