BlackCompass Data Integration with Microsoft Office 365

BlackCompass Visualizer can be used to create dashboards in Microsoft SharePoint and Office 365. The Layer2 Business Data List Connector can be used to easily integrate data from 100+ external sources codeless with BlackCompass via native SharePoint lists to visualize it in various flexible charts and share with the team.

Black Compass is one of the market-leading data visualization tool for Microsoft SharePoint and Office 365. Various chart types are supported, live updates are shown in real-time, when source data records are changing. The Layer2 Business Data List Connector can be used to integrate 100+ external data sources codeless with BlackCompass, e.g. data from local or cloud-based SQL databases, ERP/CRM systems like Microsoft Dynamicsor SAP, Microsoft Project Server or Onlone, Microsoft Excel/Access, CSV/XML files or external web services.

Benefits of BlackCompass Integration in SharePoint

BlackCompass integration with SharePoint on-premises can help to setup and manage typical hybrid scenarios, e.g. local corporate intranet and customer / partner extranet in the Microsoft cloud.

• ​​​Very easy to setup in a few minutes: Create a SharePoint list, click "Connect to external data source" in the list settings, select the data provider, enter connection settings and data query as shown below. That's it - no programming, no changes in the external data source, no additional tools.
• Connected data always up-to-date: The connected data updates automatically in background (via SharePoint Timer Job), or alternatively, on-demand (Action Menu / Ribbon Button, URL, via workflow, API).
• One-way and optional two-way connection: You can write-back the changes made in SharePoint on-premises to the external data source (e.g. Office 365) automatically with full CRUD (Create / Update / Delete) functionality. The SharePoint list can act as a full-featured front-end for external systems.
• 100+ external systems supported: Layer2 Data Providers included (e.g. for SharePoint/Office 365, Exchange, Dynamics, OData, XML/RSS, SOAP), vendor specific data providers can be used (e.g. SQL Server Oracle, mySQL etc.), 3rd party data providers also supported, e.g. for ERP/CRMs, Facebook or Twitter. See here for supported systems and applications.
• Well-known BCS "external list" issues and limitations are completely solved: ALL list features are to you. Views, sorting and grouping, filters, calculated fields, search, managed metadata. Lookups, additional columns and attachments can be created as normal. All kind of lists can be used, e.g. contacts, tasks, calendar, or custom lists. You can take external data offline via Outlook.
• Workflows and notifications on external data change: List workflows and change notifications per RSS or email can be used to take business actions in SharePoint, when external data items are changed.
• Application logging, reporting, and notifications: A SharePoint list ist used to store settings and log information. SharePoint item versioning and workflows can be used to manage reporting and notifications. Direct notification per email in case of errors is supported as well.
• Highest Security, best performance, easy to maintain: SharePoint Secure Store can be used to store security relevant configuration information safely in one central place. Users are working with the SharePoint lists as an external data cache with highest security and performance.

BlackCompass Specific Integration Settings

To connect native lists in Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007 / 2010 / 2013 / 2016 to Microsoft Office 365 lists and visualize them with BlackCompass with the help of the Layer2 Business Data List Connecter the data source must be configured as follows in the General List Settings:

Fig.: Sample connection configuration to connect and sync data with SharePoint or Office 365.

​Please note the following specific settings.

• Create a list in your SharePoint on-premises to cache the external Office 365 / SharePoint list data. Click "Connect to external data source" in the General List Settings, select the data provider, enter connection settings and data query as shown below.
• Select the Layer2 Data Provider for SharePoint (CSOM) to connect. The provider is part of the Layer2 Cloud Connector ADO.NET provider package and should be already installed with BDLC. You will find a SharePoint Data Provider specification here.
• You can use a connection string like this to connect:
  url=http://mydomain.com/mySite; List=MyList; View=MyView; User=myUser; Password=myPassword; Authentication=myAuthentication.
• Chosing the right authentication method is very important. Windows, Office365, ADFS and others are supported. See specification linked above for more details.
• You can map your data fields to specific external fields in the Layer2 Business Data List Connector. Please take care about data types (simple type conversions are supported). If fields are not available, please check your view.
• You can use the connection for uni- or bi-directional synchronization. In case of inserts (full CRUD) via external systems please take care of the primary key.
• No installation or changes are required at the data source or data destination, e.g. on SharePoint or Office 365.
• No programming required for setup a connection and sync.
• No need to open your local network for access from outside.

Do you have any issues to connect? Please contact sales@layer2solutions.com for next steps.

BlackCompass Connection Details 

​Provider:
Layer2 Data Provider for SharePoint (CSOM)
 
Connection string sample:
Url=https://myCompany.sharepoint.com/sites/mySite/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/Lists/myList/myView.aspx; Authentication=Office365; User=login@myCompany.onmicrosoft.com; Pass=myPassword
 
Select Statement sample:
No select Statement. Views can be used for filter and query.

BlackCompass Data Integration Known Issues

• Data queries are not supported. Please make use of views to select your data.
• SharePoint libraries are not supported. If you need to synchronize libraries, use the Layer2 Cloud Connector.

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