1. Rapid Data Integration
using SharePoint
Business Connectivity Services (BCS)
Anthony Obi
SQLSaturday #228: 28th September 2013

2. About Me
 Independent SharePoint Consultant - Obilogic Ltd
 Working with SharePoint since Portal Server 2001
 MCITP / MCTS SharePoint 2010
 Blog:
http://community.obilogic.co.uk
 Twitter: @obilogic
 Email: aobi@obilogic.co.uk

3. Agenda
What is SharePoint Business Connectivity Services (BCS)?
Setting up Business Connectivity Services (BCS)
How to Recognise Different Types of Trees From Quite a Long Way Away
Working with External SQL Data:
Connecting to SQL Databases
SQL Authentication Options
Performing ‘CRUDQ’ operations
Displaying SQL Data using Business Data Web Parts
Real World Scenarios:
Know Your SharePoint Environment
The ‘Cloud’

4. Agenda
What is SharePoint Business Connectivity Services (BCS)?
Setting up Business Connectivity Services (BCS)
How to Recognise Different Types of Trees From Quite a Long Way Away
Working with External SQL Data:
Connecting to SQL Databases
SQL Authentication Options
Performing ‘CRUDQ’ operations
Displaying SQL Data using Business Data Web Parts
Real World Scenarios :
Know Your SharePoint Environment
The ‘Cloud’

5. Environment
TWO-TIER FARM
• SharePoint 2013 Enterprise Edition
• SharePoint Designer 2013
• SQL 2008 R2 (x2 instances)
• All SharePoint Databases
• Adventure Works 2008 R2 Sample DBs
available via
http://msftdbprodsamples.codeplex.com/
and/or
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/a
rticles/3735.sql-server-samples-readme-en-us.aspx

6. SQL Server DBs
SQL Instance 001
SharePoint DBs
SQL Instance 002
Sample Databases
Database:
AdventureWorks2008R2
Table Name:
Production.ProductModel
Table Name:
Production.Product

7. So…
What is Business Connectivity Services?
Business Connectivity Services is a centralized service
in SharePoint that enables the use of SharePoint and
Office clients as interfaces to data which is stored
externally to SharePoint itself.

8. What is Business Connectivity Services?
(…the Long Version!)
Business Connectivity Services is a centralized infrastructure in SharePoint that supports integrated
data solutions. With Business Connectivity Services, you can use SharePoint and Office clients as
interfaces into data that doesn’t live within SharePoint itself. For example, this external data may be
in a database and is accessed by using the out-of-the-box BCS connector for that database. Business
Connectivity Services can also connect to data that is available through a web service, or data that is
published as an OData source or many other types of external data. It does this through out-of-the
box or custom connectors. The connectors, as the name implies, are the communication bridge
between SharePoint and the external system that hosts the external data
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee661740.aspx#section1
Business Connectivity Services (BCS) was introduced in SharePoint Server 2010 as an evolution of
the Business Data Catalog (BDC) released in SharePoint Server 2007. BCS enables SharePoint 2013
to work with data that is hosted externally. Possible sources can include databases, web services,
Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) services, Open Data Protocol (OData) sources, and
other proprietary data that can be accessed by using custom .NET assemblies.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj163251.aspx

9. What is Business Connectivity Services?
SharePoint 2013 Presentation
External Lists
External Columns
Web Parts
Business Connectivity Services
External Content Types
(ECTs)
Connectors
Sample Data
Database:
AdventureWorks2008R2
Table Name:
Production.ProductModel
Table Name:
Production.Product
Secure Store

10. What is Business Connectivity Services?
(…the Long Picture Version)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee661740.aspx#section1

