How to: Add a Business Data Column to a List

  • Article

Windows SharePoint Services allows you to create custom field types. Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 uses this feature to provide a new field type called Business Data that is available to all lists in Office SharePoint Server 2007. The Business Data field type enables users to add data from business applications registered in the Business Data Catalog to lists. The following procedure shows how to add a Business Data column called "Product" to a SharePoint list.

Note

This procedure does not involve writing code. Before using this procedure, however, register the AdventureWorks SQL Server 2000 Sample in the Business Data Catalog.

To add a Business Data column to a SharePoint list

  1. Navigate to the Office SharePoint Server 2007 page where you want to build the list.

  2. On the Site Actions menu on the upper-right side of the page, click View All Site Content.

  3. Click Create.

  4. In the Create Page that is displayed, in Custom Lists, click Custom List.

  5. In the Newpage that appears, in Name, type Product Feedback, and then click Create. The Product Feedback list appears.

  6. In the Product Feedback list that appears, on the list toolbar (under Product Feedback) click Settings, and then select Create Column.

  7. In the New Column page that appears, in Column name, type Product.

  8. Under The type of information in this column is, select Business data. The Additional Column Settings section changes to show the Business Data column settings.

  9. In the Type field in Additional Column Settings, click Browse, and then select Product (AdventureWorks). Click OK.

  10. Under Add a column, select Product Number, and then click OK.

    You are returned to the list, which now contains the Product column and the related Product:Product Number column.

  11. On the list toolbar, click New, and then select New Item.

  12. In the New Item page that appears, in Title, type AdventureWorks.

  13. In one of the following ways, choose the product named Long-Sleeve Logo Jersey, M:

    • In the Product field, type jersey, and then click Check Names. Jersey is underlined in red, and the following message is displayed: No exact match was found. Click jersey, and then choose the product from the list of matching products shown to you.

    • In the search drop-down list, click Browse, choose Name, type Jersey in the search box, and then click Go. Select the product from the search results box.

  14. Click OK.

    The product name and number are added to the list.