Chapter 4. Out-of-the-box BDC Web Parts

 

This chapter covers

  • Configuring the out-of-the-box BDC Web Parts
  • Using the Data Form Web Part to connect to BDC entities
  • Modifying the Data Form Web Part
  • Using aggregate functions on BDC data
  • Using XSL to modify the display of a web part

Displaying business data in web parts is probably one thing that everyone using the Business Data Catalog will want to do. The out-of-the-box web parts for the Business Data Catalog have been well thought out and are really functional. But most people we’ve spoken with don’t realize how simple it is to customize those existing web parts. There’s so much more functionality that we can add to them without writing any code, simply using Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer. If you still can’t get the results you’re after, you can create your own custom web parts that present the business data in your own way. We’ll learn this in chapter 9 of this book.

4.1. The purpose of the out-of-the-box web parts

4.2. Using SharePoint Designer with the Business Data List Web Part

4.3. Sorting, grouping, and filtering

4.4. Exercise: joining two web parts

4.5. Summary