CBT Clips

One of the most challenging aspects of a SharePoint rollout is user adoption and user education. Organizing training sessions and brown bag lunch demonstrations are good ways to inform and educate users about SharePoint and how it is used in the organization.

However, ramping up several users on SharePoint at once requires that each person has some context for what they are learning. You can't always force this on people; force them to imagine working a certain way, role play to a point where the instruction actually makes sense.

For this reason, a successful user education strategy should include reference material that is easy to locate, easy to use and relevant. It should be easily accessible at the point in time when a user has a specific question while performing a task. The reference material should address the specific question at hand, and only that. Otherwise, the user will not be able to find the answer to their question and they will lose interest.

I have found CBT Clips to be a great solution for fulfilling this need. CBT Clips offers collections of very brief, to-the-point, computer based instruction videos. These are perfect for new users who just want to know how to upload a document, how check in/check out works, or how to use Outlook with SharePoint.

The price for a company wide license is very reasonable and I think that depending on the size of the organization, an investment may easily pay for itself.

MSSQL RS: Reference Items for Creating Datasource that Queries SharePoint List Items

Here are a couple, useful reference items to have when creating MSSQL Reporting Services datasources for querying SharePoint list item information:


1. The URL location of the list web service:

http://sample1portal.domain.com/subsite/_vti_bin/Lists.asmx



2. Sample syntax of an XML query to be used in the datasource:

SharePoint 3.0: Error: Access Denied, Search Crawl Log

Description:

You receive an error when attempting to run a crawl on a content source.

Shared Services Administration > Search Settings > Content Sources > Crawl Log:

Error:

"Access is denied. Check that the Default Content Access Account has access to this content, or add a crawl rule to crawl this content. (The item was deleted because it was either not found or the crawler was denied access to it.)"


Solution:

Aside from Alternate Access Mappings (AAM) issues, Content Access account permissions issues, and invalid credentials, this error may also appear if the "Loopback Check" is enabled.

Instructions for disabling the Loopback Check are included in Microsoft Support KB 89861.

KB 89681: You receive error 401.1 when you browse a Web site that uses Integrated Authentication and is hosted on IIS 5.1 or IIS 6
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896861

SharePoint 3.0: Error: Access Denied, Excel Web Access Web Part

Description:

Excel Web Access Web Part: Error:

"Access Denied. You do not have permission to open this file on Excel Services. Make sure that the file is in an Excel Services trusted location and that you have access to the file."

Solution:

Besides permissions related issues, this error may also appear if you are attempting to display an Excel file that is stored in a separate web application where you have not enabled cross domain access.


To enable cross domain access for Excel Services, run the following command:


stsadm.exe -o set-ecssecurity -ssp SSPNAME -allowcrossdomainaccess true

SharePoint 3.0: Pointing Excel Web Access at a Separate Web Application

There is an additional, configuration step required to display an Excel file stored in a different SharePoint web applications from the location where the Excel Web Access web part is being used. The instructions below explain how to set this up.

1.
Locate an Excel file you would like to display in Excel Web Access. For this example, the Excel file is called, stoplight.xlsx. It is stored in a document library at http://sample1portal.domain.com/excelfiles_site/excelfiles_library/



2.
Verify that the intended audience has permission to view the file.

3.
Verify that Excel File location is trusted by Excel Services.



4.
If you have not done so previously, run the following command:

stsadm.exe -o set-ecssecurity -ssp -SSPNAME -allowcrossdomainaccess true

5.
Add the Excel Web Access web part to a page to display stoplight.xslx. Since you have enabled cross domain access, it will now display regardless if the Excel file is part of the same web application as the Excel file, or in a different web application.

In this example, I am displaying the Excel Web Access Web Part on a sub site of http://sample2portal.domain.com although the Excel file is being stored on http://sample1portal.domain.com.

FAST ESP: Fast ESP 5.3 for Windows, 32 Bit Only

FAST ESP 5.3 for Windows is only available in 32 bit. However, the software can be installed on either 32 Bit or 64 Bit versions of the Windows operating system.

Consequently, prior to installing FAST ESP, you must install the 32 Bit versions of Java SE Runtime (JRE) and Java SE Development Kit (JDK): http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp.

Links: MS SQL Server Reporting Services Add-In for MOSS

Here are the links for downloading:

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Add-in for Microsoft SharePoint Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=200fd7b5-db7c-4b8c-a7dc-5efee6e19005

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services Add-in for Microsoft SharePoint Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1E53F882-0C16-4847-B331-132274AE8C84&displaylang=en

Taking Cloud Platform Services Seriously

(Perspective from early 2009)

Based on conversations with colleagues and clients, I still don't think that the majority of long term, enterprise architecture strategies even consider Cloud Platform Services (referring to PAAS)...but I think this strategy may eventually become mainstream.

Despite the fact that the cost of hosting systems on-premises is reducing with time due to improved virtualization and management technologies, I think that in the not too distant future, there will be a point when the costs and risks of serving up certain types of applications in house will actually be greater than any compromise made by moving the same systems to a PAAS, cloud based platform.

