>I'm doing an app which is initially a C# WinForms app where the users will connect via VPN.
>At some point in the future it will be converted to a web app, so I want to use a WS up front.
>
>I'm fairly new at this, and I've seen some examples, as well as prior postings with you and Bonnie
>that got me going this way.
>
>I didn't think you could pass a dataset through a WS into the back end.

.NET to .NET you can pass pretty much anything. As long as the client understands the type it can be completely transparent.

But, as I said to Mike, if you anticipate that non-NET clients will be using your WS then passing back a DataSet as XML is not particularly consumer friendly.
OTOH (and I don't know if it's just me but) I find I'm dealing with a lot of web services that do just that. Great if you're a .NET consumer; pain if you're not......