Blackbaud AppFx Web Service (AppFxWebService.asmx)

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.

Note: AppFxWebService is the base Web API for Infinity. The SDK also includes .NET assemblies which wrap the AppFxWebService.asmx.

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

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