# Creating Axis runtime environment Web services and clients using Web services Ant tasks

If you prefer not to use the Web service wizard, you can use Ant files to create Web services and clients using the Axis runtime environment. The Web services Ant tasks can be run in two ways: through the Eclipse workspace using Run As > Ant Build... , or they can be run headless through the command line. Once you have created your Web service, you can then deploy it to a server, test it, and publish it as a business entity or business service.

#### Prerequisites

Before you create a Web service or client using the Ant tasks, you need to complete a few prerequisites.

- Install Apache Tomcat, create a server, and create a dynamic Web project associated with that server as described in Creating an Apache Tomcat server and Web project
- Import the required Ant files into your workspace:
  1. Create a project.
  2. Import the required Ant files. Select File > New > Other > Web Services > Ant Files > Next.
  3. Select the following:
     - Web service runtime
     - Web service or client type
     - Location into which the ant files will be generated
     Click Finish.
  Depending on the selections made on the previous panel, several files may be imported into this project:
  - runtime_servicetype.xml - this is the Ant file.
  - runtime_servicetype.properties - this is a sample Ant properties file referenced by the Ant file. You can modify the properties in this file to generate a Web service.
- Create a dynamic Web project for the Web service or client.

#### Creating a Web service or client

Once you've completed the prerequisites you can do the following:

- Creating a Web service using Ant tasks in the Workbench
  You can use Ant through the Eclipse workspace to generate a Web service using the Axis run-time environment. Both top-down and bottom-up Web services development is supported with the Ant tasks.
- Creating a Web service client using Ant tasks
  If you have a WSDL file you can use Ant through the Eclipse workspace to generate a Web service client using the Axis run-time environment.