The biggest drawbacks I see with PAAS are:
1. Perceived loss of security controls at the infrastructure level.
2. Perceived loss of control over infrastructure configurations.
3. Vendor lock-in.
4. Vendor price gouging.
5. WAN/Bandwidth limitations.

Despite the risks, I do think that visionaries are beginning to consider PAAS for certain aspects of their computing environment road map. I'm just not sure how much longer it will take before this approach is generally accepted and considered mainstream.

Where is the FAST Search Community?

I am truly excited about Microsoft's acquisition of FAST Search as well as the recent news about Microsoft's new Enterprise Search road map. Anyone who has deployed Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) as an Enterprise Search solution or internet facing solution probably can appreciate all of the considerations that go into planning and implementing as well as some of the limitations that force you to think outside the box.

Prior to becoming proficient in MOSS Search, and prior to doing numerous Search Proof of Concepts on behalf of Microsoft, I spent quite a bit of time locked inside of a small office in the North End of Boston, researching, building and testing MOSS Search on a Microsoft VM. My primary sources of information included TechNet webcasts, blogs, Codeplex, MSDN articles, and the Microsoft Partner Support contacts. I've come to really appreciate the abundance of free flowing ideas and information that exists on the Web related to MOSS. The community is fantastic.

As I embark on new and exciting adventures working with FAST ESP, I am certain that the MOSS community will continue to contribute high quality information and will eventually expand to cover more topics related to FAST ESP. As of now, I don't see the same level of knowledge sharing occurring with FAST as I have seen with MOSS. I only hope that in response to Microsoft's acquisition of FAST as well as their reasonable product licensing model, that FAST will become more widely adopted and that a FAST Search community will flourish on the Web.

Firefox Automatic Logon

Description:

Configuring automatic logon for Firefox, for Microft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) URLs


Solution:

1.
Open Firefox

2.
Address Bar: Type about:config
When prompted for a warning, click "I'll be careful I promise"

3.
About:config > Preference Name > network.automatic-ntlm-auth.trusted-uris
Right-click and "Modify"

4.
Entering String Value Dialog Box
Type the URL addresses of the SharePoint web applications (use comma to separate multiple addresses)
E.g. https://portal.domain.com, https://search.domain.com
Click "OK"


For information about more advanced Firefox/MOSS integration, read Mauro's recent blog post:
SharePoint/Office Integration with Firefox

SQL Server: How to Change the Default Database Location

Description:

Instructions for changing the default Database locations.


Solution:

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio

2. Right Click on the SQL Server Instance node > Properties

3. Navigate to the "Database Settings" menu

4. Modify the "Database default locations"

5. Restart the following Windows Service:

SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)

6. Create a new test database to verify that it is being created in the new, default location

SharePoint 3.0: How to Move SQL Database Files, Transaction Log Files to Different Disk Location

Description:

Instructions for moving database files (mdf) and transaction log files (ldf) to a different disk drive on the database server, in a MOSS 2007 server farm.


Solution:

1. Perform the necessary capacity planning analyses and tasks to ensure that the future configuration will perform and scale for growth.

2. Schedule a maintenance window to allow for enough time to perform the configuration changes and test the SharePoint portal after the changes are complete. Communicate the maintenance window appropriately to the business users.

3. Create folders on the destination disk drive for storing the files. If the servers are physical, consider storing the transaction log files on a separate physical disk from the database files, to maximize performance. If the servers are virtual, understand the disk configuration of the underlying servers to ensure considerations including disk performance, contention, scalability, and snapshots.

In this example, D:\MSSQL_Data is the destination of data files, and D:\MSSQL_TLogs is the destination of transaction log files.

4. On the MOSS web front end servers and the Index server, stop the following Windows Services:

WWW Publishing Service
Windows SharePoint Administration
Windows SharePoint Search
Windows SharePoint Timer
Windows SharePoint Tracing
Windows SharePoint VSS Writer
Office SharePoint Search

5. For each database that is being moved, run the SQL Commands below to take the database offline

SQL Server Management Studio > New Query
--------------------
ALTER DATABASE MOSS_ContentDatabase SET OFFLINE;
GO
--------------------

6. Using Windows Explorer, physically copy the mdf and ldf files of the databases to their new location.

7. Run the SQL Commands below to update the physical location of the database files

SQL Server Management Studio > New Query
--------------------
USE master;
GO
ALTER DATABASE MOSS_ContentDatabaseMODIFY FILE (NAME = MOSS_ContentDatabase, FILENAME = 'D:\MSSQL_Data\MOSS_ContentDatabase.mdf');
GO
ALTER DATABASE MOSS_ContentDatabaseMODIFY FILE (NAME = MOSS_ContentDatabase_log, FILENAME = 'D:\MSSQL_TLogs\MOSS_ContentDatabase_log.ldf');
GO
ALTER DATABASE MOSS_ContentDatabase
SET ONLINE
GO
--------------------

8. Verify that the updated location has been properly set for each database by running the command below:

SQL Server Management Studio > New Query
--------------------
USE master;
GO
SELECT name, physical_name
FROM sys.master_files
WHERE database_id = DB_ID('MOSS_ContentDatabase');
GO
--------------------

SharePoint 3.0: Is the Installation 32 bit or 64 bit?

