How to create a Sharepoint 2013 form to update a Sharepoint SQL database

Question

I have a SQL database, I have created an External Content Type and an External List for the Table. I can see the list in SharePoint. I would like to be able to change the form to add a new instance so it is more user-friendly. Users will only be able to create new instances, not update or view any others. I would also like for a few of the columns to be a drop down that the choices are in another table.

Is this possible?

Answer 1

I would like to be able to change the form to add a new instance so it is more user friendly.

If you need to make your form User-friendly you should use InfoPath to customize it , Check How to: Customize External List Forms Using Microsoft InfoPath

Users will only be able to create new instances, not update or view any others.

• You can manage this during configuring the External Content Type by Selecting Create Operation

  • The Create Operation is used by the External List when data is being created. The Create Operation contains the statement allowing data to be inserted into the table.

• You also can manage this via permission by creating Permission Level Only_add and assign this to group and set the users for this group

I would also like for a few of the columns to be a drop down that the choices are in another table

Unfortunately, There are not Lookups fields. the only thing that you can do a look up on in an external list is on the ID column, anything else and you are out of luck.

See also External List Limitations in SharePoint 2010/2013