Beginning SharePoint® 2007: Building Team Solutions with MOSS 2007

12.2. Configuring a BDC Application

Before you can begin working with a BDC to solve your data-related problems, you need to configure an application. This involves first importing the application definition file into the SharePoint system so users can view specific information elements, known as entities, and interact with these items using predefined actions. An entity is a business data item that represents an aspect of the business's operations such as a customer, product, or supplier. A single application usually contains information about multiple entities.

You then create actions, which allow you to interact with your business application's information. You might include these actions in the application definition file before you import it into SharePoint, or you can add them at a later time; however, if you add an action after the import, you may need to reimport the application definition file.

Finally, you're ready to add users to the BDC so that they can use the application, and to assign them the appropriate permissions.

12.2.1. Importing the Application Definition File

As previously mentioned, an application definition author creates an application definition file. This user is someone who typically has skills similar to that of a database developer and possibly has some knowledge of the business application to which the business must connect. The application definition file controls the various entities, relationships, filters, and actions required to connect to ...