On the 18th October, the UK Microsoft Portal Technologies User Group had a meeting - the presentations from the event can be found here.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Slides from 18Oct UK Portal Technologies User Group
On the 18th October, the UK Microsoft Portal Technologies User Group had a meeting - the presentations from the event can be found here.
Im back
So my blog has been quiet for a week - well I've been away for a few days and I'm now swamped with 2000 emails and 2000 RSS items to go through.
Best emails I had were pointers to Mr Woo and a new HALO trailer.
Best emails I had were pointers to Mr Woo and a new HALO trailer.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Partner Pack for Windows
Connecting SPS2003 to SAP R/3
Ive met a few people recently wanting to connect SharePoint Portal Server to SAP. Technical Guidance for Connecting SPS2003 to SAP R/3 demonstrates how organizations can make the business information they store and manage in SAP applications available to users in an intranet portal site displayed in a Web browser.
Friday, October 22, 2004
How to Customize Your Search Using SharePoint Portal Server 2003
MSDN Article - How to Customize Your Search Using SharePoint Portal Server 2003 - Patrick Tisseghem.
Explore three ways to incorporate Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server Search (service) into custom Web pages, SharePoint Web Parts, Microsoft Windows applications, and other smart-client front-end applications such as those in the Microsoft Office 2003 Editions.
[Update 23Oct] Patrick makes the samples available.
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Security issue of MSDN magazine
Security issue of the MSDN magazine is now out ... you can read the online version at http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag.
Cool IE Tools
From bryantlikes ...
If you do web development you may find these tools invaluable:
If you do web development you may find these tools invaluable:
- Toggle Borders - makes it easier to debug complex tables
- Full Source - displays the source that IE is showing - useful when using javascript and XSLT
Use SharePoint's web services to access list data using FrontPage
Example from FrontPoint describes how to use the Data View Web Part to access the lists.asmx web service to display the Attachments on list items in Windows SharePoint Services.
Windows SharePoint Services Help
Windows SharePoint Services Help ... compiled help file provides searchable, up-to-date information about using and managing sites based on Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services technology.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Multi-core chip licensing plans
Good news for MCMS customers. Microsoft announced yesterday that our server software that is currently licensed on a per-processor model will continue to be licensed on a per-processor, and not on a per-core, model. This policy will allow customers to recognize more performance and power from Microsoft software on a multi-core processor system without incurring additional software licensing fees.
This is in contrast with certain competitors who are currently indicating that they plan to license "Per Core".
Dual-core processors will be introduced into the market by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel Corp. in 2005, with expectations that this technology will become mainstream in 2006. A processor containing multiple cores, leveraging its ability to execute multiple tasks, will offer a higher level of computing power and functionality than the current generation single-core processor.
More info.
This is in contrast with certain competitors who are currently indicating that they plan to license "Per Core".
Dual-core processors will be introduced into the market by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel Corp. in 2005, with expectations that this technology will become mainstream in 2006. A processor containing multiple cores, leveraging its ability to execute multiple tasks, will offer a higher level of computing power and functionality than the current generation single-core processor.
More info.
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Teaser ... Content Management Server gets Rapid
So Halo2 has been releasing a number of teasers ... so I thought I would do my own.
The CMS community have developed and shared a huge number of useful components ... but would it be great if there was a proven / production quality / rich functionality solution site that addressed the vast majority of peoples requirements out of the box and provided a framework that enabled extensibility.
Such a site should have ...
?
Wouldn't it be nice ?
Wouldn't it be nice if this was completely free, supported and the full source code was available ??
Wouldn't it be nice if this could be delivered as soon as next month ??
ArtemisCorp and I say - "Youre on !!"
Save the date - 30 Nov 2004 - the date that CMS gets Rapid.
The CMS community have developed and shared a huge number of useful components ... but would it be great if there was a proven / production quality / rich functionality solution site that addressed the vast majority of peoples requirements out of the box and provided a framework that enabled extensibility.
Such a site should have ...
