In a WSDL file, via a free solution can the XPath of a response element be determined without invoking the service?

Question

In a WSDL file, can the XPath of a request/response element be determined without invoking the service? I mean just by openeing an WSDL and generating request + response messages.

Or do I need additional software, like the paid SOAPUI PRO tool which can do it as already described here? (I really want to avoid paid and closed-surce helpers.)

Answer 1

Actually, I figured out a workaround to get this done. Not a preferred way of working though, so better, more efficient answers are still welcome!

Workaround:

1. Create XML resuest+response messages for the operation, from the WSDL:
   a) Create a Mockup service with SOAPUI. That way SOAOPUI will create a dummy response message for you.
   b) The request message is already available by default
   
   
2. copy-paste the dummy message to some program that is capable of resolving the Xpath from an XML file (e.g. XMLSpy can resolve the XPath for an element via the grid-view, other tools are available as well)