If you have an installation of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and you are trying to determine whether it is 32 bit or 64 bit, here are a couple ways you can do it:

* Task Manager; OWSTIMER.EXE
64 bit: OWSTIMER.EXE if it is 64 bit
32 bit: OWSTIMER32.EXE if it is 32 bit

* Windows Explorer; Program Files
64 bit: Installation directory is \Program files\common files\microsoft shared\web server extensions\12\
32 bit: Installation directory is \Program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\web server extensions\12\

Event: Focus On Series: Optimize Your SharePoint Investment

On Tuesday, Feburary 24, 2009 I will be presenting at an event sponsored by Vitale Caturano. For more information or to register, please follow this link: http://www.vitale.com/sharepoint

SharePoint 3.0: Search Results: How to Add a Document Properties Hyperlink

Introduction

As for a document appearing in SharePoint 3.0 search results; the standard formatting includes a hyperlink to open the document. However, you may want your search results to also include a link to open the display form or edit form of the document's associated list item. This way users have the options of opening a document as well as viewing and editing document properties all from the search results page.


Step 1. Crawl the Item ID Crawled Property

* SharePoint Shared Services Administration > Search Settings > Metadata Property Mappings > Crawled Properties
* Search for ows_ID(Integer)
* Edit/Map Property: ows_ID
* Mappings to managed properties: Check to "Include values for this property in the search index"
* Click OK


Step 2. Create a Managed Property for the Document's List Item ID

* SharePoint Shared Services Administration > Search Settings > Metadata Property Mappings > Managed Properties
* New Managed Property
Name and type
Property Name: OWSIDInteger
Description:
The type of information in this property: Integer
Mappings to crawled properties: Select - Include values from a single crawled property based on the order specified
Crawled properties mapped to this managed property: OWS_ID(Integer)
Use in scopes: No - Do not allow this property to be used in scopes

Step 3. Run a Full Crawl

* SharePoint Shared Services Administration > Search Settings > Content sources and crawl schedules > For each applicable content source, invoke the context menu and Start Full Crawl


Step 4. Make the New Managed Property Part of the Search Query

* Search Center site collection > search results page > search results web part > edit web part > Modify Shared Web Part
* Web part tool pane > Results Query Options > Selected Columns:
Modify the XML of Selected Columns to include the new managed property, OWSIDInteger

Reference:
How to: Change the Properties Returned in the Core Search Results
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms560074.aspx

Step 6. Test the Search Query to Ensure the New Managed Property is Returning Values

* Search Center site collection > search results page > search results web part > edit web part > Modify Shared Web Part
* Web part tool pane >Miscellaneous > XSL Editor:
Modify the XML so it returns raw XML results

Reference:
How to: View Search Results XML Data
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms546985.aspx


Step 5. Make the Managed Property Display in the Search Results

5A. Create an XML File Containing the Raw XML Representation of the Search Results
* Open an XML editor such as Visual Studio
* File > New > File > XML File
* Search Center > Perform a search (the results should still be coming back as raw XML)
* Copy the search results into the XML file
* Save the XML file to be used in Step 5B

5B. Create a new XSL Stylesheet
* Create a test site
* Add a Data View Web Part (DVWP) to the Test Site
* SharePoint Designer > Open test site > Open default.aspx
* Split View
* Menu > Insert > SharePoint Controls > Data View
* Data Source Library > XML Files > Add an XML file:
Upload the XML file from Step 5A
* Drag the content from the new data source to the DVWP
* Format the DVWP accoding to the desired look and feel for search results
* When look and feel is complete, open the XML editor and create a new XML file:
Visual Studio > File > New > File > XML File
* SharePoint Designer > Highlight the DVWP in the Design window
* Copy the code for the DVWP from the Code view
* Paste the XML into the new XML file
* Identify the XSL Stylesheet portion of the XML
* Cut away any unnecessary XML from the file, leaving only the XSL Stylesheet
* Save the XML file to be used in Step 5C

5C. Apply the new XSL Stylesheet to the Search Results Web Part
* Visual Studio > Open file:
Open the XML file created in Step 5B
* Search Center site collection > search results page > search results web part > edit web part > Modify Shared Web Part
* Web part tool pane >Miscellaneous > XSL Editor:
Open the XSL Editor
* Paste the XML from Visual Studio into the XSL Stylesheet, overwriting the existing stylesheet
* Click OK

SharePoint 3.0: New AD Group Unavailable for Audience Rules

Description:

When creating a new audience rule...

...a new Active Directory security group is unavailable.

Solution:

* Run a full import of user profiles:

Shared Services Administration > User Profiles and My Sites > User profiles and properties > Start full import

St. Thomas

Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas

SharePoint 3.0: Error: Crawl Log "The object was not found."

Description:

Unable to crawl a web site content source.

