Question

I am not familiar with Sharepoint. I would like to query or read Sharepoint database using PHP.

Is there a way I can do that?

Thank you in advanc. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

You should consider using the Camelot PHP Tools for SharePoint, it’s a well documented php framework for the Camelot XML format specially constructed for SharePoint lists.

Documentation and download

• http://docs.bendsoft.com/camelot-php-tools/
• http://www.bendsoft.com/downloads/sharepoint-php-tools/

You will also need the Camelot SharePoint Integration Toolkit, http://camelottoolkit.codeplex.com/ and the Camelot .NET Connector (http://www.bendsoft.com/net-sharepoint-connector/).

Install the Connector on a box that can reach the SharePoint server, this may be the same server as the SharePoint server, then install the Integration Toolkit on the same server as the Connector. Set up the integration service that is included in the integration toolkit (follow the instructions) and then you are done. There are a few instruction videos on the websites as well.

The upsides of using this is that you will be able to talk to SharePoint lists and libraries through the API by using common SQL queries, the underlying mssql database is never used.

Selecting data from SharePoint with SQL

$SharePointQuery = new SharePointQuery(array(
    'sql' => "SELECT * FROM Tasks WHERE ID > 10",
    'connection_name' => 'SharePointConnection1'
));

Selecting data from SharePoint by list and view name

$SharePointQuery = new SharePointQuery(
    array(
        'listName' => 'Tasks',
        'viewName' => 'All Tasks',
        'includeAttachements' => false,
        'connection_name' => 'SharePointConnection1',
        'columns' => ''
    )
);

Insert data in SharePoint with SQL and SharePointNonQuery

$SharePointNonQuery = new SharePointNonQuery(array(
    'sql' => "INSERT INTO Tasks (Title,AssignedTo,Status,Priority,DueDate,PercentComplete) VALUES ('Test task from PHP',1,'In Progress','(1) High', '".  date('Y-m-d H:i:s') ."',0.95)",
    'method' => 'ExecuteNonQuery',
    'connection_name' => 'SharePointConnection1'
));

There are also stored procedures to help you with some operations, like advanced handling of document libraries

Download a file

$download = new CamelotDownloadFile(array(
    "file" => $_GET["file"],
    "listName" => 'Shared Documents',
    "connection_name" => 'SharePointConnection1'
));

$download->download_file();

Upload a file

$args = array(  
    "file" => $_FILES,
    "listName" => 'Shared Documents',
    "folder" => 'Folder/',
    "connection_name" => 'SharePointConnection2'
); 

$UploadFile = new CamelotUploadFile($args);