Business Data Type Picker Empty

Question

I have SSP on different port than default (port 65000, for example), and I can import my application definition file fine without any error. However when I go to the site and use BDC web part, and browse then it gives me "There are no Business Data Types loaded in the catalog".

 

Is this something to do with different port number I use for my SSP site, if it is, how do I fix this?

 

Thanks

Don

Answer 1

 

I don't think it's a port number.

 

It could be security.  Are you using the same account to add the web part as you used to load the ADF?

 

--Paul Galvin, Conchango
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  Web site @ http://paulgalvin.spaces.live.com

Answer 2

 

Hi,

 

Do you have a "Finder" method defined?  If this is missing I do nothing you see that particular entity.  If you are using the Definition Editor that comes with the SDK this does not generate the "Finder" method, you will have to write it by hand.  The developer version of BDC Meta Man generates a finder method.

 

Thanks

Arjuna.

Answer 3

Paul,

 

You are right, it is security issue. I am using different account.

 

Thanks

Don

Answer 4

hmmm

 

I'm using the Business Data Catalog definition Editor that i downloaded from the SDK (12.0.4518.1077) and the tool does create the FinderMethod:

 

        <Method Name="FindAll_HR_HEI_Employee">
          <Properties>
                      <MethodInstances>
            <MethodInstance Type="IdEnumerator" ReturnParameterName="@HR_HEI_Employee" eturnTypeDescriptorName="Reader" ReturnTypeDescriptorLevel="0" Name="FindAll_HR_HEI_Employee_Instance" />
          </MethodInstances>
        </Method>

 

But still the imported application definition isn't available in the Business Data Type Picker when i wan't to create a new Business Data List. 

 

After you imported the LOB XML file, do you have to do something?

 

http://blah.winsmarts.com/2007-4-SharePoint_2007__BDC_-_Extending_the_-and-quot;Hello_World-and-quot;_example_even_further_-_adding_specific_finders.aspx

 

here they explain step by step what to do but then they claim that after you imported the xml file you can use it in your list but here my business data type picker remains empty...

 

any idea?

 

 

Answer 5

indeed, BDC Meta Man creates a working XML file... is there a new Microsoft tool available that does the same as BDc meta man?

 

Answer 6

This is the MS tool: http://blogs.msdn.com/sharepoint/archive/2007/08/22/announcing-the-microsoft-business-data-catalog-definition-editor-for-microsoft-office-sharepoint-server-2007.aspx

 

I don't think it's a one-for-one replacement for metaman. 

 

--Paul Galvin, Conchango
  RSS @ http://feeds.feedburner.com/PaulGalvinsSharepointSpace
  Web site @ http://paulgalvin.spaces.live.com

Answer 7

Hi Arjuna,

I am also facing the same problem. I have generated the metadata file using BDC editor tool.I have imported in to the SSP.I couldn't get the type in BDC List Webpart.

Can you please give me some guidance regarding Finder method. (ie . How to write Finder method , Where i have to use that,).

Thanks in Advance,

 

- Nag

 

 

Answer 8

instead of using BDC etitor , use BDC Meta Man, it's a 3th party tool, BUT it works...

 

http://www.lightningtools.com/bdc-meta-man/default.aspx

 

When you import this xml file, you will notice that your imported items can be used in your webpart.

 

Is there any news in the air about when Microsoft is planning to upgrade his BDC editor tool?

Answer 9

 

hi

 

is your site linked to SSP site of BDC ??

 

BDC data type picker will show only those entities that are registered with the BDC of associated SSP.

 

make sure your site is associated with the SSP whose BDC service you are trying to use...

Answer 10

Hi.. Don

 

Did you resolve this issue ?

I'm with the same problem.. I can use the Business Entities on SSP Site, but thei are not visible from my other Sites.

SSP seens to be correctly setup.

 

I have created my XML application definition with all available tools (BDC Meta Man , Visual Studio and MOSS SDK Tools) .. all XML were very similar and all loaded correctly.. any Idea ?

Thanks for any help

Answer 11

Hi.. Don

 

Did you resolve this issue ?

I'm with the same problem.. I can use the Business Entities on SSP Site, but thei are not visible from my other Sites.

SSP seens to be correctly setup.

 

I have created my XML application definition with all available tools (BDC Meta Man , Visual Studio and MOSS SDK Tools) .. all XML were very similar and all loaded correctly.. any Idea ?

Thanks for any help

 

Vinicius

Answer 12

Tom et al,

You are right that the SDK tool creates methods that appear to be "finder" methods.  But, it does not provide you with the right one that is needed in order to browse BDC types through the web part's picker.

Specifically, you need a method with <MethodInstance Type="Finder".
The SDK tool creates methods with method instances of type "SpecificFinder" and "IdEnumerator".

To fix:

• Copy the entire SpecificFinder method. 
• Paste it below the existing. 
• Rename the pasted method or change the name of the one you copied -- just so long as they are different.
• Remove the where clause of the RdbCommandText's select statement (or stored proc) because this is the method that should find all.
• Remove the "In" parameters for same reason as above.
• Change method instance type to "Finder".
• Rename method instance name to correspond to the renamed method name (name will be followed by "_instance").

Done.
Why didn't Microsoft see fit to generate the Finder methods with the SDK tool?  No idea.  Maybe they wanted to encourage people to write the finders as stored procs.

I hope that helps.

Answer 13

Hi the_real_ewillyb,

Thank you,i had done as u said and i got it...

Answer 14

Tom et al,

You are right that the SDK tool creates methods that appear to be "finder" methods.  But, it does not provide you with the right one that is needed in order to browse BDC types through the web part's picker.

Specifically, you need a method with <MethodInstance Type="Finder".
The SDK tool creates methods with method instances of type "SpecificFinder" and "IdEnumerator".

To fix:

• Copy the entire SpecificFinder method. 
• Paste it below the existing. 
• Rename the pasted method or change the name of the one you copied -- just so long as they are different.
• Remove the where clause of the RdbCommandText's select statement (or stored proc) because this is the method that should find all.
• Remove the "In" parameters for same reason as above.
• Change method instance type to "Finder".
• Rename method instance name to correspond to the renamed method name (name will be followed by "_instance").

Done.
Why didn't Microsoft see fit to generate the Finder methods with the SDK tool?  No idea.  Maybe they wanted to encourage people to write the finders as stored procs.

I hope that helps.

Maaaan, incredible. It worked, Thanks....

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