- a Page Rendering Framework for CMS templates that liberates functionality from design constraints ... wouldn't it be cool if CMS templates could be developed by business people using InfoPath rather than needing developers with Visual Studio
- Numerous standard User Controls
- Site output controlled by XML and XSLT
- Base Templates
- Easily skinnable
- Completely driven by flexible configuration
- Rich Metadata support ... simple customisation for any required taxonomy, support for standards like eGov, database lookups, richer authoring, extensible with new property types
- A to Z ... thesaurus support, support for common misspellings, alternative navigation
- Navigation ... complete range of flexible controls, site maps, classic & taxonomy based navigation, driven by XSLT and a set of samples such as the Microsoft flymenus and Javascript popup menus
- Workflow extensions ... soft delete / content expiry / richer decline support
- Auditing
- Reporting Suite
- Location based services using MapPoint
- Syndication using RSS
- Accessibility compliance with eGov standards, Access Keys, XHTML filter
- News functionality - locations / newsflash & alerts
- Events functionality
- Job / Career functionality
- Eforms functionality ... enabling customer contact, message routing, SMTP and BizTalk support, extensible Form elements such as selection boxes, multi-text fields, populate lists from SQL Stored Procedures
- Extensions to Web Author menu - such as reports, site settings
- Deployed using the Windows installer
- Comprehensive developer documentationa
- All ready proven in numerous high profile sites.
?
Wouldn't it be nice ?
Wouldn't it be nice if this was completely free, supported and the full source code was available ??
Wouldn't it be nice if this could be delivered as soon as next month ??
ArtemisCorp and I say - "Youre on !!"
Save the date - 30 Nov 2004 - the date that CMS gets Rapid.
Monday, October 18, 2004
Get Your Existing Forms into InfoPath 2003
From Roberdan ...
ScanSoft OmniForm Developer Edition 5.1 is the easiest, quickest way to migrate your forms to InfoPath. Simply drop your paper form on the scanner, or "print" static digital forms like PDF and Word forms, to OmniForm and within seconds you have a form on screen that looks identical to the original file or paper form. At this point you can choose Save As InfoPath from the Save as menu, and publish the form out to the InfoPath (.xsn) format.
ScanSoft OmniForm Developer Edition 5.1 is the easiest, quickest way to migrate your forms to InfoPath. Simply drop your paper form on the scanner, or "print" static digital forms like PDF and Word forms, to OmniForm and within seconds you have a form on screen that looks identical to the original file or paper form. At this point you can choose Save As InfoPath from the Save as menu, and publish the form out to the InfoPath (.xsn) format.
NewsGator announces free online services
MINT's CMS Placeholder for Windows SharePoint Services
Back in July, I blogged and hosted the beta version of the MINT CMS Placeholder for Windows SharePoint Services.
The control has is now available here on GotDotNet.
The release notes discuss the availability of a premium version of the control.
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Introducing the ASP.NET 2.0 Web Parts Framework
MSDN Article: Introducing the ASP.NET 2.0 Web Parts Framework
Learn how to create Web Parts and add them to a Web page. This article also discusses several advanced features of Web Parts. For example, you learn how to share Web Part settings across applications by importing and exporting Web parts and you learn how to add custom menu verbs to Web Parts. You also learn how to communicate information between Web Parts by connecting different Web Parts in a Web Page.
Friday, October 15, 2004
Hyper.Net ... transforming SharePoint content to Web Content
Hyper.Net, the content accelerator for the Microsoft .Net infrastructure, offers tight integration with SharePoint Portal Server 2001/2003, Windows SharePoint Services and Content Management Server 2002.
The integration allows companies to quickly transform oceans of Office documents managed in SharePoint directly into fine-grained hypertext web content.
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Sagestone Consulting AdServer
Sagestone Consulting's AdServer 2002 for CMS enables users to quickly and cost-effectively deploy and manage powerful advertising campaigns across multiple Internet, Intranet, and Extranet web sites.
Now released as an open source project
First song on the Halo 2 Original Soundtrack
Listen to "Blow Me Away", the new cut from Breaking Benjamin available exclusively on Halo 2: Original Soundtrack Volume One. Original Soundtrack Composed and Produced by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Make your ASP.NET pages XHTML valid
Useful article - A C# class to make your ASP.NET pages XHTML valid - which presents a simple class that can be used to adjust the HTML code generated by ASP.NET in order to make it a valid XHTML document. This is not only useful to guarantee that your site will be correctly managed by any W3C compliant browser but this kind of compliance could also be a specific requirement coming from your customer.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Software Fortresses
I am currently reading Software Fortresses by Roger Sessions. This book introduces a new approach for modelling large enterprise systems: the software fortress model. In the software fortress model, an enterprise architecture is viewed as a series of self-contained, mutually suspicious, marginally cooperating software fortresses interacting with each other through carefully crafted and meticulously managed treaty relationships. The software fortress model is an intuitive, simple, expressive approach that maps readily to existing technologies such as .NET and Java 2 Enterprise Edition.
