Business Data Catalog is a Microsoft Office SharePoint Server feature that allows users to access external data from within SharePoint. In order to use the BDC features, you need to setup a Business Data Catalog Definition file (XML) that defines the structure of the external system that you want to conect to Sharepoint.
Microsoft has released a tool called Business Data Catalog Definition Editor (available in the Sharepoint SDK) that helps you to create the XML file that must be imported via the Sharepoint Central Administration. Unfortunately, this tool is really far from what could be called a great tool! :)
The Business Data Catalog Definition Editor has a main "bug"... Try to load a definition file in Sharepoint and then use a Business Data List Web Part. When you select the Business Data Type, you'll receive an error: there are no Business data Types Loaded in the Catalog.
Why this? Because the Microsoft tool does not generate the "Finder" method (the method used by the Business Data List Web Part for retrieving data). It creates only a "SpecificFinder" and a "IdEnumerator" methods.
The only way I've found in order to solve this problem is to manually create the "Finder" method. The easy way is to change the MethodInstanceType property of the "IdEnumerator" method to "Finder":
Now your Business Data List Web Part is ready to show your data.
Whe we'll have a new and "less buggy" Business Data Catalog Definition Editor from Microsoft?
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