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List & connected SQL db lookup

(7 posts)
  • Started 3 days ago by deliafrog
  • Latest reply from deliafrog

  1. deliafrog
    Member

    We have had to move some of our data to an external database. So I have two high-level questions, one in End User queue and one in workflow queue:
    1. Do we need to move any of the rest of the data that needs to lookup to the SQL data or is there a way to lookup from List to the database connection?
    [2. Can we have a custom SPD workflow update the external SQL data? Does it make a difference if the data lives on the SP db server?]

    Posted 3 days ago #

  2. Toni
    Moderator

    Yes, you can do both. Just not OOTB.

    1. You can lookup from list to database
    http://www.sharepointusecases.com/index.php/2009/02/use-case-integrating-sharepoint-with-lob-applications/

    2. Yes

    Toni

    Posted 3 days ago #

  3. deliafrog
    Member

    Toni- there is not enough information at this link for me to start implementing the suggested solution, unless I am missing something. When I try to add a custom column, I don't get a Database Lookup option. Are you selling/offering a product? If so, I don't see a way to procure it. Thank you for your response, but I need more information.

    Posted 2 days ago #

  4. Toni
    Moderator

    Got me :)

    It is a custom solution, based on Custom Field Type. You can learn more here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms446361.aspx

    In case you run into trouble let me know (http://www.sharepointusecases.com/index.php/contact-me/) and I will help you with it.

    Toni

    Posted 2 days ago #

  5. deliafrog
    Member

    <sigh> Sounds like a Visual Studio (VS) solution vs something I could implement in SharePoint Designer (SPD)? I don't have that background. Though I am sure i could make my way down that path, I don't have the luxury at this stage for the associated learning curve. Please let me know if I am misreading the MSDN reference.

    Posted 2 days ago #

  6. Toni
    Moderator

    Unfortunately there is no easy solution to solve your problem :(

    Two possible solutions
    1) Custom column as I suggested. And you do need custom code for it... (maybe there are some 3rd party solutions that I am not aware of!?)
    2) If you have SharePoint 2007 Enterprise edition, you could use Business Data Catalog for it (it is OOTB functionality). However configuring BDC is not an easy task.

    The problem you are facing is not uncommon but it cannot be solved with a wizard.

    Posted 2 days ago #

  7. deliafrog
    Member

    Toni - thank you for the follow up. We don't have BDC turned on. We also may be prohibited from using a 3rd party solution. I'll have to do something funky for now, like store the lookup data on the site as well.

    Thank you for your confident & timely reply!

    Posted 2 days ago #

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