ArcGIS Mapping for sharepoint with External (LOB) data

[SrikanthTangedipalli]

Can we configure the ArcGIS mapping webpart in Sharepoint list connected to an external data (SQL serer database).  Connection is made with BCS/BDC services.

[NikShampur]

As of v2.0, you cannot add external lists since external lists do not allow you to add columns to them. The map web part relies on a list being spatial enabled using the "Location On Map" custom field. Since this field cannot be added to the list, it cannot be identified as spatially enabled - hence won't show up in the browse dialog.

Note however that you can indeed pull in data from an external list using the client OM and the extensiblity feature exposed at this release.
http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapps/sharepoint/help/AboutExtendingTheMapWebPart.html
This would require a small amount of custom code.

You would have to build an extension which uses the SharePoint client OM to query back to the external list on the SharePoint site. Remember to set CopyLocal=false and SpecificVersion=false on the client OM silverlight assemblies since these assemblies are already part of the Map Web Part runtime.

thanks

[SrikanthTangedipalli]

Thanks for the input on this issue.  Since now Sharepoint 2010 allows to manage external data, can we add the required columns to make it work.

As of v2.0, you cannot add external lists since external lists do not allow you to add columns to them. The map web part relies on a list being spatial enabled using the "Location On Map" custom field. Since this field cannot be added to the list, it cannot be identified as spatially enabled - hence won't show up in the browse dialog.

Note however that you can indeed pull in data from an external list using the client OM and the extensiblity feature exposed at this release.
http://help.arcgis.com/en/webapps/sharepoint/help/AboutExtendingTheMapWebPart.html
This would require a small amount of custom code.

You would have to build an extension which uses the SharePoint client OM to query back to the external list on the SharePoint site. Remember to set CopyLocal=false and SpecificVersion=false on the client OM silverlight assemblies since these assemblies are already part of the Map Web Part runtime.

thanks

[NikShampur]

Although SharePoint 2010 allows you to manage external data, you cannot added custom columns to an external list and hence you cannot add the LocationOnMap field/column to it.

To summarize, the out of the box product doesn't let you consume external lists directly, but you can write custom code in an extension to achieve the required objective.

Hope that helps.

[NickLosier]

Hello,
I am dealing with this same issue for a client using SharePoint 2010, the ArcGIS Map Webpart, and BDC.  Any chance you can contact me with more details around custom code workaround?  Thank you.

[JosephSimon]

I just wanted to add that I would also love to see a code sample on this. I was thinking of using LINQ-SharePoint to populate an the ArcGIS SP WebPart list from an ECT.

Thanks

Hello,
I am dealing with this same issue for a client using SharePoint 2010, the ArcGIS Map Webpart, and BDC.  Any chance you can contact me with more details around custom code workaround?  Thank you.

[SeanBoltman]

I am facing this issue, having just started looking at this web part.

If someone solved this, please share some guidance.

First I will try seeing what this "Location on Map" custom column does. I assume there so brief logic that looks for the specified lat/long (or addr) columns, and does some computation.

Ninja here suggested (I believe) that it could be solved by building a SL xap extension to the web part.  Can anyone share what methods would be overridden and/or implemented for this?  I am imagining there would be 1) an onDataLoad method you implement that takes the SPList data lat/long, and performs the calcs that otherwise the Location On Map ArcGIS column would perform, and 2) ??? maybe no 2.

Another thought was seeing what I could do in SP Designer to this External List, perhaps simulate the Location On Map using the designer. Haven't tried yet.

Looking for ideas. If xap extension is the only way, can someone give me clues on methods and/or links to real life examples. The ArcGIS MessageBox example leaves a lot to be desired.

thanks!