New WebHandler service provider

Prior to Release 11.6.3, Data Object Services hosted on any OpenEdge application server all use a REST service provider (Web transport and messaging protocol) for client apps to access Data Object resources (Business Entities) on the OpenEdge application server. With OpenEdge 11.6.3, for Progress Application Server for OpenEdge only, you have the option to create Data Object Services that use one of two possible service providers: a REST RPC service provider or the new WebSpeed WebHandler (heretofore referred to as the WebHandler) service provider.

The WebHandler service provider supports most of the same features for Data Object Services as the REST RPC service provider.

In OpenEdge 11.6.3, a Data Object Service created with the WebHandler differs from the REST RPC service provider primarily in:

A current lack of support for ABL procedures as Business Entities, and a limitation on ABL code that you include in any ABL class that implements a Business Entity.

For information on using Progress Developer Studio for OpenEdge to create Data Object Services with the WebHandler service provider, see Choosing a service provider for a new Data Object Service.

The the following sections provide more information on the differences between the WebHandler service provider and REST RPC.