SharePoint External Data Integration Apps: Feature Matrix

As one of the leading providers of Microsoft SharePoint apps in Europe Layer2 offers several add-ons for SharePoint external data integration for different customer requirements. Please find a feature comparison of the Layer2 Business Data List Connector and the Layer2 Cloud Connector products below.

 

 

Microsoft SharePoint external data integration tools feature matrix

Features
Layer2 Business Data List Connector
Layer2 Cloud Connector
Platform availability:
 
SharePoint Server 2010 and SharePoint Foundation 2010
YESYES
SharePoint Server 2013 and SharePoint Foundation 2013
YESYES
SharePoint Server 2016
YESYES
SharePoint Online, Office 365
YES (but as external data source only)
YES
Office Groups, Microsoft Teams
NOYES
Flow and Azure Logic Apps
NOYES
OneDrive for Business
YES (but as external data source only)YES
App Architecture:  
Installation on SharePoint required
YESNO
Additional installation / server required
NOYES
Automatic background update
YES (SharePoint Timer Service)YES (Windows Service)
Write-back changes to data source
YES (Immediately)
YES (Scheduled)
Native SharePoint List support
YESYES
Native SharePoint Library support
NOYES
CodelessYESYES (but C# supported if required)
API available
YES
YES
LoggingYES (BDLC Configuration List, SharePoint Log)
YES (via NLOG to files, SQL, Windows Event Log)
Alerting (e.g. Email)
Yes (built-in, workflows)
Yes (via NLOG, E-Mail, Windows Event Log)
Connections:
  
One side must be SharePoint
YESNO
32-Bit Provider Support
NO (SharePoint requires 64-Bit)
YES (can run in 32-bit / x86 mode on 64-bit) 
64-Bit Provider Support
YESYES
ODBC / OLEDB Connections
YESYES
ADO.NET Connection
YESYES
SQL Connection
YES (almost any database)
YES (almost any database)
File System Synchronization
NO (just the metadata)YES
OData Connection (e.g. Dynamics CRM, SAP, etc.)
YESYES
XML / RSS Connection
YESYES
Active Directory Connection
YESYES
Excel /Access Connection
YESYES
MS Dynamics Connection
YESYES
SAP Connection
YES (via ODATA/Netweaver API or ADO.NET, XML/CSV)YES (via ODATA/Netweaver API or ADO.NET, XML/CSV)
Exchange Connection
YESYES
Web Services Connection
YES (SOAP)
YES (SOAP)
100+ more Connections
YESYES
Features:
  
All native SharePoint features, e.g. Views, Search
YESYES
Data changes trigger notifications and workflows
YESYES
Additional SharePoint-only columns and attachments can be added manually
YESYES
Aggregation from several external sources into one list
NOYES
"No Delete" Option
NOYES
"No Insert" Option
NOYES
"No Update" Option
NOYES
Management Meta Data Support
NOYES (.NET 4 version only)
Dynamic Columns in C# for data calculation, cleanup, transformation, translation
NOYES (.NET 4 version only)
Can operate above the SharePoint list view threshold (support > 5.000 items / documents per list / library)YESYES
Licensing Options:
  
via vendor or resellers
YESYES
Microsoft App Source
NOYES (Free Edition Only)
Per SharePoint Server (WFE/APP)
YESNO
Bound to any specific SharepointYESNO (any domain, url, site, site collection, or tenant supported)
Per installation
NOYES
Per user (CAL) - additional costs per user
NONO
Per data volume - additional data volume-related costNONO

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