Business Data Catalog does not appear in SSP admin - sql-server

I'm trying to connect to a database (SQL Server 2005) in MOSS 2007 using BDC. I've created the aplication definition xml and I need to import it in Sharepoint shared services provider in order to use it.
The problem is I cannot find the Business Data Catalog (where "Import application definition" is) section in SSP admin. Here is a screenshot with what appears in my shared services admin:
http://imageshack.us/f/17/screenbf.png/
Can someone please help me with this? Why can't I see that BDC section? If you need more details, ask :) Thank you.
LATER EDIT: I've searched a little more and it seems that BDC is a MOSS enterprise only feature. Can someone please confirm this?

Your link does not provide the image path. Are you trying to set BDC as datasource for User Profiles. If you have confusion and want to learn about BDC then Follow this article
and others similar to it provided there.

I have confirmed this. The problem was that BDC is a MOSS enterprise only feature (ugh). So I installed an enterprise license (all the software is installed in sharepoint, only that certain features are hidden depending on your license... yuck, I hate this).

Related

How to distribute SQL Server Express with my software

I've developed a software that uses SQL Server Express.
From the legal point of view, I would like to be confirmed that what I have developed is legal, as the user can click on a SQL Server Express button within my software, a click that starts the installation process.
I really would like an official yes/no answer if possible from Microsoft.
Thank you in advance,
Bracha Goldstein
I think you would be wise to contact Microsoft directly, especially when it comes to a legal/licensing point of view. Proof from the vendor is crucial.
Call them, ask for a licensing expert and explain your situation.
Your local contact details can be found at https://www.microsoft.com/

Custom Authentication (Security Extension) with SSRS 2016

I am trying to implement custom forms authentication with SSRS 2016.
Within this article, a reference is made to the SQL Server Reporting Service Product Samples.
It appears that the latest supported version on the samples page (with regards to security extensions) is SSRS 2012. I have successfully applied the information gathered on the samples page to a SSRS 2014 instance. However, it looks as though the file system structure has changed a bit for SSRS 2016 (read, there is no longer a ReportManager folder) which seems to invalidate the instructions provided by the samples page.
Does anyone know where I can find updated procedures for establishing custom authentication?
We stumbled upon a thread on the MSDN forums located here. This thread has had quite a bit of activity including responses from the product team.
For anyone having issues with getting a custom security extension to work with SSRS 2016 in the next couple of weeks, please have a look. After that, it is my understanding that all of this information will be included in the documentation when the product is in a RTM state.
I recently did this work.
I searched in many sites. This example works for me:
https://github.com/Microsoft/Reporting-Services/tree/master/CustomSecuritySample.
Below, under the example of the project, there is a deployment manual.
Note, in my case, the web portal did not work without assigning machineKey in the files:
...\Reporting Services\ReportServer\web.config
...\Reporting Services\RSWebApp\Microsoft.Reporting­Services.Portal.WebHost.exe.config
In general, everything as described in the manual. Not missing a single step.
The site I used to generate the key:
http://www.developerfusion.com/tools/generatemachinekey/
I hope this info helps someone.
I think you dont have a problem with get username and password or generating user token, some changes about Security Extentions in SQL Server 2016 refers CheckAccess function in IAuthorizationExtension interface.
In the following links you can find changes and sample codes especially for implementing a Security Extension for SQL Server 2016.
Implementing a Security Extension
Configure Custom or Forms Authentication on the Report Server
Authorization in Reporting Services
IAuthorizationExtension.CheckAccess Method (String, IntPtr, Byte[], CatalogOperation)

SharePoint Foundation 2010 and BDC with SQL

Everything I've read on setting up External Content Types with BDC seems to use SharePoint 2010, rather than SharePoint Foundation (SPF) 2010 (the free version). Even though it also includes BDC, it doesn't seem to include support for creating a Secure Store App ID for alternate credentials (like full-blown SP does). I cannot seem to get an External List to read from a SQL database table because of this. I'm using a Database that is on the same server as my SPF installation, so it's not doing any remote connections. Can anyone point me to something helps explain this properly?
After reviewing a bunch of articles, the solution appears to be explained here: http://wyldesharepoint.blogspot.com/2010/06/setting-up-external-content-type-for.html
Yes, Secure Store is for Standard+.
This link might help you on the right path:
https://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/questions/3331/sharepoint-2010-foundation-bcs-errors/

Where can I find documentation on Sharepoints backend Databases?

When I look at the SQL Server my SharePoint site is using I see several databases in there that all appear to be used by my site. Is there somewhere to find documentation on what each database stores?
Here's the MSDN article: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms998452.aspx
It comes with this Microsoft warning:
Warning: Modifying the database schema
or database structures is not
supported. Changes that you make to
the database contents may be
overwritten when you install updates
or service packs for Windows
SharePoint Services, or when you
upgrade an installation to the next
product version.
SharePoint comes with a rich set of APIs that may be better to use than connecting directly to the database. The Microsoft Develper center is a good starting point for working with MOSS APIs
For info on what each database has try here
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc678868.aspx

Dashboards with Sharepoint WSS?

I'm in a position of evaluating products / approaches to build Business Intelligence Dashboards on top of Sharepoint WSS (no MOSS at this stage). Does anyone have any suggestions where would be a good place to start?
The BI platform is currently built on SQL Server 2005 / SSIS / SSRS and we're currently investigating adding SSAS to the mix so we're very Microsoft centric at the moment.
Thanks,
Steve
Perhaps this article on how to build dashboards with SSRS/Sharepoint: Building a Dashboard in SQL Server Reporting Services.
In my experience building a dashoard with SSRS/SharePoint is mostly a function of the quality of the talent involved, not the tools. SSRS and Sharepoint are both quircky, but they can get the job done out-of-the-box.
We succesfully built a WSS based BI tool for our product. The biggest challenge for us was to get delegation of security to pass through from the browser to WSS to SSAS to utilise SSAS role security to make sure the one client could'nt possibly see another's.
I'd agree with the previous comment about quirckyness; we have had to develop a fair amount of technique / supporting code for things like casading parameters behaviour's in the report viewer etc.
Best of luck - it does work if you stick with it; our customers love the portal and it will get better with the advances in Sharepoint foundation 2010.
There is a company in Chicago ( DMC - www.dmcinfo.com/sharepoint ) who has SharePoint Dashboard solution that integrates with a variety of data sources (e.g. Dynamics, CRM, Goldmine, QuickBooks, SharePoint Lists, etc.). It works with both WSS (free SharePoint) and MOSS (premium SharePoint). You may want to try asking them.

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