The fast, easy and complete integration of external corporate data, e.g. from databases, is a common requirement in the use of Microsoft SharePoint technology. Existing solutions, such as the Business Data Catalog (BDC) in SharePoint 2007 or the Business Connectivity Services (BCS) in SharePoint 2010, are often too complex at the facility, bring with them limitations or they are available for certain editions only.

The SharePoint Business Data List Connector on the other hand, connects ANY SharePoint list (no Web Part) to almost any external business data, using a very simple list settings dialogue. It can be configured very easy:

1. Enter connection provider and string
2. Enter SQL query
3. Enter primary keys (if any)

The required SharePoint list structure is created automatically and modified data is updated very fast in background or manually. Optionally bidirectional operation with full write-back (CRUD) to data source. The desired data can be presented with the full features of common SharePoint lists made available: views, sorting and grouping, filters, calculated fields, search, offline etc. Workflows and notifications can be used, to take business actions directly in SharePoint, if external business data records are changed.

The SharePoint Business Data List Connector (BDLC) can be used to connect native SharePoint lists to databases, such as MS SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, MySQL, Sybase Advantage Database Server, Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise, Informix, Postgre SQL, IBM UniData, IBM UniVerse, AS/400 (IMB iSeries), Progress and more. With the BDLC you can pull data to SharePoint lists directly from data files, e.g. MS Excel, MS Access, Visual Foxpro, DBF, Filemaker, Text-/HTMLfiles.
You can also link SharePoint lists directly to services like OLAP, Active Directory, MS Project, SharePoint 2007/2010, Lotus Notes, Navision, ODBC/OLEDB.

The feature is available for WSS 3.0, SharePoint Foundation and SharePoint Server 2007 / 2010.