Want to know how to add an application definition to the business data catalog? Well this programming task shows how an administrator can add an application definition to the Business Data Catalog (BDC) after the developer writes and tests the metadata. Adding the application definition is also referred to as importing a metadata package. For instructions on how to write metadata, see Business Data Catalog (BDC) Metadata Model. Don’t know what a Business Data Catalog is, here’s a quick write up on the topic:

Business Data Catalog is a new business integration feature in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. It is a shared service and it enables SharePoint 2007 to surface business data from back-end server applications without any coding. Business Data Catalog (BDC) bridges the gap between the portal site and your business applications and enables you to bring in key data from various business applications to Office SharePoint Server 2007 lists, Web Parts, search, user profiles, and custom applications.

To add an application definition to the Business Data Catalog

1. Open SharePoint 3.0 Central Administration.
2. In the left navigation pane, click the name of your Shared Services Provider (SSP).
3. In the Business Data Catalog section, click Add Application.
4. In the Add Application page that opens, browse to the XML file that contains the metadata for a business application, and then click Import.

After you add the application definition, the administrator can set permissions and authentication settings using the Business Data Catalog Administration UI in SharePoint Central Administration. Business Data Catalog: Security Model describes the authentication and authorization choices available in the Business Data Catalog.

You can use Business Data Catalog (BDC) to display data from your SAP, Siebel, or other line-of-business (LOB) application via Web services or databases. Here’s a high-level architectural diagram of the Business Data Catalog, showing the interaction between business data sources, the metadata database, and business data features and solutions:

Additional Resources:

• Business Data Catalog Overview
• Business Data Catalog Architecture
• Business Data Catalog Metadata Model
• Business Data Catalog Security Model