Connect PowerShell scripts to native SharePoint lists for reporting, notifications and workflows

11/7/2013 Layer 2 GmbH | Eiffestr. 664b| D-20537 Hamburg, Germany | sales@layer2de | www.layer2.de/en/ | +49 (0) 40 - 28 41 12 30 1

11/7/2013 Layer2 is one of the leading providers of Microsoft SharePoint and Office 365 apps in Europe 2

Who is Layer2?

As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and ISV based in Hamburg (Germany), Layer2 is one of the leading providers of Microsoft SharePoint and Office 365 apps in Europe with a major focus on Data Integration, Collaborative Knowledge Management and Social Networking.

Layer2 has also been known as a reliable partner to customers in Central Europe, offering additional consulting and services in the fields of SharePoint, .NET programming and IT infrastructure for more than 20 years.

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector makes ALL native SharePoint features available for external data 3

What is PowerShell?

Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's task automation and configuration management framework, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language built on .NET Framework. It is often used for administration and reporting, not only for the Windows operating system but also for applications platforms like Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server or SharePoint.

You can use the Layer2 Cloud Connector (for SharePoint Online) or the Layer2 Business Data List Connector (for SharePoint on-premise) to connect the output of such scripts as reports to synchronize with a native SharePoint list.

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector makes ALL native SharePoint features available for external data 4

What is the SharePoint Cloud Connector?

The SharePoint Cloud Connector connects native SharePoint lists and libraries (on-premise or in the cloud) directly to almost any external data sources, without any installation on SharePoint in just minutes, codeless and bi-directional.

All SharePoint list features are available as usual for your external data, e.g. views, search, metadata, alerts and even workflows, to take business actions in SharePoint, when external data records are changed.

The Cloud Connector simplifies your SharePoint architecture, increases end user performance and availability, overcomes limitations and solves many issues that still exists with the SharePoint out-of-the-box data integration via BDC and BCS today, especially in the cloud.

The Cloud Connector runs as standalone application (MMC) and Windows Service on any Windows server or client, safely within the corporate network. No access to corporate data from outside is required.

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector can highly improve reporting via PowerShell by connecting native SharePoint lists codeless 5

How does PowerShell to SharePoint work?

…and more systems

& applications

Various Data Sources PowerShell Script ADO.NET Data Provider Layer2 Cloud Connector SharePoint List

Data Output ADO.NET Data SetSynchronization

Scheduling

Reporting:

Views

Mobile Access

Grouping

Filter, Dashboards

Calculated Columns

Search

Versioning

Subscriptions

Notifications

Workflows, Tasks

Reporting using native SharePoint lists: All list features available for the PowerShell reporting data, e.g. views, filter, grouping, calculated fields, search etc.

Management Dashboards: Can be connected to the SharePoint lists.

Mobile Access: PowerShell results are cached in native SharePoint lists for mobile access, everywhere with any device.

Notifications on data change: The script is executed scheduled on a regular base (e.g. every hour). You will be notified in case of data changed by list subscriptions

Workflows on data change: You can check for specific values, e.g. thresholds and start your own business logic a workflow, if required. Think about library quotas or any other reporting issue. Tasks can be created if required.

Versioning: You have a history of changes for your script output / report.

File Share Integration: You can list file shares with PowerShell and have the output available in SharePoint lists to link back to files (e.g. using calculated fields link to FTP/HTTP).

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector overcomes limitations and solves issues that still exists with out-of-the-box BDC / BCS 6

PowerShell to SharePoint - Why?

As a sample we have used a script service.ps1 that simply lists the services running on the current computer. Please note the "param" part with data types, field names and default values that is required for using SQL with the result set.

param( [String]$DisplayName='*', [String]$Name='', [String]$Status='', [String]$ServiceName='', [String]$ServiceType='', [Boolean]$CanPauseAndContinue=0, [Boolean]$CanShutdown=0, [Boolean]$CanStop=0

)

Get-Service |Sort-Object DisplayName | Select-Object DisplayName, Name, Status, ServiceName, ServiceType, CanPauseAndContinue, CanShutdown, CanStop

You can use any other script

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector can be easily installed 7

Setup the PowerShell script

If not installed, please install the Layer2 Cloud Connector.