Error: "The object was not found. (The item was deleted because it was either not found or the crawler was denied access to it.)"

Solution:

Determine if the web site is case sensitive. If so, implement the configuration changes described in the following KB article:

You cannot crawl case-sensitive Web content in SharePoint Server 2007
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932619


Keywords:
Crawling case sensitive web sites; MOSS 2007; Crawl jsp pages; How to crawl .jsp pages with SharePoint; Case-Sensitive; sharepoint search jsp; sharepoint search .jsp

Links: Microsoft Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008: System Requirements
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/system-requirements.aspx

Windows Server 2008: Overview of Editions
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/editions-overview.aspx

Windows Server 2008: Compare Features
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/compare-features.aspx

Windows Server 2008: Compare Server Roles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/compare-roles.aspx

Links: Microsoft SQL Server 2008

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Product Specifications for SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143287.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Maximum Number of Processors Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143760.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Memory Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143685.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Maximum Capacity Specifications for SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143432.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Editions and Components of SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144275.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645993.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Using Upgrade Advisor to Prepare for Upgrades
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144256.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Getting SQL Server Assistance
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms166016.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Planning a SQL Server Installation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb500442.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Overview of SQL Server Installation
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb500438.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: How to: Install SQL Server 2008 (Setup)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143219.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: How to: Upgrade to SQL Server 2008 (Setup)
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms144267.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Migrating to SQL Server 2008
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677619.aspx

MSDN: SQL Server 2008 Books Online: Backward Compatibility
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc280407.aspx

SharePoint 3.0: Site Users Web Part

The Site Users Web Part can be used to enhance the appearance of a SharePoint site by displaying a list of users who belong to the site. This web part works well on collaborative sites such as project sites or team sites, when the site permissions have been configured with either SharePoint groups or where users are added directly to site permissions access control list of the site.

Environments that also have Live Communication Server have an opportunity to promote IM to their users since the users' precense information is displayed and the context menu allows users to easily spawn IM sessions.

The Site Users Web Part is less useful on sites that have lots of users or when Active Directory groups are being used to provision access to the site. Since the Site Users Web Part does not enumerate user names who are members of Active Directory groups, these display only as group names.

Site Users Web Part Configuration Options:

Show people and groups with direct permissions on this site.
This displays a list of users who have been added directly to site permissions for the site. The person's full name with presence information is shown.

Show people in this site's members groupThis lets you display the names of people who belong to the Site Members, default SharePoint group.
The person's full name with presence information is shown.

Show people in the group:
This lets you select a SharePoint group to display the names of people who belong to that group. The person's full name with presence information is shown.

SharePoint 3.0: Manage Access Requests

Access Requests are a feature of SharePoint that allow users to submit an email, to a SharePoint administrator, requesting access to a resource (site or list) that they are denied access to.

The email to the administrator provides the username, the URL of the resource, and comments directly from the user. The email looks like this:



Resources that inherit security from their parent will automatically inherit the parent's Access Request setting. If you break inheritance at a list, then the list permissions, settings menu will appear and an Access Request menu item will be available. This allows you to set an Access Request email address, different from the parent site. This behavior is not true for list items. If you break security inheritance at a list item, an Access Request menu option does not appear on the list item security settings menu.


Here are some best practices for configuring Access Requests:

* Use a dedicated distribution group for this purpose
* Since each unique site collection can have its own Access Request email address, give the distribution group a generic name so that it can be used accross many site collections
* Definitely don't use a service account's email address because no real person is on the other end to receive the request
* Don't use an individual user's email address, doing so would result in a single point of failure
* If you are maintaining instruction documentation that describes the steps to configure a new site collection in your environment, then add "configure access requests email address" as a step..doing so will be a good reminder to do it.


How to configure Manage Access Requests email address:

* Site Collection > Site Actions > Site Settings > Modify All Site Settings > Advanced Permissions
* Settings > Access Requests



* Set email address, click OK

SharePoint 3.0: Error: Calculated Site Column, Formula Contains a Syntax Error

Description:

When attempting to create a new calculated site column...



...inside the formula, you reference a column name in brackets, such as Year[created]...




...and you are unable to save the new site column, instead you receive an error.

Error:
The formula contains a syntax error or is not supported.
Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.

Solution:

Use parentheses around the brackets. E.g. Year([Created])

SharePoint 3.0: Error: The specified name is already in use

Description:

Site Collection > Site Settings > Site Collection Features

When attempting to activate the following:
Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure
Provides centralized libraries, content types, master pages and page layouts and enables page scheduling and other publishing functionality for a site collection.

Error:
The specified name is already in use. Please try again with a new name. Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.



Solution:

When publishing features are enabled, SharePoint automatically creates a bunch of objects on the site. It is possible that before you attempted to activate publishing on your site, you had already created an object, such as a library, list, site column, or content type using a name that SharePoint uses. With publishing deactivated, SharePoint does not enforce naming contstraints on these names so it is possible for you to create, for example, a library called Pages (creating a future conflict) not knowing that SharePoint will automatically create a Pages library when you activate publishing.

