FAQs
The fast, easy and complete integration of external data, eg from databases is a common requirement in the use of Microsoft SharePoint technology. Existing solutions, such as the Business Data Catalogue (BDC), are often too complex at the facility.
This FAQ is about the SharePoint Business Data List Connector (BDLC) product version history. For any questions please use the FAQ Web Form or contact sales@layer2.de directly.
To connect a SharePoint List directly with an external data source, please use the SharePoint Business Data List Connector (BDLC). This FAQ is about how to create a valid OLEDB connection string to the external data source in SharePoint.
To connect a SharePoint list with a SQL Server table or view using the SharePoint Business Data List Connector (BDLC) you have to add a valid select statement. Some samples are given here.
If a SharePoint List is connected directly with an external data source using the SharePoint Business Data List Connector (BDLC) the BDLC automatically creates the required list columns. But what about field types?
You can use the SharePoint Business Data List Connector (BDLC) to connect Excel as your external data source to a SharePoint list. This FAQ is about how to create a valid selection statement for this.
In the BDLC list settings dialog you can enable or disable background updates only. There are no further settings about timer interval, next run etc. But how to manage these settings?
The SharePoint 2010 external list via BCS is a great step forward with data integration. But it's not a REAL SharePoint list. And that's why it hasn't ALL list features - as the BDLC list has.
With SharePoint BDLC V1.6 you can update BDLC lists on demand per URL or on page load.
You can simply remove unused columns in your SharePoint BDLC list by deleting it. Missed columns are skipped during updates without causing any problems. Warning: You should not remove columns that host primary keys.
The BDLC can be used to pull data from other SharePoint lists for any reason.
Yes, you can add additional fields after list creation without any restrictions.
SharePoint out-of-the-box can sync some data in Microsoft Exchange to same lists in SharePoint. Connecting a custom SharePoint list to Exchange or Outlook with the BDLC to pull data into this list is a more general approach.
You can connect a custom SharePoint list directly with external data from Oracle database tables or views using the Business Data List Connector (BDLC).
You have to pull the user's / group's ID from the User Information List in the current SharePoint Site Collection into the user / group picker field to reference to a certain user or group.
About using SharePoint BDLC with NTLM Authentication, Basic Authentication, Kerberos and Trust computer for delegation privilege in Active Directory (AD) or explicit credentials.
Using a BDLC list you can add collaboration content to LOB data for example. To prevent users from editing content, that come from the external data source, some or all SharePoint list columns / fields can be set read-only.
You can connect a custom SharePoint list (no Web part) directly with external data from Active Directory, e.g. users or devices, using the SharePoint Business Data List Connector (BDLC).
To connect Microsoft Office 2010 data directly to SharePoint 2007 / WSS 3.0 lists, without Office installed on the server, you have to install the Office 2010 System Driver - Data Connectivity Components.
You can fill SharePoint link columns from external data using the BDLC without any problems, if you follow these steps.
How to configure BDLC to link a SharePoint MOSS/WSS list to a Microsoft Dynamics NAV 4.0 (Navision) non SQL Server table or query via C/ODBC directly in the list settings dialog without any programming or tools.
BDLC V3.0 finally comes with optional write-back to external data source features. CRUD (Create, Update, Delete) is fully supported for the external data source, if SharePoint list items are created, updated or deleted.
You can use Xtract Universal as a driver, to connect any native SharePoint 2007 / 2010 list directly to SAP data via Business Data List Connector for SharePoint.
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.
You can connect any SharePoint list directly with Microsoft Exchange Server data, e.g. contacts, tasks, events, inbox and other folders using the BDLC and a simple middleware driver.
You have to create your ODBC data source and access it as SharePoint list via BDLC. Here is a step-by-step sample.
You can connect a native SharePoint list (no Web Part / BDC / BCS) directly with external data from AS400 database tables. Information how it works is found here.
You can connect a SharePoint list with another SharePoint list (at the same or at another installation) to pull the data and keep up-to-date with background update.
How to connect native SharePoint lists via OLEDB directly to Active Directory to create a phone book application with search within 10 minutes.
The Business Data List Connector allows data replication between SQL tables and SharePoint lists both directions with full CRUD (create, update, delete) support. GUIDs can be used as primary keys for that.
With BDLC 2.0 you can connect any existing SharePoint list to external data, e.g. contacts, tasks etc.
BDLC V1.6 comes with greatly improved field / column mapping features.
SharePoint BDLC 1.5 comes with highly improved support for much more external data sources.
There are some known issues and workarounds with the BDLC version 1.02.