Resolving a Cannot convert type error

Summary

Type mismatch errors occur when an attempt to instantiate an object from the Authenticate WSDL is made after adding a web reference to a .Net project. Below is an example of the error:

Unable to generate a temporary class (result=1).

error CS0030: Cannot convert type 'Auth_WSDL_Test.AuthWSDL.SearchTerm[]' to 'Auth_WSDL_Test.AuthWSDL.SearchTerm

Amending the WSDL document to resolve type mismatch

In order to resolve the current issue when consuming the Authenticate Pro Web WSDL in .Net please follow the steps below:

1. Locate the copy of the QAS WSDL in the .Net Project, this exists in the Web References folder:

2. Open the QAS.wsdl file in a text editor and make the changes as noted below:

Change:

<s:element name="QASearch">

<s:complexType>

<s:sequence>

<s:element name="Country" type="s0:ISOType" />

<s:element name="Engine" type="s0:EngineType" />

<s:element minOccurs="0" name="Layout" type="s:string" />

<s:element minOccurs="0" name="QAConfig" type="s0:QAConfigType" />

<s:element minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="1" name="Search" type="s:string" />

<s:element minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded" name="SearchSpec" nillable="true" type="s0:SearchType" />

</s:sequence>

</s:complexType>

</s:element>

To:

<s:element name="QASearch">

<s:complexType>

<s:sequence>

<s:element name="Country" type="s0:ISOType" />

<s:element name="Engine" type="s0:EngineType" />

<s:element minOccurs="0" name="Layout" type="s:string" />

<s:element minOccurs="0" name="QAConfig" type="s0:QAConfigType" />

<s:element minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="1" name="Search" type="s:string" />

<s:element minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded" name="SearchSpec" type="s0:SearchType" />

</s:sequence>

</s:complexType>

</s:element>

Change:

<s:complexType name="SearchType">

<s:sequence>

<s:element minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded" name="SearchTerm" type="s0:SearchTerm" />

</s:sequence>

</s:complexType>

To:

<s:complexType name="SearchType">

<s:sequence>

<s:element maxOccurs="unbounded" name="SearchTerm" type="s0:SearchTerm" />

</s:sequence>

<s:attribute minOccurs="0" name="Dummy" type="s:string" />

</s:complexType>

Save the QAS.wsdl file and close the editor

Select the properties of the QAS Web Reference within Visual Studio:

3. Change the ‘Web Reference URL’ to point to the local amended version of the WSDL e.g. C:\Proj\Web References\Proj\QAS.wsdl

4. Right click on the QAS web reference and select ‘Update Web Reference’ in order for the Reference.vb stub class to be refreshed:

Now you will be able to instantiate objects in .Net which are exposed in the QAS.wsdl