If you can, audit the SharePoint site comparing it with another site that already has publishing enabled to see if you can find a conflict.

If you are unable to locate the conflict, and you need to activate publishing features, you can force the activation by running the following command:

stsadm.exe -o activatefeature -filename publishing\feature.xml -url http://%URL% -force
stsadm.exe -o activatefeature -filename publishingresources\feature.xml -url http://%URL% -force
stsadm.exe -o activatefeature -filename publishingsite\feature.xml -url http://%URL% -force
stsadm.exe -o activatefeature -filename publishingweb\feature.xml -url http://%URL% -force
stsadm.exe -o activatefeature -filename publishinglayouts\feature.xml -url http://%URL% -force
stsadm.exe -o activatefeature -filename navigation\feature.xml -url http://%URL% -force

Links: Foxit PDF IFilter 64 Bit

Foxit PDF IFilter 64 Bit
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/ifilter/

SharePoint Magazine

SharePoint V3: Error: Failed to activate feature 'PublishingPrerequisites'

Description:

Receiving error when attempting to activate the Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure, site collection feature:

Error: Failed to activate feature 'PublishingPrerequisites'





Solution:

- Run IISReset on the front end web servers
Start > Run > CMD > iisreset /noforce

- Activate the feature
Site Actions > Site Settings > Site Collection Features > Office SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure > Activate

SharePoint V3: Search: “The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service”

Description:

Error: “The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service”

Event Log has errors referencing a corrupt index.


Solution:

* Reset index
SSP Administration > Search Settings > Reset all crawled content

* Perform a full crawl
SSP Administration > Search Settings > Content Sources > Perform a full crawl

SharePoint V3: How to Rename and Migrate a Content Database From a SQL Express Farm to a SQL Server SE or EE Farm

Here are the steps to follow if you need to migrate (SQL upgrade would be a different approach from this) a SharePoint content database from one farm which has SQL Server Express 2005 to a separate farm which has SQL Server SE or EE 2005.

* Verify the number of site collections in the content database you are planning to migrate
- Launch SharePoint Central Adminsitration from the SQL Express Farm
- SharePoint Central Administration > Application Management > Content Databases > contentdb_old > Current Number of Sites >
The number of site collections will appear. Note this number.

* If the SQL Express Farm is active, notify the users of maintenance

* Stop services
- Control Panel > Services > Stop the following services:
WWW Publishing Service
SQL Server Service

* Copy the data and log files from the source database server's data directory to destination database server's data directory
E.g.
Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\contentdb_old.mdf
Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\contentdb_old_log.ldf

* Rename the data and log files
E.g.
Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\contentdb_new.mdf
Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\contentdb_new_log.ldf

* Attach the databaseSQL Server Management Studio > right click databases node > select "Attach"
-Attach a Database > Click "Add"Browse to the SQL data file > Select contentdb_new.mdf
-Attach Databases > Databases to Attach > Attach As column> Modify the "Attach As" name to contentdb_new
-Attach Databases > Databases to Attach > Owner column > Modify the "Owner" name
-Attach Databases > Database Details > Current File Path > Modify the data file location and name (contentdb_new.mdf)
-Attach Databases > Database Details > Current File Path > Modify the log file location and name (contentdb_new_log.ldf)
-Click "OK"

* Create a new SharePoint web application on SQL Server SE or EE farm
- SharePoint Central Administration > Application Management > Create or Extend Web Application
- Configure the web application directory location and IIS application pool names according to naming convention
- Name the default content database "deleteme" as it will be deleted in the next step

* Delete the default content database
-SharePoint Central Administration > Application Management > Content Databases > Click the "deleteme" content databaseManage Content Database Settings for "deleteme" > Click "Remove Content Database" > Click "OK"
-SQL Server Management Studio > Databases > right click "deleteme" database > Click "Delete"
-Check "Delete backup and restore history information for databases"
-Check "Close existing connections"
-Click "OK"

* Configure alternate access mappings for the new web application
- SharePoint Central Administration > Operations > Alternate Access Mappings > Add all of the necessary AAM's to the new web application, make sure the default URL is fully qualified

* Configure DNS
- Active Directory > DNS > Configure the necessary host (a) records or alias records

* Configure IIS Host Headers
-IIS Management > Right Click Web Site > Properties > Web Site Tab > Click "Advanced"
-Add the appropriate host headers to match the alternate access mappings

* Attach migrated content database to the new web application
- Start > Run > CMD > Type the following:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\BIN> Stsadm.exe -o addcontentdb -url http://webapplication -databasename contentdb_new -databaseserver servername

* Run IISReset
- Start > Run > CMD > Type the following:
iisreset /restart

* Verify the number of site collections in the content database that has been migrated
- Launch SharePoint Central Adminsitration from the SQL Express Farm
- SharePoint Central Administration > Application Management > Content Databases > contentdb_new > Current Number of Sites
You will now see the content database you migrated. The number of sites should match the number of sites in the source content database.

