Steps:

• Download the AdventureWorks 2005 sample database
• Install the downloaded sample AdventureWorks 2005 database and attach the installed database because when you install it create the database files in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data (location may vary for some servers) on who needs to see the tables should explictly attach the database
• Now, we are ready to create AdventureWorks metadata using BDC meta man even we can create metadata using Business Data Catalog Editor which comes when you install MOSS SDK 1.4 in this example i am creating hte metadata using BDC meta man
• Go to Start > BdcMetaMan, after opening the BDCmetaman tool click on Content to data source arrow image which display a drop down menu select Sql Server from the list, enter the servername and connect as windows authentication mode.

Conect to SQL Server using BDC meta man

Connect to SQL Server

• After connecting, you can see all the avaliable AdventureWorks database, expand and select Production.[Product] table, drag Production.[Product] on to the designer surface.

Drag the table on to the designer surface

• Before generating definition file, set the path and name of the application defintion file in the Configuration > Settings, now we are ready to generate definition file, click on Build > Generate Definition File which generate and saves the file in the path given in configuration option
• Now, go to Shared Services under Business Data Catalog section click on Import Application Definition
• In the import application definition page click the browse button and select the AdventureWroks metadata file, under Resource to import check Permissions and click Import button

Import Application Definition File

• In Business Data Catalog Application page click on the AdventureWorksLOBSystem which displays the context menu click on Manage Permission add NT AUTHORITY\authenticated users in Users\Groups box and choose Select in Clients permission then click Save button

BDC manage permission

BDC - choose permission level

• Now we are almost done, go and add Business Data List webpart in any of the sharepoint site, after adding in edit mode select Modify Shared Webpart and click on Browse (book icon) beside the Type box, then select Production.Produt business data type and click OK

Add Business Data Type

Business Data List Properties

• Now we are ready to view the Prodution.Products table in Business Data List

Dsiplaying Business Data in Business Data List

Note:  To view the business data in search result, create New Content Source in Shared Services search settings and configure the new Content Source Type by choosing Business Data, then select crawled selected application and choose database instance, check Start full crawl for this content source to start the full crawl then click OK button

But when I type keywords to search my business data (business data is nothing but apart from content database like Adventureworks, Northwind etc.) in sharepoint site, I was unable to view the single result, though the search is configured well for sharepoint site.

I did R & D on this and came to know that we should configure the search settings explicitly in the shared service administration for business data to display the results in sharepoint results.aspx

In this post we learn how to configure search for business data.

Steps:

• Go to Shared Service home page, under Search section click on Search Settings

Shared Services Home

• In the Configure Search Settings page click on Content sources and crawl schedules

Configure Search Settings Page

• In the Manage Content Sources page click on New Content Source which create new content source

Create New Content Source

• In the Add Content Source page type Name of the content source in the appropriate box, select the content source type as Business Data, under Applications select Crawl entire Business Data Catalog to crawl all application in the Business Data Catalog, else select Crawl selected applications to crawl specific application(s) and select the application instance then click OK.

Add Content Source

• Now we are almost done, it takes some time to crawl the content source, wait for few minutes, to see the search result(s) type the keyword related to the business data in sharepoint search box, now I want to check the results and I will type Race keyword which is there in the business data and now I can see the results perfectly

Business Data Results