To connect Layer2 tools to a data source you need a data provider (driver). For Windows PowerShell you can install and use the provider offered here by RSSBus.

Please select the data provider in the Cloud Connector data entity settings as shown and configure.

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector can be easily installed 8

Setup the data source

Before you setup the data destination, you have to create. We are using a SharePoint Online list in this sample.

Generally you can use any data destination, e.g. SQL tables.

You have to create manually with the appropriate structure / fields. After your data destination is created, you can connect.

See Cloud Connector documentation fordetailed connection strings.

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector can be easily installed 9

Setup the data destination

As a next step you have to setup the field / column mapping between data source and data destination.

Please note that we don't use the auto-mapping feature in this sample. That gives us the option to map the ServiceName field (from PowerShell) to the Title column in SharePoint (as often required for SharePoint lists).

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector can be easily installed 10

Setup field mapping

Press „Run Now“ for first sync.

Please note that with next sync existing SharePoint list items are updated via the primary key (Name).

Only changes in data source cause changes in data destinations.

In this way notifications and workflows can be used to take actions.

In case everything fits, you can enable scheduling and set an appropriate interval.

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector can be easily installed 11

Run First Sync

As a result you have a native SharePoint list connected to the output of a PowerShell script.

All the great SharePoint list features are available: Views, calculated fields, attachments, search, mobile access, notifications, workflows, dashboards etc.

11/7/2013 The Cloud Connector can be easily installed 12

Your PowerShell Report in SharePoint

Databases with existing ODBC / OLEDB / OData or other .NET based drivers (32-bit / 64-bit), e.g. SQL Server, SQL Azure, Oracle, IBM DB2, Informix, AS/400, MySQL and many more.

File Content like Microsoft Office Excel, Access, XML, CSV or other text files etc.

File System (to replicate with SharePoint libraries)

Applications like Exchange, Active Directory, SharePoint, etc.

ERP / CRM / DMS / ECMS systems like Navision, SAP, MS Dynamics, etc.

Cloud-based systems like Salesforce, SharePoint Online, CRM Online, Google, Twitter, Facebook, any RSS or other XML-based web requests, etc.

More data sources via 3rd party provider and gateways.

11/7/2013 Almost any data source can be connected to SharePoint via Business Data List Connector 13

What else can be connected to SharePoint?

Completely cost-free partner program. No contract required.

Partner links at our product pages. Sales leads will find you as a local partner and will contact you for order and implementation support.

15 - 30% discount on production licenses to use our solutions in your external customer projects or for resale.

Place your orders using our on-line shop system. Simply enter your partner coupon codes to receive your discounts.

As a partner you can use our solutions internally, for demonstration or within your intranet, extranet or even Internet as free NFR version.

Premium support level with high priority and direct access to the product development team. Joint development options. Project support, if required.

Free marketing and sales support, ready to use digital marketing kit including flyers, presentations and evaluation downloads.

11/7/2013 Layer2 as a vendor is powerful together with its partners - and for its partners. 14

Layer2 Partner Program for Reseller and Implementer

1991 Business formation as “Cords und Jacobi, EDV-Beratung und IT-Dienstleistungen” in Hamburg, Germany

2001 Change of the company’s name to “Layer 2 GmbH”

2003 Focus on Microsoft Technologies, especially .NET and SharePoint

2007 Market entry Austria and Switzerland

2008 Microsoft Certified Partner

2009 Start of international product marketing

2010 Microsoft Gold Certified Partner ISV / Software Competence

2011 Microsoft Cloud Accelerate Partner

2012 Microsoft Gold Certified Partner Portals and Collaboration

11/7/2013 Layer2 – Successful for more than 20 years in the fields of SharePoint, .NET-programming and IT-Infrastructure 15

Layer2 company profileA reliable partner in the fields of SharePoint, .NET-programming and IT-Infrastructure since more than 20 years

Hamburg

Karlsruhe

11/7/2013 Make your SharePoint even better – download and try today. 16

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