11. Demo 01
Creating the
Business Connectivity Services
Service Application

12. … via the GUI

13. … via PowerShell
#Get SharePoint ServiceApp Application Pool
$AppPool = Get-SPServiceApplicationPool -Identity <AppPoolName>
#Create New SharePoint BCS Service Application
$ServiceApplication = New-SPBusinessDataCatalogServiceApplication –
ApplicationPool $AppPool –DatabaseName <BCSDatabaseName> –DatabaseServer
<DatabaseServer> –Name <NewBCSServiceName>
#Get SharePoint BCS Service Instance
$ServiceInstance = Get-SPServiceInstance | Where-Object { $_.TypeName -like
"*Business*" }
#Start SharePoint BCS Service Instance
Start-SPServiceInstance $ServiceInstance

14. Demo 02
Creating
External Content Types (ECTs)

15. … via SharePoint Designer

16. … Authentication Options

17. Demo 03
Creating the Secure Store
Service Application

18. … via the GUI

19. … via PowerShell
#Get SharePoint ServiceApp Application Pool
$AppPool = Get-SPServiceApplicationPool -Identity <AppPoolName>
#Create New SharePoint SecureStore Service Application
$ServiceApplication = New-SPSecureStoreServiceApplication –ApplicationPool
$AppPool –AuditingEnabled:$false –DatabaseName <SecureStoreDatabaseName>
–DatabaseServer <DatabaseServer> –Name <NewSecureStoreServiceName>
#Create New SecureStore Service Application Proxy
$ServiceApplicationProxy = New-SPSecureStoreServiceApplicationProxy –
ServiceApplication $ServiceApplication –Name <NewSecureStoreProxyName>
#Get SharePoint SecureStore Service Instance
$ServiceInstance = Get-SPServiceInstance | Where-Object { $_.TypeName -like
"*Secure*" }
#Start SharePoint BCS Service Instance
Start-SPServiceInstance $ServiceInstance

20. Example External Content Type (ECT)

21. Demo 04
Creating
External Lists

22. Demo 05
Creating CRUDQ (or CRRUD)
ECT Operations

23. … via SharePoint Designer

24. Demo 06
Creating CRUDQ
External Lists in SharePoint

25. Business Data Web Parts
The Business Data Web Parts are designed to work with data from external lists
Main benefits:
No coding required
Business Data Web Parts enable you to display data on your SharePoint site without writing any
code.
Reusability
Business Data Web Parts are generic and can show any type of data (entity) registered in the
Business Data Catalog.
Connect-ability
Business Data Web Parts support 'Web Part connections' and make it easier to create
Master-Detail applications (without writing any code).
For example, you can display ‘products’ and their ‘details’ using the ‘Business Data List’ and
‘Business Data Item’ Web Parts by simply connecting them.

26. Business Data Web Parts
SharePoint 2013 includes six ‘Business Data Web Parts’
Web Part
Description
Business Data List
Business Data Item
Business Data Actions
Business Data Connectivity Filter
Displays a list of items from an external list.
Displays an item from an external list.
Displays an action of an external list.
Filters the contents of a connected Business Data Web Part by using a list of
values from an external list.
Creates a Business Data item from parameters in a URL query string and
provides it to other Business Data Web Parts.
Displays a list of child items related to a parent item from an external list.
Requires an association.
Business Data Item Builder
Business Data Related List
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/sharepoint-server-help/use-the-business-data-web-partsHA102770986.aspx

27. Demo 07
Displaying SQL Data using
Business Data Web Parts

28. Business Data Web Parts

29. And Now…

30. Real World Scenarios
Know Your SharePoint Environment
When you create or use a SharePoint BCS solution, there are
significant differences in the features and functionality available
based on your SharePoint environment.

31. Real World Scenarios
Know Your SharePoint Environment
On-premise
If you create a solution in which your users and your solution are entirely onpremise, then all Business Connectivity Services features are supported.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/sharepoint-server-help/introduction-to-external-dataHA102891586.aspx#_Toc353550777

32. Real World Scenarios
Know Your SharePoint Environment
Cloud
If you are using SharePoint Online (Plan 2, E3 and E4) in Office 365, then
only a subset of features are available. Furthermore, you can only connect to
these data sources:
1.
2.
3.
WCF Web Services
Odata
SQL Server Azure.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/sharepoint-server-help/introduction-to-external-dataHA102891586.aspx#_Toc353550777