* Perform follow up tasks
- Since the migration is now complete, it is ok to start the WWW Publishing and SQL Server services on the SQL Express farm
- Verify the new web application by navigating the its URL
- Recreate audiences on the new farm's SSP and then re-configure audiences accordingly on web parts used throughout the migrated site collection
- Verify and update hyperlinks throughout the migrated site collection
- Notify users that the web application has been migrated and that it has a new URL

SharePoint V3: Disk Cache

One performance configuration available in MOSS 2007 is BlobCache. Consider caching files on the front end web servers to improve performance. Open the web.config for the web application and review the BlobCache settings.

BlobCache location="C:\blobCache" ...

References:

Configure disk-based cache settings
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/HA101762841033.aspx

Custom Caching Overview
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa589700.aspx

SharePoint V3: Error: The path specified cannot be used at this time.

Description:

When attempting to create a web application, receiving error:
"Error: The path specified cannot be used at this time."

Solution:

1. Central Administration > Application Management > Delete a Web Application: Delete the web application that errored upon creation

2. Start > Run > iisreset /restart
3. Attempt creating the web application again

Links: Microsoft TechNet: White papers for MOSS 2007

Microsoft TechNet: White papers for Office SharePoint Server 2007
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc262733(TechNet.10).aspx

SharePoint 3.0: Default Search Relevance by File Type

The Search engine in SharePoint 3.0 considers certain file types more relevant than others. Below is a list of file types in sequence of most relevant to least relevant.

• Web Pages
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Word Documents
• Emails
• XML Files
• Excel Files
• Text Files
• SharePoint List Items

SharePoint V3: Error: No results matching your search were found

Description:

When performing a contextual search (WSS Search) from a SharePoint 3.0 site, no results are returned. Error: No results matching your search were found.





Are you using SSL?
Are you using a network load balancer?
Are there multiple domains in the environment?
Are the web applications accessible from outside the organization?



Solution:

Central Administration > Operations > Alternate Access Mappings

* Ensure that the Pubic URL for the web application if fully qualified

* Ensure that all possible URLs for the web application are configured in the default (or appropriate) zone

e.g.
https://sharepoint.domain.com
http://sharepoint.domain.com
https://sharepoint
http://sharepoint

SharePoint V3 Error: Absolute path information required

Description:

When attempting to create a new web application from Central Administration, Error: Absolute path information required

Solution:

Jai's SharePoint Blog: The dreaded ‘Absolute path information required’ - Some light in the darkness http://sharepoint.jai-world.com/archives/6

Download and run the utility. It is intuitive and effective.

SharePoint V3: How to Delete a Master Page from Master Page Gallery

Description:

When attempting to delete a master page from the master page gallery, error: "This item cannot be deleted because it is still referenced by other pages"

Error from browser


Error from SharePoint Designer



Solution:

* Site Actions > Site Settings > Master Page Gallery
* Windows Explorer
* File > New > Folder > Name Folder
* Copy master page to folder
* Right Click on Folder > Delete Folder
* Delete folder from Recycle Bin

Fundamental Productivity through Cultural and Technical Progress

A decent information taxonomy (referring to the concept of classifying and organizing content such as web site structure, web content, documents, etc.) aligned with the proper technology, in an adaptive culture breeds some real value. When information is consistently produced, named, categorized, and published throughout a work place, workers naturally become more adept at sharing, using, and reusing information.

Research based activities are the most obvious targets for streamlining because there are often lengthy windows of unproductive time associated with research. Consider a technical support analyst's work as an example. Here is a person who spends his or her day solving problems for other people. The job includes receiving and interpreting a problem, communicating and clarifying the symptoms, assessing the potential cause, and applying and testing solutions. Each forward thought process towards a resolution is linked and in some cases limited to the analyst's own prior knowledge and previous experiences.

Imagine if the analyst has access to a knowledge base and colleagues regularly publish solutions to their problems to the knowledge base. Day in and day out analysts are solving problems and taking time to write up detailed articles describing the cause of the problem and the solution. Articles in the knowledge base are all formatted a similar way, with an id number, a title, an author, keywords, a description, and a solution. The knowledge base tool provides search functionality which is tuned to allow filtering on a these structured fields of information. With this type of tool available, the analyst is able to quickly parse through an abundance of prior knowledge and past experiences to find answers quickly.

The idea of being organized and productive is not limited to support analysts. This ideal can be applied to a wide range of occupations and business scenarios.

What does it take to achieve hyper productivity?

Vision; a big picture strategy with an underlying grasp of an organization's detailed business processes.

Leadership; dynamic thought leaders empowered to make decisions about how to manage other people's content.

Acceptance; an acceptance of a the current work place culture as it relates to collaboration.

Inclusion; motivating employees to be excited about being productive can also be challenging, which is why it necessary practice inclusion. Ideas that derive from within and grow organically are far more inspirational than any mandate received via corporate email blast.

Balance; what will work best for all stakeholders vs what each individual stakeholder holds important.

Technology; essential, yes, but most companies who are realizing benefits from a corporate portal, knowledge management system, or collaboration web site may already know that the technology deployment is often times the easiest part.

