BCS - Connecting to a list in another site collection using the WCF Service

Question

Hi,

I am using SharePoint Designer and do not have Visual Studio.

I would like to create an external content type (called Supplier Types ECT) based upon a list in another SharePoint site collection (called Supplier Types).

I have created an external content type and have created a connection to the Supplier Types SharePoint list using the WCF service and the lists.asmx.  I see all of the Web Methods available to me including GetList and GetListItems.

If I right-click on GetList and choose New Read List Operation I get the following error message:

Any ideas?  Is it possible to connect to a SharePoint List in another site collection using Web Services and BCS and add all the CRUD methods?  I have been using the following instructions but applying them to a SharePoint List:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee556431.aspx

Thanks in advance,

Mark

Answer 1

Hi Mark,

I can reproduce your problem. As you can see, the error says "This operation is based on a method with complex data types in its signature. To be supported, each complex type referenced in the method signature must have a default constructor that does not require any parameters." We cannot use the Lists.asmx web service, because every method has parameters.

Do you want to add/update/delete a list in from another site? If so, you can display the list in a data view web part using Lists.asmx and give the New Form/Edit Form’s URLs in the data view web part.

Thanks & Regards,
Emir

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Emir Liu

TechNet Community Support

Answer 2

Thank you for your reply.

This sounds like a good option however the Supplier Types list should be a list within an area called Purchase Orders.  This area has a list called Purchase Orders.  When adding a new Purchase Order I would like a drop down to appear showing all the supplier types from a list in a separate site collection.  This post explains my requirements:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sharepoint2010customization/thread/b0803d70-1530-4459-8463-d552974fa007

I thought that perhaps BCS could solve this issue however from your reply it seems it can't.

It looks like I will have to create 2 lists called Supplier Types.  One in the Purchase Orders area and one in the Suppliers area.  The user will have to manually update both lists when making amendments to Supplier Types.

The only other option I can think of is to use this project from codeplex which can use workflow to update list items in another site collection.

http://spdactivities.codeplex.com/

Unless anyone else has any other ideas?

Thanks,

Mark