Using the BDC feature of MOSS 2007 to interact with information stored in external data sources, for example SQL Server and Oracle data bases - Part 2

Many enterprises manage a lot of information stored in data bases that are distinct that the ones used by SharePoint (SQL Server), for example internal applications like CRM’s, ERP’s or any other application developed by themselves, we could say “in house”. Now, we know that all the documents we upload to SharePoint Sites are stored in SQL Server. So, we have SharePoint data from one hand, and external information stored in other data sources on the other hand.
Is there any chance to provide final users the possibility to have only one web site to work with SharePoint data and also to interact with information stored in external data sources, through the same SharePoint Site?

Guess What!!, we have now the power of the Business Data Catalog, that allow us to interact with information stored in distinct sources and not necessarily need to be in SharePoint data bases. What’s the beauty of this, we can provide to our users the possibility to have one site (site collection) working with SharePoint data, from document libraries, lists and everything you know from SharePoint, but also with other kind of data…external data.

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P. Erol GIRAUDY MVP MOSS
www.clubmoss2007.org
www.shareclubs.org