sharepoint list updating problem

[pitt1]

I want to automatically update a sharepoint list on a regular basis (lets say weekly)

I dont have access to the actual list on the sql server db.

I want to update the sharepoint list from a sql server
db table
can you please tell me how can I do that ??


Best,
Pitter

 

[ouzojd]

I'm not sure why, but I'm sure you have your reasons. Another option you may not have considered though is linking the list to access or excel and updating that?

 

[pitt1]

can you please explain how can I link a list into excel
file ?

Best
Pitt

 

[ouzojd]

Yeh sure, if you click on Edit in Datasheet view, Then the Task Pane button, there is options there to link to Excel or Access.

There is actually a new feature in Excel 2003 called lists which is pretty good.

Here is a free MS course for Excel 2003, I'm sure you know how to use Excel already, but scroll down the page there's a bit on lists and how to push them to Sharepoint. PS: I think you need office 2003 installed to do the course.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/assistance/HA011161281033.aspx

While I'm not sure exactly what you're doing, I think you might find access a bit better because I dont think you will need to synchronise the list.

Cheers

 

[ouzojd]

Sorry, I just read that you dont have access to the list, if you dont have access that might not work for you, sorry. If it doesnt work, not that I'm prying into your personal life or anything, perhaps you could explain what you are trying to accomplish and why / how you have access to the db and not the list.

Cheers

 

[pitt1]

ok, sorry if i wasn't clear, i'm novice to this area...

there is a sharepoint site with a list which is being updated manually once in a week, now, i dont have access to the list db, there is a table on a sql server which the data to be updated (on the list) is being taken from, and currently being updated manually, i want to automate this process so that the list will be automatically updated with out me to update it,

Best,
Pitter

 

[ouzojd]

If everything you want to display is contained within the table, you could create a view in sql and then using front page insert a data view that goes back to your view, this way it is as up to date as the table is.

Sorry it took so long to reply.

 

[pitt1]

gee thanks, i thought ill have to add a web service into the project (which makes things bit more complicated...)
if I understood you correctly, I’m choosing
"database connections" (under “insert data view”) and then choosing server, db, table and so on….this goes just fine,
But when I’m choosing “use custom query” I don’t get the right output, (i'm getting this message says: "the data source does not contain a valid xml data") what should I write there as the “command string" in the custom query
should It be a sql view, a stored procedure, or the select statement itself ?

Thanks again,
Pitter

 

[ouzojd]

I could be wrong on this because I havent played around with this for a long time and when I did it was only to have a look, but my understanding is that it should see a view the same as it sees a table, so it might be best to do your query in a view and point the data view web part at that.