SharePoint 2010 and PostgreSQL through BCS

In this walkthrough we will demonstrate how to integrate PostgreSQL database with Microsoft SharePoint 2010 through ODBC and display PostgreSQL data on SharePoint 2010 page. In order to do that we will describe how to create a new external content type by means of BCS Meta Man.

1. Prerequisites:
   • Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
   • Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Professional or higher
   • Man BCS Meta Man 2.6.0.0 Beta or above
   • Download and install “The PostgreSQL ODBC driver (psqlODBC) (for Windows 32-bit)” http://www.postgresql.org/ftp/odbc/versions/ on a machine where BCS Meta Man runs
   • Download and install “The PostgreSQL ODBC driver (psqlODBC) (for Windows 64-bit)” http://www.postgresql.org/ftp/odbc/versions/ on a machine where SharePoint 2010 runs
   • Make sure that installed ODBC drivers have the same names for 32-bit and 64-bit version (for example they can be “PostgreSQL ANSI”)

     

2. Open Visual Studio 2010
3. Add a New Project
4. Expand the “SharePoint” node, select “Lightning Tools (2010)” node and then the “BCS Meta Man” project type
5. Give your project a name i.e PostgreSQLBCSMetaManDemo and click “OK”

   

6. On the next dialog box, enter the name of where you want to deploy your model, and click “Finish” button

   

7. If prompted, click “Trial” on the licensing dialog
8. To show the “BCS Meta Man Data Source Explorer” we need to enable it from the Menu item, this new window can be docked so it doesn’t get in your way

   

9. Click the “Add Connection” button to show the “Connection Dialog”
10. Select “ODBC Server” as Data Source type, enter PostgreSQL ODBC connection string (for example it can be “Driver={PostgreSQL ANSI};server=cygnus;port=5432;database=postgres; Uid=postgres;Pwd=12345;Trusted_Connection=yes;”), enter double quotes as left and right delimiters and “?” as parameter symbol and click “Connect” button

    

11. The Data Source Explorer will now be populated with your PostgreSQL data

    

12. We will be working with the public.“customer” table, to add it to the Model, just drag it from the “Data Source Explorer” onto the “Diagram”
13. When you drop the table you will be shown the following dialog, we should choose “Database” , click “OK”

    

14. Accept the default entity name by clicking “Next”

    

15. Accept the
    default “Identifiers” by clicking “Next”

    

16. Accept the default 3 methods to be created, click “Generate” (The default 3 methods are: “Finder” – Returns all items, “Specific Finder” – Returns a single item by identifier, “IdEnumerator” – Returns just the Identifiers for all of the items)

    

17. Press F5 to deploy, this will load up your SharePoint Page once deployed
18. Add a new External list by selection on SharePoint page “Site Action”->“More Options”->“External List”

    

19. Click on the icon to show the available External Content Types

    

20. Select our PostgreSQLBCSMetaManDemo.public_customer External Content Type, click “OK”

    

21. Click “Create”
22. Your External System data from PostgreSQL database is now displayed in the SharePoint External List

    

We hope this walkthrough will be useful for you. If you have any questions feel free to email them to support@lightningtools.com