XML Transmitter for Windows

EPO Consulting's XML Transmitter is a powerful tool for developing and testing Web services. It will POST or GET XML messages using HTTP to a Web server and display the server's response. It's a handy addition to your Web management toolkit.

The program's configurable interface includes links advertising the developer's other products along the top edge, though registration removes them. The interface itself is efficient and attractive, with a look that sets it apart from typical Windows applications. Separate Directory and Server panes keep things tidy. There's a PDF-based Help file and Web-based assistance, but we quickly found that wizard-based configuration of features like importing WSDL greatly simplifies procedures. There are fields for entering username and password, as well as buttons for opening and saving configurations and other settings. The destination field's default address is the developer's server. The program automatically identified and listed every Web service installed on our test machines in the left-hand tree view with checkboxes for selecting items, and tests concluded quickly via broadband. One feature we especially like is the ability to save your test scenarios as configurations that can be reused later, a huge time-saver for complicated procedures.

XML Transmitter is free to try for 90 days. It downloads as a ZIP file and installs desktop icons without permission but is otherwise well-mannered, and it uninstalls cleanly. It's listed as being limited to Windows XP, but we tested it in Vista and Windows 7, and it worked fine. It can test any Web service, and we recommend it.