Contents:
Preface.
1. Introduction.
2. Diagramming Software Fortresses.
3. Transactions.
4. Drawbridges.
5. Synchronous Drawbridges.
6. Asynchronous Drawbridges.
7. Guards and Walls.
8. Treaties.
9. General Fortress Issues.
10. Internet Fortresses.
11. Business Application Fortresses.
12. Legacy, Service, and Treaty Management Fortresses.
13. Software Fortress Design Review.
14. Case Study.
15. Postlude.
Also check out Rogers latest news letter ... a great explanation of service orientated architectures and a good insight to the style of the book. (Subscribe)
Energy Blue Theme Pack
The Energy Blue theme from the new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 has been made available for download for Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005. I installed it on standard XP by first saving the download .exe file and then extracting the various theme files using WinRAR - I then used the Theme selector in Display Properties to point at the .theme file.
Digital Entertainment Anywhere
Some big announcements today ... Microsoft and industry partners introduced new products and services designed to give consumers new digital entertainment experiences that they can easily enjoy in the home, around the home and on the go.
Checkout the Digital Entertainment Anywhere feature story to read about the debut today of the Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, MCE Extenders, Windows Media 10, MSN Music, Portable Media Centers and a host of other related products and services.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Wisdom - EDRM for SharePoint
Wisdom is Diagonal's Electronic Document and Records Management product and is approved by The National Archives as meeting their 2002 EDRMS specification.
It provides an integrated solution for all aspects of information management. Wisdom is an intuitive tool which sits within a Microsoft desktop environment and provides a high-degree of integration with day-to-day business processes.
The system enables the indexing of any entity, physical or electronic. If the entity is electronic, it is securely stored on the network and may be accessed on-line, subject to appropriate user security permissions.
When coupled with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services or Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server, Wisdom seamlessly complements the advanced collaboration and document management features with archive and record lifecycle management.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Virtual SharePoint User Group
Amanda suggests setting up a virtual user group for SharePoint where geography would not be a limitation for members.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
End User Training Kit for SharePoint Portal Server 2003
SharePoint Portal Server End User Training Kit has been specially designed to ensure that SPS end-users can effectively use the capabilities of the product to better share information, collaborate with others and find relevant information and resources within their organization.
Keeping in mind the unique needs of beginners and advanced users, the kit provides easy to understand content that can be accessed either as a self-paced study guide or as a quick reference guide. While the kit is scoped to cover SharePoint Portal Server, it is also an effective tool for users of Windows SharePoint Services. The kit also provides illustrations of SharePoint integration with Outlook 2003, FrontPage 2003, and the research task pane in Office 2003 programs.
The kit contains demos that visually guide the user on how to perform various tasks. These demos can be viewed in an auto run mode where the user is visually guided through the various steps or can run in an interactive mode where the user is invited to perform the required action as a way to get hands-on learning on the particular task.
Topics covered are scenario based and include:
It can be installed:
Keeping in mind the unique needs of beginners and advanced users, the kit provides easy to understand content that can be accessed either as a self-paced study guide or as a quick reference guide. While the kit is scoped to cover SharePoint Portal Server, it is also an effective tool for users of Windows SharePoint Services. The kit also provides illustrations of SharePoint integration with Outlook 2003, FrontPage 2003, and the research task pane in Office 2003 programs.
The kit contains demos that visually guide the user on how to perform various tasks. These demos can be viewed in an auto run mode where the user is visually guided through the various steps or can run in an interactive mode where the user is invited to perform the required action as a way to get hands-on learning on the particular task.
Topics covered are scenario based and include:
- Effectively Collaborating on Projects
- Conducting Effective Meetings
- Managing Personal Files and Information
- Finding and Connecting with Others
- Navigating the Portal
- Personalizing Your Sites
- Configuring Access for Users and Groups
- Advanced Searching
- Connecting Web Parts
It can be installed:
- as a portal area in a SharePoint Portal Sever
- as a set of web pages to an IIS server
- or to any PC with a browser as a set of HTML pages
FabriKam - The Microsoft Office System Solutions Learning Platform
The FabriKam 3.0 Solutions Learning Platform is now being made available on MSDN.
