In episode 12, Rob, Nick, and Brett discuss the SharePoint 2007 Business Data Catalog.
* What business problem the BDC is trying to solve?
* Life before the BDC – custom web parts, third party solutions, data view web part
* How to connect SharePoint to your LOB system (Application Definition Files)
* What the BDC gives you
o Web Parts
o Business Data Columns
o Search
o User Profile
o BDC API
* Writing back to your Lob System (InfoPath, 3rd party applications, BDC Meta Man insert/update web parts!)
* BDC Survey Results
* Common issues with the BDC (our top support issues)
o Common misconception
o Authentication
o Composite keys
o Web services
o BDC Picker (filters/ShowInPicker property)
Links from the show:
http://www.lightningtools.com/blog/archive/2008/09/18/business-data-catalog-survey-ndash-the-results.aspx