SharePoint 2010: Business Connectivity Services

This article explains step-by-step how to make an external content type using Microsoft Business Connectivity Services (BCS).

BCS

BCS, formerly named the Business Data Catalog, enables users to read and write data from external systems using web services, databases and Microsoft .NET Framework assemblies from within Microsoft SharePoint 2010 and Microsoft Office 2010 applications.

Business Connectivity Services are a set of services and features that provide a way to connect SharePoint solutions to sources of external data and to define external content types based on that external data. This article contains a step-by-step guide to design an External Content Type from SQL Server.

The following is my SQL database:

table
                                                                              Image 1

My database table in Design mode:

designview
                                    Image 2

Now the next task is to create an external content type.

Open SharePont Designer then open your site like the following:

SharePont Designer
                                                                                 Image 3

Click Open.

External Content types
                                                                           Image 4

Select External Content types then click on the External Content Type option.

External Content Type option
                                                                                 Image 5

Now click here to discover an external data source and define the operation.

sql server
                                                                                Image 6

Now click on Add Connection then select SQL Server -> OK.

Select SQL Server
                                                                                    Image 7

Enter your Database Server Name, Database name and Name (optional). Then click OK.

create all operations
                                                                                    Image 8

Here expand your data table then right-click then select Create All Operations.

operation properties
                                                                                 Image 9

Click Next.

parameters configuration
                                                                              Image 10

Set your table column as identifier then click Finish.

column as identifier
                                                                                 Image 11

Now save this using the top left Save button.

site actions
                                                                           Image 12

Now open your site then select Site Actions -> More options.

Select Site Actions
                                                                           Image 13

Select List -> External List then provide a name and click on Create.

Give name and click on Create
                                                                              Image 14

Now click on search and external content type then a pop-up window will open then search and select your External content type then click Ok.

name and description
                                                                           Image 15

Now click Create.

list tools
                                                                                 Image 16

Your SQL Server Data.

Now select an Item -> Add.

employee extrnal data
                                                                                    Image 17

Check your SQL Server Data Table also.

If there is an error message while displaying data then go to Central Admin.

managr service application
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Select Manage Service Applications.

service application
                                                                                 Image 19

Select Business Data Connectivity Service.

Connectivity Service
                                                                               Image 20

Be sure to set Object Permission and set Metadata Store Permission. They should be like the preceding.

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