33. Real World Scenarios
Know Your SharePoint Environment
SharePoint Versions
Feature
SharePoint 2013
SharePoint 2010
Office 365
BCS: Business Data Webparts
Yes
Yes
Yes
BCS: Profile Pages
Yes
Yes
No
BCS: External List
Yes
Yes
Yes
BCS: Secure Store Service
Yes
Yes
Yes
BCS: Rich Client Integration
Yes
Yes
No
BCS: Alerts for External Lists
Yes
No
Yes
BCS: App Scoped ECTs
Yes
No
Yes
BCS: OData Connector
Yes
No
Yes
BCS: Tenant-Level External Data
Log
Yes
No
Yes
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj819267.aspx

34. Real World Scenarios
Know Your SharePoint Environment
On-premise
“all Business Connectivity Services features are supported”
(..nudge, nudge, wink, wink)
Feature
SharePoint 2013
Enterprise CAL
SharePoint 2013 SharePoint 2013
Standard CAL Foundation
BCS: Business Data Webparts
Yes
Yes
No
BCS: Profile Pages
Yes
Yes
No
BCS: External List
Yes
Yes
Yes
BCS: Secure Store Service
Yes
Yes
Yes
BCS: Rich Client Integration
Yes
No
No
BCS: Alerts for External Lists
Yes
Yes
No
BCS: App Scoped External Content
Yes
Types (ECTs)
Yes
No
BCS: OData connector
Yes
Yes
No
BCS: Tenant-Level External Data
Log
Yes
No
No
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj819267.aspx#bkmk_FeaturesOnPremise

35. Real World Scenarios
Know Your SharePoint Environment
Cloud – O365
BCS feature availability across Office 365 Plans
Feature
Small / Midsize Business
Enterprise E1/ K1
Education A2
Government G1 / K1
Enterprise E3 / E4
Education A3 /A4
Government G3 / G4
BCS: Business Data Webparts
No
Yes
BCS: Profile Pages
No
No
BCS: External List
No
Yes
BCS: Secure Store Service
No
Yes
BCS: Rich Client Integration
No
No
BCS: Alerts for External Lists
No
Yes
BCS: App Scoped External Content
No
Types (ECTs)
Yes
BCS: OData connector
No
Yes
BCS: Tenant-Level External Data
Log
No
Yes
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj819267.aspx#bkmk_tableo365

36. Real World Scenarios
Know Your SharePoint Environment
Cloud
BCS feature availability across SharePoint Online service plans
Feature
SharePoint Online Plan 1
SharePoint Online Plan 2
BCS: Business Data Webparts
No
Yes
BCS: Profile Pages
No
No
BCS: External List
No
Yes
BCS: Secure Store Service
No
Yes
BCS: Rich Client Integration
No
No
BCS: Alerts for External Lists
No
Yes
BCS: App Scoped External Content
No
Types (ECTs)
Yes
BCS: OData connector
No
Yes
BCS: Tenant-Level External Data
Log
No
Yes
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj819267.aspx#bkmk_tablespo

37. Real World Scenarios
Know Your SharePoint Environment
Hybrid
Your organization may already have significant investments in on-premise
data sources, but may also be in a hybrid SharePoint environment, in which
some employees are on-premise and some are in the cloud.
It is possible to create a hybrid external data solution so that users in the
cloud can access an on-premise data source.
However, you can connect to any supported on-premise data source,
but you must use OData Services (..and extensive development and
configuration may be required)
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/sharepoint-server-help/introduction-to-external-dataHA102891586.aspx#_Toc353550777

38. Resources
Business Connectivity Services in SharePoint 2013
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/sharepoint-server-help/introduction-to-externaldata-HA102891586.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee661740.aspx
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj163251.aspx
BCS & Secure Store PowerShell Cmdlets
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793361.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee906549.aspx
Compare Feature Availability
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj819267.aspx
Business Data Web Parts
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/sharepoint-server-help/use-the-business-data-webparts-HA102770986.aspx