Working with Message Builders and Formatters

When a message is received by WSO2 DSS, the receiving transport selects a message builder based on the content type of the message. The selected builder will then be used to process the message's raw payload data and convert it into SOAP. For example, if a JSON type message is received (contentType set to 'application/json'), the message builder corresponding to JSON will convert the message into SOAP.

Conversely, when a message is sent from WSO2 DSS in response to an HTTP request, a message formatter corresponding to the accept header of the HTTP request is used to convert the outgoing message into the requested data format. For example, when a JSON type message is requested by an HTTP request (accept header set to 'application/json'), the message formatter corresponding to JSON will be used to build the outgoing message in JSON.

Message builders and message formatters are thereby used to support content negotiation.

Configuring message builders and formatters

Message builders and formatters are configured in the axis2.xml file stored in the <DSS_HOME>/repository/conf/axis2 folder under the <messageBuilder> and <messageFormatters> sections. Given below are the default message builders and message formatters that are configured in the axis2.xml file.

Default message builders

Following are the default message builders configured in WSO2 DSS and the corresponding content types of incoming messages: