I was recently asked if .NET webservices could be used from PHP, and the answer is they can.
Thanks to a toolkit called nusoap (http://sourceforge.net/projects/nusoap/)

I managed to get the Google Web search webservice working (client3.php)

Here's the output:

Result

Array
(
    [directoryCategories] => Array
        (
        )

    [documentFiltering] => 
    [endIndex] => 10
    [estimateIsExact] => 
    [estimatedTotalResultsCount] => 19300000
    [resultElements] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotics
                    [cachedSize] => 124k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => Robotics is the science and technology of robots, and their design, manufacture, 
  and application. [1] Robotics has connections to electronics, mechanics, ...
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => Robotics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotics/
                    [cachedSize] => 9k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => The history and workings of robotics. From the Tech Museum of Innovation.
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => The Tech Museum: Robotics: Sensing, Thinking, Acting
                )

            [2] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://www.thetech.org/robotics/
                    [cachedSize] => 9k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => The history and workings of robotics. From the Tech Museum of Innovation.
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => The Tech Museum: Robotics: Sensing, Thinking, Acting
                )

            [3] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://www.arrickrobotics.com/
                    [cachedSize] => 10k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => Manufactures and sells mobile robots, stepper motor systems, XY positioning 
  tables and automation accessories. General technical information on robots.
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => Arrick Robotics - Stepper motor, Positioning, Automation, Mobile ...
                )

            [4] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://www.robotics.org/
                    [cachedSize] => 25k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => Jan 27, 2009 ... Robotics Online - RIA - Robotic Industries Association ... Saint Joseph's 
  Launches International College of Robotic Surgery ...
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => RIA - Robotics Online - Your #1 Online Resource for Industrial ...
                )

            [5] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/robotics/default.aspx
                    [cachedSize] => 37k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio Standard and Academic Editions have the ... 
  Collada Update (Jan 2009) for Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008 ...
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => Microsoft Robotics
                )

            [6] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://www.ri.cmu.edu/
                    [cachedSize] => 33k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => Established in 1979 to conduct basic and applied research in robotics 
  technologies relevant to industrial and societal tasks. Links to a range of 
  specific ...
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => The Robotics Institute
                )

            [7] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://robotics.nasa.gov/
                    [cachedSize] => 25k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => A NASA project dedicated to encouraging people to become involved in science and 
  engineering, particularly building robots. Visit this website to learn ...
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => NASA Robotics - Robotics Alliance Project
                )

            [8] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/
                    [cachedSize] => 30k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => MOBILITY AND ROBOTIC SYSTEMS Richard Volpe, Manager Gabriel Udomkesmalee, Deputy 
  Manager.
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => JPL Robotics: Home Page
                )

            [9] => Array
                (
                    [URL] => http://www.roboticstrends.com/
                    [cachedSize] => 19k
                    [directoryCategory] => Array
                        (
                            [fullViewableName] => 
                            [specialEncoding] => 
                        )

                    [directoryTitle] => 
                    [hostName] => 
                    [relatedInformationPresent] => 1
                    [snippet] => News, information, opinion and analysis portal covering the personal, service, 
  mobile and military robotics markets.
                    [summary] => 
                    [title] => Robotics Trends | Robots and Robotics Technology News, Information ...
                )

        )

    [searchComments] => 
    [searchQuery] => robotics
    [searchTime] => 0.437665
    [searchTips] => 
    [startIndex] => 1
)

Request

POST /search/beta2 HTTP/1.0
Host: api.google.com
User-Agent: NuSOAP/0.7.3 (1.114)
Content-Type: text/xml; charset=UTF-8
SOAPAction: "urn:GoogleSearch"
Content-Length: 960

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><SOAP-ENV:Envelope SOAP-ENV:encodingStyle="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/" xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:SOAP-ENC="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/"><SOAP-ENV:Body><ns6198:doGoogleSearch xmlns:ns6198="urn:GoogleSearch"><Googlekey xsi:type="xsd:string">s06KddJQFHI4ZF25z0a8q7P3bjSGzh74</Googlekey><queryStr xsi:type="xsd:string">robotics</queryStr><startFrom xsi:type="xsd:int">0</startFrom><maxResults xsi:type="xsd:int">10</maxResults><filter xsi:type="xsd:boolean">1</filter><restrict xsi:type="xsd:string"></restrict><adultContent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">1</adultContent><language xsi:type="xsd:string"></language><iencoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></iencoding><oendcoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></oendcoding></ns6198:doGoogleSearch></SOAP-ENV:Body></SOAP-ENV:Envelope>

Response

HTTP/1.0 200 OK
Content-Type: text/xml; charset=utf-8
Content-Length: 10504
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:50:35 GMT
Expires: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 10:50:35 GMT
Cache-Control: private, max-age=0
Server: GFE/1.3
Connection: Close

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<SOAP-ENV:Envelope xmlns:SOAP-ENV="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/1999/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/1999/XMLSchema">
<SOAP-ENV:Body>
<ns1:doGoogleSearchResponse xmlns:ns1="urn:GoogleSearch" SOAP-ENV:encodingStyle="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/">
<return xsi:type="ns1:GoogleSearchResult">
<directoryCategories xmlns:ns2="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/" xsi:type="ns2:Array" ns2:arrayType="ns1:DirectoryCategory[0]">
</directoryCategories>
<documentFiltering xsi:type="xsd:boolean">false</documentFiltering>
<endIndex xsi:type="xsd:int">10</endIndex>
<estimateIsExact xsi:type="xsd:boolean">false</estimateIsExact>
<estimatedTotalResultsCount xsi:type="xsd:int">19300000</estimatedTotalResultsCount>
<resultElements xmlns:ns3="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/encoding/" xsi:type="ns3:Array" ns3:arrayType="ns1:ResultElement[10]">
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotics</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">124k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">&lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; is the science and technology of &lt;b&gt;robots&lt;/b&gt;, and their design, manufacture, &lt;br&gt;  and application. [1] &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; has connections to electronics, mechanics, &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt;</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">&lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://www.thetech.org/exhibits/online/robotics/</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">9k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">The history and workings of &lt;b&gt;robotics&lt;/b&gt;. From the Tech Museum of Innovation.</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">The Tech Museum: &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt;: Sensing, Thinking, Acting</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://www.thetech.org/robotics/</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">9k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">The history and workings of &lt;b&gt;robotics&lt;/b&gt;. From the Tech Museum of Innovation.</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">The Tech Museum: &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt;: Sensing, Thinking, Acting</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://www.arrickrobotics.com/</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">10k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">Manufactures and sells mobile &lt;b&gt;robots&lt;/b&gt;, stepper motor systems, XY positioning &lt;br&gt;  tables and automation accessories. General technical information on &lt;b&gt;robots&lt;/b&gt;.</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">Arrick &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; - Stepper motor, Positioning, Automation, Mobile &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt;</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://www.robotics.org/</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">25k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">Jan 27, 2009 &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt; &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; Online - RIA - &lt;b&gt;Robotic&lt;/b&gt; Industries Association &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt; Saint Joseph&amp;#39;s &lt;br&gt;  Launches International College of &lt;b&gt;Robotic&lt;/b&gt; Surgery &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt;</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">RIA - &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; Online - Your #1 Online Resource for Industrial &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt;</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/robotics/default.aspx</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">37k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">Microsoft &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; Developer Studio Standard and Academic Editions have the &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt; &lt;br&gt;  Collada Update (Jan 2009) for Microsoft &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; Developer Studio 2008 &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt;</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">Microsoft &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt;</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://www.ri.cmu.edu/</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">33k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">Established in 1979 to conduct basic and applied research in &lt;b&gt;robotics&lt;/b&gt; &lt;br&gt;  technologies relevant to industrial and societal tasks. Links to a range of &lt;br&gt;  specific &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt;</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">The &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; Institute</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://robotics.nasa.gov/</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">25k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">A NASA project dedicated to encouraging people to become involved in science and &lt;br&gt;  engineering, particularly building &lt;b&gt;robots&lt;/b&gt;. Visit this website to learn &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt;</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">NASA &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; - &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; Alliance Project</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://robotics.jpl.nasa.gov/</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">30k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">MOBILITY AND &lt;b&gt;ROBOTIC&lt;/b&gt; SYSTEMS Richard Volpe, Manager Gabriel Udomkesmalee, Deputy &lt;br&gt;  Manager.</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">JPL &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt;: Home Page</title>
</item>
<item xsi:type="ns1:ResultElement">
<URL xsi:type="xsd:string">http://www.roboticstrends.com/</URL>
<cachedSize xsi:type="xsd:string">19k</cachedSize>
<directoryCategory xsi:type="ns1:DirectoryCategory">
<fullViewableName xsi:type="xsd:string"></fullViewableName>
<specialEncoding xsi:type="xsd:string"></specialEncoding>
</directoryCategory>
<directoryTitle xsi:type="xsd:string"></directoryTitle>
<hostName xsi:type="xsd:string"></hostName>
<relatedInformationPresent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">true</relatedInformationPresent>
<snippet xsi:type="xsd:string">News, information, opinion and analysis portal covering the personal, service, &lt;br&gt;  mobile and military &lt;b&gt;robotics&lt;/b&gt; markets.</snippet>
<summary xsi:type="xsd:string"></summary>
<title xsi:type="xsd:string">&lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; Trends | &lt;b&gt;Robots&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;b&gt;Robotics&lt;/b&gt; Technology News, Information &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt;</title>
</item>
</resultElements>
<searchComments xsi:type="xsd:string"></searchComments>
<searchQuery xsi:type="xsd:string">robotics</searchQuery>
<searchTime xsi:type="xsd:double">0.437665</searchTime>
<searchTips xsi:type="xsd:string"></searchTips>
<startIndex xsi:type="xsd:int">1</startIndex>
</return>
</ns1:doGoogleSearchResponse>

