Connect IBM Informix Database to SharePoint 2007 / 2010
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The SharePoint Business Data List Connector is used to directly connect a SharePoint List (no Web Part) with external LOB data, e.g. from SQL databases, ERP or CRM systems, with all list features available without any programming but write-back etc.

Map SharePoint list columns to external data

How to connect a SharePoint list directly to IBM Informix Database data without any Programming

First you have to install the appropiate .NET based provider (driver) on application server and web frontend server. Please take care about 32/64-bit: The driver should be the same as your SharePoint currently runs.

For 64-Bit / Windows 2008 Server please goto IBM web site and use:

Informix Client Software Development Kit 3.70.xC1

For 32-Bit use this link to download:

http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/download/search.jsp?rs=ifxdl

Possible Issues:

Failed to find or load the registered .Net Framework Data Provider.

Please install the latest IBM drivers. The versions 3.5 FC6 before does not write entries into machine.config. Registering their drivers using regsvr32 and setting the path variable below solve the issue.

Next steps:

After successful installation it appears in the provider list of the BDLC settings dialog. Just select and enter connection string, similar to this one:

How to connect SharePoint to IBM Informix Databases

Fig.: Implementation sample SharePoint-Informix integration.

Just enter your query after the connection is validated.

Some customers get the following error while trying to connect:

Could not find or load IfxDotNetIntrinsicModule

More information from vendor:

New PATH required to run .NET applications on 64-bit Windows operating systems

If you run .NET programs on Microsoft Windows 64-bit systems, such as Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003/2008, set the PATH environment variable to include the path to IfxDotNetIntrinsicModule.dll:
 
• %INFORMIXDIR%/bin/netf11/ if you use the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1
• %INFORMIXDIR%/bin/netf20/ if you use the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0

The DLL is not required on 32-bit Windows operating systems. If you move your application from a 32-bit to a 64-bit Windows operating system, you must update the PATH environment variable or you will receive an error.

Thanks Ramesh Natarajan for evaluating this.

       "Using the Business Data List Connector you can integrate all IBM databases directly into SharePoint."

News

European SharePoint Component Vendor Layer2 announces Technology Partnership with Nintex

Strategic technology alliance formed by Layer2 and Nintex enables seamless integration of any external Line-Of-Business Data into SharePoint workflow and lists without code.

SharePoint Codeless Bi-Directional List Connectivity Powered by Enterprise Enabler and Business Data List Connector

Stone Bond Technologies, provider of the world’s only codeless connectivity software and eco-system, today announced a strategic alliance with Layer2 a leading publisher of SharePoint Web Parts and solutions.
Related Downloads

pdf Image2009-11-01: Layer2 Press Release

SharePoint – New Business Data List Connector for External Lists in MOSS 2007 and WSS 3.0
Layer2, the SharePoint Experts from Hamburg (Germany) announced a new Microsoft SharePoint extension to unlock the value of enterprise data for SharePoint 2007 based portals. The Business Data List Connector (BDLC) for SharePoint directly connects SharePoint lists with external LOB data sources. Almost any data from databases, Office or even text data can be displayed in SharePoint lists without any programming. Workflows can be used to start business actions in SharePoint, if external data records are changed.

xml ImageBusiness Data List Connector PAD File

This XML-based PAD file offers a product description for resellers to download and publish.

pdf ImageFlyer: Layer2 Partner Program

Partner with us as a software reseller or SharePoint service provider. There is a free partner program with up to 30% discount. Download as PDF.

pdf ImageHow to connect ANY external data source directly to SharePoint lists?

From SQL Server or Oracle tables and Excel files to web services, .NET objects, COM+ objects and ANY other data sources - connect it simply to any existing SharePoint 2007 / 2010 lists now.

pdf ImageProduktflyer: Business Data List Connector for SharePoint

Productflyer (PDF) in English for download.

pdf ImageTestimonial: How the US Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) integrates SharePoint with Oracle using BDLC

"Layer2 Business Data List Connector (BDLC) software provides a powerful mechanism for surfacing external data through lists, and drastically improves platform stability and development cycles."

Related Links

Are you looking for Layer2 product resellers and implementation partners?

United States:

Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland:

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Netherlands:

New Zealand:

Switzerland:​

Poland:

Turkey:

South Africa:

Malaysia:

BDLC works with NINTEX Workflow 2010 for SharePoint

Start NINTEX Workflows while external data changes.

Did you know? You can connect SharePoint lists directly to almost any external data source with BDLC to have a "SharePoint External List" today.

You can connect SharePoint lists directly to databases, such as:

  • SQL Server 2008
  • SQL Server 2005
  • SQL Server 2000 / 7.0
  • Oracle
  • IBM DB2
  • MySQL
  • Sybase Advantage Database Server
  • Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise
  • Informix
  • Postgre SQL
  • IBM UniData
  • IBM UniVerse
  • AS/400 (IMB iSeries)
  • Progress
  • FireBird
  • Interbase
  • Paradox
  • Ingres
  • Mimer SQL
  • Lightbase
  • Pervasive
  • SQLBase  (Gupta/Unify)
  • Cache
  • Teradata
  • VistaDB
  • DBMaker
  • Netezza DBMS
  • Valentina

and more. You can pull data to SharePoint lists directly from data files, e.g.

  • Microsoft Office Excel 2007
  • Microsoft Office Excel (other versions)
  • Microsoft Office Access 2007
  • Microsoft Office Access (other versions)
  • Visual Foxpro
  • DBF / Foxpro
  • SQLite
  • Filemaker
  • Textfiles (csv)  with delimited columns or fixed length columns
  • HTML-tables

and more. You can also link SharePoint lists directly to server and services, e.g.

  • OLAP, Analysis Services -  to provide Business Intelligence data in a real SharePoint list for further processing
  • Microsoft SharePoint - to pull list data from another SharePoint site collection or installation
  • Microsoft Project - to access project management data via a SharePoint list
  • Active Directory - to provide user or device data in a custom SharePoint list
  • Microsoft Exchange - to access contacts, events, tasks or other Exchange data
  • Microsoft Index Server - to access Index Server queries via a custom SharePoint list
  • IBM Lotus Notes - to connect a custom SharePoint list to Notes data
  • Intuit Quickbase - to access online application data
    Composit Information Server - a Java-based application server
  • ODBC DSN - to connect further data sources via ODBC Data Source Names
  • UDL - to connect SharePoint lists via the Universal Data Link protocol with external data sources

You can use Enterprise Enabler for SharePoint BDLC to additionally connect SharePoint lists directly to

  • Web Services
  • XML
  • EDI
  • HL7
  • Virtual Store
  • Microsoft .Net Objects
  • COM+ Objects
  • MS Dynamics CRM
  • MS Dynamics AX
  • SAP
  • Salesforce
  • Journyx
  • Quickbooks
  • PeachTree
  • and other

Enterprise Enabler for SharePoint BDLC additionally automates complex bi-directional aggregation, transformation and manipulation of entities among multiple Line Of Business applications.

How to integrate Microsoft CRM into SharePoint 2007/2010 lists in just 15 minutes?

The video shows step-by-step, how MS-CRM / SharePoint data integration can be done in just minutes with BDLC and Enterprise Enabler. 

SharePoint BDLC reviewed and rated 5 stars on SharePointReviews.com

"Uncountable possibilities to work with these lists further on ... just like an ordinary SPList (so, it IS an ordinary SPList)"
Reviewed by Brazzuk

Do you use IBM Informix databases? Just integrate these data into SharePoint 2007 / 2010 lists in just minutes...   

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