OK, I'm beginning to despair at SharePoint...please help restore some faith :)
Seems some very basic things are very hard to achieve?
1:
I have data in an SQL database table. 78,000 rows, but I want to pick just one item, based upon filters.
I've tried External List - but this is too slow (even after having to change the data item limits)
I've tried a Data Source connection to the database - but no matter what connection string I try, I cannot get this to connect (works for External List tho?)
2:
I have created a Content Type that matches the fields I require. This is so I can build a List specific to certain content types that will all share workflows (and many common fields - I will extend the Content Type as appropriate)
3:
I need a New Item Form that allows me to "find" an item from the database/list/whatever and return only certain items from it.
I don't need any kind of referential integrity - just a one off find and return.
This needs to allow filtering/searching of some kind to reduce the number of items returned to a sensible size.
e.g. Enter partial Mobile number and search on that.
e.g. Filter/Search on Name, Mobile No, Customer Number - return these plus Address, Email.
This all seems to be pretty standard functionality - but every time I try something, SP throws another (usually bigger) spanner at me.
Company Policy is to try to use SP native functionality unless there is absolutely NO other way to do things. Although I am a c#/.Net/Web developer for many years I can understand this position...including anything outside SharePoint carries an overhead for maintenance/new staff/skillsets/source code etc, etc.
What seems like a very simple form/workflow business requirement appears to be a massive undertaking to develop? Coming from a coding background - it seems that SP (native) is a very poor platform for anything but the most basic of tasks?
We are using SP2010 Standard, although I am hoping to get permission (budget) for Enterprise in the hope that InfoPath forms will offer some respite?