In this solutions learning platform, developers at a fictitious enterprise, FabriKam Inc, created solutions for common business processes. FabriKam, a furniture manufacturer with about 10,000 employees, faces business problems and challenges not unlike many of today's enterprises. Starting with a set of realistic infrastructure assumptions, FabriKam developers built five solutions and four reusable components that address FabriKam's needs in innovative ways, with extensive use of Web services, XML, integration of front-end applications and back-end systems, and full use of the Office environment with which most information workers are already familiar.
Microsoft will be making available the FabriKam virtual machine image containing all FabriKam solutions and components as part of a fully-functional Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 environment.
In this solutions learning platform, developers at a fictitious enterprise, FabriKam Inc, created solutions for common business processes. FabriKam, a furniture manufacturer with about 10,000 employees, faces business problems and challenges not unlike many of today's enterprises. Starting with a set of realistic infrastructure assumptions, FabriKam developers built five solutions and four reusable components that address FabriKam's needs in innovative ways, with extensive use of Web services, XML, integration of front-end applications and back-end systems, and full use of the Office environment with which most information workers are already familiar.
Microsoft will be making available the FabriKam virtual machine image containing all FabriKam solutions and components as part of a fully-functional Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 environment.
Cubik E-Business Developer Suite
Cubik have made available The E-Business Developer Suite which is a package of developer resources which simplifies the process of developing a successful MCMS web site or Intranet.
Features include:
- Navigation Controls
- Custom Placeholders
- Forms Builder
- Workflow
- Authentication
- Accessibility
- MondoSearch Integration
- Page Actions
- Content Syndication
- Console Extensions
- Meta Data Support
- Layouts
- FAQs
SharePoint Document Recovery Tool
From Patrick ...
... Stephane Cordonnier from France (http://www.sharepoint-france.com) has created a very nice little tool to browse the document libraries of a SharePoint Portal or SharePoint Services site. He calls it the SharePoint Document Recovery tool and it is available for download here.
... Stephane Cordonnier from France (http://www.sharepoint-france.com) has created a very nice little tool to browse the document libraries of a SharePoint Portal or SharePoint Services site. He calls it the SharePoint Document Recovery tool and it is available for download here.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Architectural Overview of Windows SharePoint Services
MSDN Article: Architectural Overview of Windows SharePoint Services
Examine the architecture implemented in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services. Learn what happens on the server when users issue page requests, and how Windows SharePoint Services responds. Understand the role of managed code in relation to unmanaged code in Windows SharePoint Services, and the Windows SharePoint Services database schema.
Examine the architecture implemented in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services. Learn what happens on the server when users issue page requests, and how Windows SharePoint Services responds. Understand the role of managed code in relation to unmanaged code in Windows SharePoint Services, and the Windows SharePoint Services database schema.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
How to improve productivity with SPS - Domino Systems white paper
Nick Mayhew, Domino Systems Managing Director, has written a comprehensive white paper summarising their experience gained deploying their own Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server based intranet. It is a practical, highly readable paper, and partly case study, partly white paper. Its jam-packed with practical information about how they witnessed issues and how they solved them.
Download.
Halo 2 is completed - Master Chief is back
Halo 2 is now complete ... teaser trailer. Super soldier Master Chief is back in action and you now have the chance to get him on your desktop! Downloading your very own desktop Master Chief will give you access to all kinds of news and special features to help prepare you for the release of one of the most anticipated titles of the year.
A little background for those not in the "Halo" know: The sequel picks up the story of Master Chief, a masked and armored marine who wages heavy-artillery war against alien invaders known as The Covenant, which look like humanoid scorpions.
In "Halo" the Chief destroyed a ring-shaped planet and wiped out a fleet of the alien baddies. This time, the villains have decimated most of the galaxy's human colonies and have landed on Earth in the year 2552 to exact revenge.
AchieveForms Lite for CMS 2002
I've been working with Business Web Software and delighted to announce that they have agreed to release a free Lite version of their AchieveForms for CMS.
Exact details of whats in the Lite version will be officially announced next week at SOCITM.
By integrating AchieveForms into MCMS 2002, Business Web Software has made the benefits of electronic forms available to users of MCMS. Users of VisualStudio.NET have access to an AchieveForms custom control that can be used to create MCMS templates. MCMS editors can use that template to create new pages containing electronic forms from inside MCMS. Form submission and processing is managed by AchieveForms, but the end user is presented with one seamless experience based on MCMS.
Netegrity SiteMinder support for SPS2003
Netegrity - a leading provider of identity and access management solutions - have announced immediate Netegrity SiteMinder support for SharePoint Portal Server 2003. The integration provides single sign-on between SPS2003 resources and other applications protected by SiteMinder, enabling seamless access to appropriate data for customers, partners, and employees.
