The SOAP toolkit Axis from Apache has been integrated with DSpace in order to facilitate a SOAP interface.
The class org.dspace.webservice.DSpace constitute the Web service implemention of DSpace. The interface to the Web service consist of two methods:
updateEPerson(String username, String password, String email, EPersonField[] fields, EPersonGroup[] includedInGroups, EPersonGroup[] excludedFromGroups) updateEPersons(String username, String password, EPersonUpdate[] epersonUpdate)
If an email does not exist, an user with the specific email is created. Password is the same as the email. If a group specified in includedInGroups does not exist, the update aborts. If a group specified in excludedFromGroups does not exist, it is ignored.
When building war file the web service is automatically included. Axis configuration file is etc/dspace.wsdd which is included in the war file.
A client, org.dspace.webservice.client.DSpaceClient, that uses the web service has been implemented. Use it as inspiration for your own clients.