</SOAP-ENV:Body>
</SOAP-ENV:Envelope>

Debug

2009-01-28 10:50:55.359379 nusoap_client: ctor wsdl= timeout=0 response_timeout=30
endpoint=string(34) "http://api.google.com/search/beta2"
2009-01-28 10:50:55.360128 nusoap_client: instantiate SOAP with endpoint at http://api.google.com/search/beta2
2009-01-28 10:50:55.361319 nusoap_client: setUseCURL(0)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.362546 nusoap_client: call: operation=doGoogleSearch, namespace=urn:GoogleSearch, soapAction=urn:GoogleSearch, rpcParams=, style=rpc, use=encoded, endpointType=soap
params=array(10) {
  ["Googlekey"]=>
  string(32) "s06KddJQFHI4ZF25z0a8q7P3bjSGzh74"
  ["queryStr"]=>
  string(8) "robotics"
  ["startFrom"]=>
  int(0)
  ["maxResults"]=>
  int(10)
  ["filter"]=>
  bool(true)
  ["restrict"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["adultContent"]=>
  bool(true)
  ["language"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["iencoding"]=>
  string(0) ""
  ["oendcoding"]=>
  string(0) ""
}
headers=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.363275 nusoap_client: serializing param array for operation doGoogleSearch
2009-01-28 10:50:55.364631 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=Googlekey, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=string(32) "s06KddJQFHI4ZF25z0a8q7P3bjSGzh74"
attributes=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.365308 nusoap_client: serialize_val: serialize string
2009-01-28 10:50:55.367119 nusoap_client: serialize_val returning <Googlekey xsi:type="xsd:string">s06KddJQFHI4ZF25z0a8q7P3bjSGzh74</Googlekey>
2009-01-28 10:50:55.368314 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=queryStr, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=string(8) "robotics"
attributes=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.368980 nusoap_client: serialize_val: serialize string
2009-01-28 10:50:55.370159 nusoap_client: serialize_val returning <queryStr xsi:type="xsd:string">robotics</queryStr>
2009-01-28 10:50:55.370744 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=startFrom, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=int(0)
attributes=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.371388 nusoap_client: serialize_val: serialize int
2009-01-28 10:50:55.371939 nusoap_client: serialize_val returning <startFrom xsi:type="xsd:int">0</startFrom>
2009-01-28 10:50:55.373122 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=maxResults, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=int(10)
attributes=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.373807 nusoap_client: serialize_val: serialize int
2009-01-28 10:50:55.374378 nusoap_client: serialize_val returning <maxResults xsi:type="xsd:int">10</maxResults>
2009-01-28 10:50:55.374939 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=filter, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=bool(true)
attributes=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.375600 nusoap_client: serialize_val: serialize boolean
2009-01-28 10:50:55.376151 nusoap_client: serialize_val returning <filter xsi:type="xsd:boolean">1</filter>
2009-01-28 10:50:55.376893 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=restrict, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=string(0) ""
attributes=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.377546 nusoap_client: serialize_val: serialize string
2009-01-28 10:50:55.378117 nusoap_client: serialize_val returning <restrict xsi:type="xsd:string"></restrict>
2009-01-28 10:50:55.378729 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=adultContent, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=bool(true)
attributes=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.379415 nusoap_client: serialize_val: serialize boolean
2009-01-28 10:50:55.379966 nusoap_client: serialize_val returning <adultContent xsi:type="xsd:boolean">1</adultContent>
2009-01-28 10:50:55.380546 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=language, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=string(0) ""
attributes=bool(false)
2009-01-28 10:50:55.381213 nusoap_client: serialize_val: serialize string
2009-01-28 10:50:55.381785 nusoap_client: serialize_val returning <language xsi:type="xsd:string"></language>
2009-01-28 10:50:55.382395 nusoap_client: in serialize_val: name=iencoding, type=, name_ns=, type_ns=, use=encoded, soapval=
value=string(0) ""

We've just put the development of an IPhone application out to tender, at http://www.getafreelancer.com/projects/375783.html

So, any budding Mac developers who are interested in pitting their skills against the IPhone SDK are welcome to place a bid on GetAFreelancer. Bidding closes in 7 days.

The full specifications can be seen at:
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dc3k45hc_68s55whbg9

I came across a great little tool, called Gliffy, for creating online diagrams, for example, here's one I made earlier,

http://www.gliffy.com/publish/1588170/

Showing a simple database design for a rental website. It was really easy to create, although it's a pitty they have a 30 day limit on
the free account.

I read with interest this month's MSDN magazine article on COM reflection. The article provides an example of using reflection to uncover hidden properties and methods of the Speech library, and also explains how the elusive System.__ComObject can give up its goodies, so to speak.

It works fine on the sample Speech API DLL on the site, however, it isn't so hot when it comes to Sage. I tried plugging in some common CLSID's from Sage's inner workings, but it gave up no further information. I then tried passing a System.__ComObject to it, with the following code;

Dim oUnknown As Object = o.GetCompanies("C:\Program Files\Sage\Accounts")
DumpCOMObject(oUnknown)

However, it crashed out when IDispatch::GetTypeInfoCount returned 0. According to MSDN reference this is done to prevent run-time inspection of the DLL, perhaps for security purposes.

So, I guess this is a bit of an anti-pattern when it comes to Sage development, but I hope that this research saves another developer some time when it comes to trying to figure out the million dollar question 'what do I cast this object to now?

Over the years, you develop many different components for different projects that sometimes get reused in many different ways.

After a while when you start going down one path of maybe one or two larger projects, many of the components you developed once, no longer apply.
Therefore I decided to dig into my old toolkit and publish some of the components I once relied on for my bread-and-butter development work.

The first of which is AppAnalyze, which is now released under GPL open source on sourceforge
 http://sourceforge.net/projects/appanalyze/

I hope this provides as much benefit to you as it did for me.