The BDLC directly connects real SharePoint lists with external LOB data, e.g. in databases like SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, MySQL, Informix, Excel, Access, Text-Files etc. and allows to define notifications and workflows to take business actions, if external business data records are changed.

The BDLC provides the COMPLETE read-only features of a common SharePoint list (views, sorting, grouping, filtering) for almost any external data source with 3 simple inputs in the list settings only:

- Simply click "Connect to external data source" in the list settings dialog.
- In the BDLC settings dialog choose from the installed connection providers and enter the appropriate connection string (e.g. OLEDB, ODBC or custom) and validate it.
- To select the desired data, please enter a select statement that is supported by your external data source and validate it. Check the result in preview mode and select primary key(s), to make use of advanced features.
- Create the SharePoint list structure by adding additional columns, check the field / column mapping and update the data using the command buttons with one click. If a primary key is available, only modified data is updated in the list with high performance (background batch update possible).
- You can optionally activate write-back to data source (CRUD: Create, Update, Delete features), if supported by the used driver.
- You can additionally use Enterprise Enabler for SharePoint Business Data List Connector to connect SharePoint lists to complex bi-directional aggregations, transformations and manipulatiosn of entities among multiple Line Of Business applications, e.g. Web Services, .NET and COM objects, SAP etc.
- So you can enable list workflow or change notifications per RSS or email to take business actions, if your external LOB data records are changed.