A partner link type characterizes the conversational relationship between two services.
A partner link type can have one role or two roles.
If a partner link type has one role, then the relationship involves a service that is willing to interact with any other service, without placing any requirements on the other service.
If a partner link type has two roles, then the relationship involves two peer services.
A role describes the function that a partner has in the relationship. For example, in a procurement scenario, the partner link type could have two roles: Buyer and Seller.
A role must specify the port type that the service will use to receive messages.
When you do either of the following tasks, a partner link type is automatically generated.
Create a WSDL file from scratch.
Create a port type.
(Optional) To add a second role, do the following:
Right-click the partner link type node and choose Add -> role.
If the Properties window is not visible, choose Window -> Properties.
Select the role.
(Optional) Change the default name.
Specify the port type.
In the WSDL view, right-click the Extensibility Elements node and choose Add -> PartnerLinkType.
A partner link type node appears under the Extensibility Elements node. The partner link type has a default role.
(Optional) To add a second role, right-click the partner link type node and choose Add -> role.
If the Properties window is not visible, choose Window -> Properties.
For each role, do the following:
Change the default name\role.
Specify the port type.