Adding "Person Column" to a list

SharePointing

I may be barking up the wrong tree but thought I would throw it out there.

Using MOSS and the BDC, we have the capability to add Business Data as columns in a list. How would I go about creating a "People" type in my BDC that pulls the data from the user profiles in MOSS

What I would like to do is have a drop down or search screen for selecting a person from the profile store instead of keying the information into a contact list and then having the information be out of date , etc... It would be much easier to just allow them to select a person and pull the data from there. They would also get the "Presense" pawn next the persons name etc.. which would be very useful.

Does this sound possible Has anyone done this

Ishai Sagi

I think I know what you mean - you want the ability to show in the list additional information about a person without forcing the user to click on the link to that person's profile. Since bdc gives us the option of selecting a "row" (a person) and displaying several of the "columns" (person attributes) - this is what you want to achieve

This can be done (no big fuss) if you create a web service that will connect to the profile store and provide the BDC with the needed functions (finder, specificfinder, idenumerator) to get user ID's, search for a user by name etc.

The problem that I cant solve, is how to make a BDC into a multiple select column. I guess this is impossible because we are displaying more than one column in the list, and with multiple selection that would be hard to display. But as long as your list column doesnt need multiple selection, you will be ok.

Ishai Sagi
www.spstips.blogspot.com

SharePointing

Yes, I do want the ability to show additional data, but most of all, I just want the person's name to show up with the presence indocator next to them. I have no problem with the person having to click the link to get more info, what I am trying to avoid is my users setting up contact lists and keying a person's name, phone number, etc.. and then later having to update that information if it changes later on.

I guess I will have to resort to creating the web service you mentioned, I just find it hard to believe that Microsoft did not include custom columns for this type of thing out of the box ;-)

Ishai Sagi

Whats wrong with the "person" field It does exactly what you are saying you are after.

SharePointing

hmmm.. something must be awry with this install as I can't see the person column. I remembered seeing it when I was at the SP Conference last may but don't see it as an option in this install of MOSS :-(

Guess I'll work on setting up a clean one to test against !

Ishai Sagi

yuck!

A missing column type. doesnt sound nice. I wish you good luck mate!