SharePoint

There are many, many articles to be found on this blog.   SharePoint is my main area of work (daytime) – and a lot of testing+play (nighttime). 

My specialty is with regard to SharePoint “publishing” sites, but have worked on and implemented many other solutions covering document management, collaboration and workflow, portals, team sites and so forth.

Hopefully you’ll find something useful – everything from code snippets & examples – to simple re-posts from Microsoft, or other blogs – as well as some free utility bits & pieces – starting with the SCA.

Utilities :

• SafeControl Adder (SCA)

Tutorials, code samples & tips :

• Improving SharePoint Performance (Publishing)
• WebPart 101 – Getting Started
• WebPart 102 – Adding Code
• Add to the menus in SharePoint
• An unexpected error has occurred
• SharePoint Page Footer – CreatedBy
• Microsoft Word Template DOTX – SharePoint ContentType
• Fix SharePoint workflows after deactivate
• SharePoint Publishing WebService integration
• MOSS Version Checking
• Display link with icon (SharePoint)
• SharePoint + Visio @ MOSSIG
• Date Format Checking SharePoint

Extra Material (ramblings, thoughts & other articles) :

• SharePoint can be Groovy
• Solution Accelerators – SharePoint
• New SharePoint related bits
• SharePoint 14 + PDC -
• Book shopping
• SharePoint Online
• WSS Update – Daylight Savings (Time Zones)
• MOSS, ISA, AAM, SSL
• SharePoint at the Microsoft PDC 2008
• SharePoint and Office Forum
• New BPIO materials
• SharePoint wireframes (Visio templates)
• BPIO University (Business Productivity Infrastructure Optimisation)
• SharePoint scores with Web developers
• Updates on MS-SharePoint-Developer
• Advanced SharePoint Workflow
• Introductory SharePoint Developer Modules
• Google Chrome + SharePoint
• New Microsoft downloads – SharePoint
• SharePoint training courses
• SharePoint Magazine
• SharePoint DNA Documentation + Code
• Custom field types for SharePoint
• SSRS 2008 + SharePoint
• SharePoint BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games)
• System Center Operations Manager 2007 + SharePoint
• Patterns & Practice – for SharePoint
• Recent SharePoint downloads
• MS SharePoint Developer (new site)
• VSeWSS 1.2 – it’s out !
• SharePoint Best Practice (Microsoft Press)
• SharePoint readings thx to TechNet newsletter
• A new view of Melbourne – That’s Melbourne
• Speed up IIS, ASP.NET, SharePoint – Runtime Page Optimizer (RPO)
• SharePoint noise
• Great tip – Word + SharePoint
• Success – Hello World Silverlight
• Installing Silverlight for VS2008
• Getting started with Silverlight BluePrint
• S+S Blueprints
• SharePoint Branding Tool
• Windows Server 2008 + SharePoint 2007
• Catch-all redirect – ColdFusion
• SharePoint WebPart Project templates for Visual Studio 2008

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Utilities  – Overview

The SharePoint 2007 (MOSS) environment can be termed a "platform" with a variety of opportunities for developers to add, extend and include custom functionality within the specific solution.

To assist the developer out there, I’ve created some utilities (one so far – another in "dev") for help with the various XML and config files that are needed.

Refer to some of the articles (links above) for more intro/overview.

WebParts -> SafeControls

With the development of "WebParts", there’s some confusion around how to "deploy" them – a few hoops to jump through, before being able to use within SharePoint.    Click here for a 101 article about developing WebParts.

When deploying, the developer is required to "Add to Safe Controls" – a bit of a tedious approach, with checking Global Assembly Cache (GAC) for PublicKeyToken, and manually modifying the [web.config] file.

To assist with these few manual steps, I’ve created a new utility for use within the SharePoint world.

SafeControl Adder (SCA)

Click here for download link.

Instructions :

(1) Use Visual Studio to develop your WebPart with required code (logic) & User Interface (UI) – as you would normally do.

(2) Ensure you have a "Strong Name" assigned to your assembly (sn -> PublicKey)

(3) Build the project in Visual Studio

(3) Add the resultant DLL to the Global Assembly Cache (GAC) – using GACUTIL, or drag to C:\Windows\Assembly folder

(4) Open Safe Control Adder

(5) Choose the DLL from your project folder

(6) Choose the [web.config] for your SharePoint instance :

(7) Option : Create Backup.   Will copy the existing [web.config] file, and save using date/time stamp

(8) Option : IIS Reset.  Following the update to the [web.config], SCA can perform the required re-start of Internet Information Services (IIS).

The program will add the necessary entry to the web.config folder.

**NOTE : In order to use the control within SharePoint, you must "provision" the WebPart within the WebParts gallery.

Click Site Actions > Site Settings > Modify All Site Settings.

Under the list entitled “Galleries”- select WebParts.

Just need to tick the box for your newly added WebPart – and “Populate Gallery”

And when you go back to your Web Page, click “Edit Page”, and select to Add a Web Part.

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Download SafeControl Adder :

• Version 0.9 (02/01/2008).    File Size : 86 Kb

License : Freeware.  

Send me an email, or leave a comment if you find it useful, and what you’re developing within SharePoint (!)

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Please let me know of any issues / bugs / problems / comments !