Creating an external list

SharePoint can expose data from a database, web service, or custom line-of-business system in the same way as a regular SharePoint list. What's more, users can update that data in SharePoint and their changes can be written back to the source data without requiring a custom user interface or code.

Getting ready

This recipe works for:

• SharePoint 2010 Foundation

• SharePoint 2010 Standard Edition

• SharePoint 2010 Enterprise Edition

• Office 365 (SharePoint Online)

You will need the Full Contro l permission level to run this recipe.

You will need an External Content Type to create your external list from. This recipe uses the Contacts external content type from the previous recipe for illustration.

You will need a SharePoint site where you want to create your external list.

How to do it...

1. Open your site in SharePoint Designer.

2. Select External Content Types in the Site Objects pane.

3. Highlight the Contacts external content type.

4. Select Edit External Content Type from the External Content...