SharePoint V3: Administrator Reports; Utility

I often get asked about how to obtain useful administrator reports for SharePoint. Here is one inexpensive utility to evaluate:

Admin Report Kit for SharePoint 2007
http://www.vyapin.com/products/enterprisenetworktools/arksp2007.htm

Pros:
- Low cost
- Hierarchical reports
- Can export reports to several different formats
- Reports can save you a lot of time if you try to write in TSQL

Cons:
- Doesn't support rdl publishing to Reporting Services
- Doesn't provide join to AD object enumeration (expand AD members per securable)

SharePoint V3: Search Considerations for Choosing Yes No Column Type

I was working on a search customization a while back, displaying search results in a grid view. I encountered a design decision that required that I step back and change the column type I was using for some of the Yes/No columns in the site collection.

One lesson I learned is that when you are deciding on a which column types to use, especially Yes/No columns, keep search close at mind because it will impact search downstream. Ideally, if your columns will be leveraged by managed properties and used in search scopes to help users fine tune their queries, then keep in mind how users think.

For example, I had some Yes/No columns that I originally set up as Yes/No Checkboxes. I created managed properties for these columns but then realized...nobody is going to search on 0 and 1, they are going to search on yes and no. E.g. Give me all my ice cream sundae options where vanilla ice cream = yes...not where vanilla ice cream = 1.

Anyway, there are at least four common ways to achieve Yes/No in a SharePoint column:

Choice Radio
Choice Drop Down
Choice Checkbox
Yes/No Checkbox

The table below compares each of these:



As a result of doing this comparison, I have been using choice drop down more often than not in lists and libraries where Yes/No values are required for metadata. Even though the Yes/No checkbox may more appealing to users filling out the metadata, I think the drop down wins when you weigh in the search considerations.

Windows Live SkyDrive

I was playing around with my Hotmail account and I stumbled on Windows Live Sky Drive. I have been subscribing to a paid, online file share service because these days it is necessary to keep certain files up there in the clouds for easy access at all times or to always have a place to share photos with other people. SkyDrive is one useful, free tool that I will be definitely using. Maybe I can even phase out my paid service.

MSSQL 2005: Example BCP Query to Text File

Prerequisites:

- MSSQL 2005
- AdventureWorks DW

Steps:

1. Enable xp_cmdshell on the SQL instance
- Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 > Configuration Tools > SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration
- Surface Area Configuration for Features > MSSQLSERVER > Database Engine > xp_cmdshell
- Enable xp_cmdshell: Check

2. Prepare your query
- Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Management Studio
- New Query

3. Execute your query using BCP
- Start, Run, CMD
- Change Directory: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\Binn
- bcp "select firstname, lastname from dbo.dimcustomer" queryout c:\awdwcustomer.txt -T -C RAW -t ","

4. Review your output
- C:\awdwcustomer.txt

e.g.
Jon,Yang
Eugene,Huang
Ruben,Torres
Christy,Zhu
Elizabeth,Johnson
Julio,Ruiz
Janet,Alvarez
Marco,Mehta

SharePoint V3: Error: There has been an error creating the personal site

Description:

When attempting to create a new My Site in MOSS 2007, you receive the error:

"There has been an error creating the personal site. Contact your site administrator for more information."



Solution:

Set a Personal Site Location for the SSP

* Shared Services Administration > User Profiles and My Sites > My Site Settings
* Personal Site Location > Location: personal (e.g. http://portal.domain.com/personal/personal_site/)

SharePoint V3: Terminology Related to URLs

Web Application: http://portal.domain.com

Site Collection: http://portal.domain.com

Top Level Site Collection: http://portal.domain.com/sites/site

Top Level Site: http://portal.domain.com/sites/site

First Level Sub-Site: http://portal.domain.com/site/subsite

SharePoint V3: Site Features: Error: A duplicate name "Report" was found.

Description:

Unable to activate the "Office SharePoint Server Enterprise Site Features."

The following error is returned, " Error. A duplicate "Report" was found."

Solution:

There was a custom content type on the site collection called, "Report." When the Enterprise Features are enabled, a system generated content type called "Report" is created. Since the custom content type was present, this created a conflict and prevented the Enterprise Features from activating.

A work around to this to rename the existing, custom content type from Report to something different, such as "Report Document."

* Site Actions > Site Settings > Site Content Types > Report > Name, Description, and Group

* Edit Name: e.g. Report Document

* Click OK

SharePoint V3: Error: Excel Services: Excel Web Access: An Error Has Occurred.

Description:

After adding an Excel Web Access Web Part to a SharePoint page, you receive the following error message:

"Excel Web Access. An error has occurred. Please contact your system administrator if this problem persists."