More
More
Monday, October 04, 2004
Telerik CMS Editor - Roadmap
There was a message today on the CMS newsgroups implying that the Telerik CMS Editor Control would soon not be supported and a new v2 version would be released that would be chargeable. Let me explain the roadmap and assure everyone that there will be a continued evolution of the free Editor control.
There will be a new v2 version but it is not the intention to abandon users of this control - it will be FREE for all CMS users!
The key major improvement will be to use at its core the new Telerik r.a.d.Editor 4.0 Regular Edition. The effect of this will be to improve all dialogs. This will solve not only usability but performance problems as well. CMS authors with large Resource Galleries will be able to browse content folder by folder and won't have to wait for everything to get loaded on the client. Also, this will add some nice features like the ability to preview Windows Media and Flash files in the dialog, zoom in and zoom out for images.
Other likely improvements include:
Let us share one other plan for something that will be chargeable but will not happen until after CMS Editor Control V2. Telerik are working on developing the "r.a.d.controls suite for MCMS" - this will be a package of their components that have been extended to be driven by CMS configuration and content. This suite will include a Premium version of the CMS Editor Control.
Anyone wanting to discuss this further / provide feedback should join the peer discussion group at http://groups.msn.com/cmseditor
There will be a new v2 version but it is not the intention to abandon users of this control - it will be FREE for all CMS users!
The key major improvement will be to use at its core the new Telerik r.a.d.Editor 4.0 Regular Edition. The effect of this will be to improve all dialogs. This will solve not only usability but performance problems as well. CMS authors with large Resource Galleries will be able to browse content folder by folder and won't have to wait for everything to get loaded on the client. Also, this will add some nice features like the ability to preview Windows Media and Flash files in the dialog, zoom in and zoom out for images.
Other likely improvements include:
- Add a new Windows XP style layout and make the toolbar and other elements even slicker
- Improvements in Bulleted/Numbered list functionality
- Minor improvements such as the addition of a convenient context menu for links
- Fix outstanding bugs
Let us share one other plan for something that will be chargeable but will not happen until after CMS Editor Control V2. Telerik are working on developing the "r.a.d.controls suite for MCMS" - this will be a package of their components that have been extended to be driven by CMS configuration and content. This suite will include a Premium version of the CMS Editor Control.
Anyone wanting to discuss this further / provide feedback should join the peer discussion group at http://groups.msn.com/cmseditor
UK Portal Technologies User Group
UK Portal Technologies User Group is meeting on the 18th October from 13:30 to 17:30, in the Customer Briefing Centre at Microsoft Reading.
The agenda of the event is the following:
The agenda of the event is the following:
- SharePoint Intranet Security
- Solutions for Local Gov. MSIB PlusPack and LAWS Accelerator
- DSP Web Parts for SharePoint
- Mondosoft .Net Search Kit and BehaviorTracking for Sharepoint Portal Server
- AchieveForms: Electronic Forms for MCMS 2002
- Web Integration Based on the Kapow RoboSuite Software
To secure your place at the event email peppi@cscape.com with the subject line: MSPTUG Registration.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
InfoPath adapters for SharePoint
MSDN Article - Submitting Forms in InfoPath 2003
Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 SP1 introduces data adapters for e-mail and Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies and a new submit mechanism whereby you can call a submit adapter through rules, which provide a non-programmatic method for submitting form data. This article describes the four submit data adapters, pointing out best practices for when to use them. The article also describes the three submit mechanisms for determining when a submit occurs.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Blogs I Read
Ive added to this site the list of blogs I currently read - i'm currently subscribed and monitoring daily 120 feeds though this number is continually going up.
Friday, October 01, 2004
MCMS+ ... http://www.MCMSplus.com
There are many third-party companies that provide services and applications that enhance the functionality of Content Management Server. I thought I would extend my blog with a list of such tool and technology partners. This is work in progress - I still have many items to add - but I thought I would open it up now.
http://www.MCMSplus.com
Open source / zero cost items include ...
http://www.MCMSplus.com
Open source / zero cost items include ...
- IOKO/cScape MSIB plus pack
- LAWS Accelerator for CMS
- Sagestone AdServer for CMS
- Telerik radEditor CMS edition
- GotDotNet
- Questechsystems
Great news ... congratulations to Angus -