external web API setup

I have been asked to develop an API using Visual Studio 2010 C++ that will be run from within ProjectWise by external web clients. At this point I don't know whether it needs to be available from a pull-down in PW or some other mechanism. I've got the API running properly on my own machine so I know it would work for internal clients. This leads to the following questions that I don't have answers to:

How do I make this available to web clients?

Where does the .exe need to reside since these clients won't have PW installed locally?

If a menu item is requested, can I do this from the PW Administrator, or does there need to be some kind of installation running from the client. If the latter, what do I need to write to make this work?

Thanks for any assistance,

Stephanie

  • Stephanie,

     

    There are very few similarities between traditional ProjectWise (thick) client and ProjectWise Web Part / Web Services interface programming techniques and workflows. Outside of the ProjectWise thick client interface programming, most of the remaining functionality can be leveraged by ProjectWise Web Part customizations. This may be a direction to take if there is a need to perform a number of custom actions behind the scenes. To get started there are two requirements. First, make sure you are, or have access to a Microsoft IIS web developer to perform any necessary Microsoft IIS/SharePoint programming customization (modifying the web GUI/menus, etc.). Second, the ProjectWise programmer and web developer should become familiar with the ProjectWise SDK samples under ..\SDK\samples\webparts. The samples provide a couple sample projects and readme's to help get you started.   Additional information can also be found in ..\ProjectWise\SDK\htmlhelp\CustomizationGuide.pdf.

     

    Lastly, if the requirements are fairly basic operations (typical navigation, check-in, check-out, open, print, etc. for a web client) take a look into the Bentley Mobile App Development Toolkit; specifically the Bentley Web Services API (previously known as ProjectWise Web Services). The web services API in essence; is a way to send formatted URLs from your client application to the ProjectWise web server to perform a number of common managed document tasks based on the parameters provided. More information on the Mobile App Development Toolkit can be found in this (Private Group) Bentley Developer Network link.

     

    Bentley Releases Mobile App Development Toolkit

     

    If you are not currently a member of the Bentley Developer Network, click here to inquire about what program is right for you.

     

    HTH,

    Bob