Microsoft® Access® 2010 Inside Out

Connecting Data Services in Access

Now that you have a usable BDC model definition XML file, let’s import it into Access. As we discussed previously, Access understands how to expose Read List Operations or Default Finder of a BCS Entity. Behind the scenes, Access loads a small managed Dynamic Link Library (DLL), which is the BCS client. Access sends the BCS client the BDC model file and asks for the Finder method. The BCS handles the communications, authentication, and authorization with the remote data source, all according to the specifications in the BDC model file.

Let’s take a look at how Access creates these linked lists from a BDC model file in a new Access database file. Start Access, click Blank Database on the New tab of the Backstage ...