Use URL ports when the web service identifies a resource through a unique string of characters.

For example, the HypoStores REST web service identifies parts by the part number through the following URL:

To identify a part, define the following transformation details:

If the mapping passes part number 500 to the URL port, the Data Integration Service uses the following URL in the request message:

Use argument ports when the web service identifies the location of a resource through arguments.

For example, you want to pass a part number to the HypoStores REST web service through the "Part_No" argument.

To identify a part, define the following transformation details:

If the mapping passes part number 600 to the argument port, the Data Integration Service uses the following URL in the request message:

Create multiple argument ports to define multiple arguments. The Data Integration Service separates each argument with an ampersand character (&).

For example, you want to retrieve employee details from a REST web service and pass the employee first name and last name through the "First_Name" and "Last_Name" arguments. Create argument ports with the argument names "First_Name" and "Last_Name." If the mapping passes the name "John Smith" to the transformation, the Data Integration Service uses a URL like the following in the request message:

If you do not specify a URL or an argument port, the Data Integration Service uses the base URL from the transformation properties or HTTP connection to identify the resource. The base URL in the HTTP connection overrides the base URL in the transformation.