ABL application catalog service
- Last Updated: August 11, 2026
- 2 minute read
- OpenEdge
- Version 12.8
- Documentation
The catalog service provides an OpenAPI-formatted description of all
DataObjectHandler (DOH) services registered for an ABL application
on the WEB transport. It enables developers and API tooling to discover available
services, their endpoints, and parameter schemas from a single request.
The catalog service uses the OpenEdge.Web.CatalogWebHandler class, which
queries the internal ServiceRegistry to return an OpenAPI Specification
v3.1 document.
About the .oeds package
The catalog web service is distributed as an .oeds (OpenEdge Data Service) file located at DLC/servers/pasoe/extras/catalogWebService.oeds. This package contains the handler configuration and class references needed to deploy the service to a PAS for OpenEdge instance.
Deploying the catalog service
Deploy the catalog service to an ABL web application using the tcman deployablsvc command:
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After deployment, restart the Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge instance for the service to become available.
Endpoint syntax
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The response is a JSON document in OpenAPI Specification v3.1 format describing all DOH services available to the current ABL application.
Service discovery
The catalog service automatically discovers service mapping files (.map and .gen files) by searching the following locations in order:
- CATALINA_BASE/openedge — the common location, always searched
- CATALINA_BASE/ablapps/ablApp/openedge — the current ABL application's location
- CATALINA_BASE/webapps/webapp/WEB-INF/openedge — for each web application belonging to the current ABL application that has the WEB transport enabled
The service determines the current ABL application context from the incoming request and searches all web applications associated with that ABL application. Web applications with WEB transport disabled are skipped.
Overriding discovery paths
To specify custom service map locations instead of using automatic discovery, set the
SERVICEMAP_PATHS environment variable within the PAS for
OpenEdge instance. Provide a semicolon-delimited list of absolute directory
paths:
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For more information on how to set environment variables, see Configure environment variables.
When SERVICEMAP_PATHS is set, automatic path discovery is bypassed
and only the specified paths are searched for service mapping files.
Manual handler configuration
Alternatively, you can register the catalog handler directly in openedge.properties without using the .oeds deployment package:
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Replace n with the next sequential handler number for the appropriate ABL application and web application section.
Securing the catalog service
You can restrict access to the catalog service in the /WEB-INF/oeablSecurity.csv file. For example, to restrict access to administrators only:
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Place this line before any broader /web/** rule so that it takes
precedence.