Solution:

* SharePoint Central Administration > Operations > Services on Server > Excel Calculation Services
* Start the service

Links: SharePoint GearUp

A very good resource to examine during initiation of a SharePoint project:

SharePoint GearUp
http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/gearup/Pages/default.aspx

SharePoint V3: Business Data Catalog, Setting Up Application Definition

Business Data Catalog, Setting Up Application Definition (Not Creating Application Definitions)


Service Accounts

Microsoft Single Sign-On & SharePoint Single Sign-On Service Account
* Minimum:
-Domain account -Central Administration, Farm Administrators Group
-SQL Server, Security Administrators Role
-SQL Server, DB_Creator Role
Enterprise Appliction Administrator Account
* Minimum:
-Domain Account
-Central Administration, Read Permissions


Microsoft Single Sign-On

Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Services and Applications > Services
* Microsoft Single Sign-On Service > Properties
-General, Startup type: Automatic
-General, Service Status: Start
-Log On, This Account: SSO Service Account


SharePoint Single Sign-On

Central Administration > Operations > Security Configuration > Manage Settings for Single Sign-On
* Server Settings > Manage Server Settings
-Account Name: SSO Service Account

* Server Settings > Enterprise Application Definition Settings > Manage settings for enterprise applciation definitions
-Account: SSO Service Account


SSP Permissions

SSP Administration Site > Site Actions > Site Settings > Users and Permissions
* Site Collection Administrators
-Site Collection Administrators: SSP Service Account
* Advanced Permissions > New > Add Users
-Users/Groups: SSP Service Account
-Give Permission: Full Control


Business Data Catalog Permissions

SSP Administration Site > Business Data Catalog > Business Data Catalog Permissions
* Manage Permissions > Add Users/Groups
-Choose Users: SSP Service Account
-Choose Permissions: Edit, Execute, Select in Clients, Set Permissions
* Manage Permissions > Add Users/Groups
-Choose Users: (add users as needed)
-Choose Permissions: (use permissions below, as appropriate)

Permissions

Edit: Select this permission to enable users to import application definitions and add, edit, or delete application definitions, business data types, and data fields for business data types.

Execute: Select this permission to enable users to change the properties of business data.

Select in Clients: Select this permission to enable the user to refer to business data types and fields in SharePoint lists, Web Parts, sites, and client applications.

Set permissions: Select this permission to enable the user to configure permissions for other users.

(Taken from Microsoft TechNet)


Register Enterprise Application Definitions

* Create application definition
* Import application definition
* Configure application definitino for Single Sign-On


SharePoint Single Sign-On for Application Definition

Central Administration > Operations > Security Configuration > Manage Settings for enterprise application definitions
* Server Settings > Enterprise Application Definition Settings > Manage account information enterprise applciation definitions
-Enterprise Application Definition, Account Information:
-Group Account Name: Group having Read Access to Application
-Enterprise Application Definition, Update account information: SSO Service Account


References:

Configure access to business data
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Office/en-us/library/a0d973ae-038d-491b-b76d-25dbf745d8931033.mspx

Configure single sign-on (Office SharePoint Server)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc262932.aspx

Register business applications in the Business Data Catalog
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Office/en-us/library/97d1a614-84e7-45c2-9327-5749d5fc50111033.mspx

Keyboard Shortcuts

LOCAL SYSTEM

ALT + Space Bar : Display Windows menu
ALT + F : Display file menu
Alt + Tab : Toggle between open windows
ALT + Underlined Letter : Display the corresponding menu
CTRL + A : Select all
CTRL + C : Copy
CTRL + ESC : Display Start menu
CTRL + P : Print
CTRL + S : Save
CTRL + V : Paste
CTRL + X : Cut
CTRL + Z : Undo
CTRL + Shift + Arrow Key : Select a block of text
CTRL + Shift + ESC : Display Task Manager
Shift + Delete : Delete files permanently
Shift + End : Highlight from current cursor position to the end of the line
Shift + Home : Highlight from current cursor position to beginning of the line
CTRL + Home : Put cursor at beginning of the document
Windows Key + E : Display My Computer folder
Windows Key + F : Find files or folders
Windows Key + F1 : Display Help and Support
Windows Key + L : Lock the keyboard
Windows Key + M : Minimize window
Windows Key + Shift + M : Restore minimized window
Windows Key + R : Display user command line

REMOTE DESKTOP

CTRL + ALT + END : Task Manager
ALT + Page Up or ALT + Page Down : Toggle Windows
CTRL + ALT + "+" : Screen Print of Remote Desktop (Local Clipboard)
CTRL + ALT + "-" : Screen Print of Remote Desktop (Remote Desktop Clipboard)

SharePoint V3: Records Center: Created

When you send a document from a SharePoint site to a MOSS 2007 Records Center document library, the "Created" date reflects the date and time that the document was received by the Records Center document library, not the date and time the document was originally created in its native document library.

SharePoint V3: Search: “The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service”

Description:

Error: “The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service”


Solution:

Step 1

* Central Admin > Application Management > Office SharePoint Server Shared Services > Create or Configure this farm's shared services
* Shared Services Provider (drop down) > Edit Properties
* Edit Shared Services Provider > Index Server: Verify the index server is set

Step 2

Single Server Farm

On the MOSS 2007 server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action stop
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action start -role queryindex

Multiple Server Farm

On the MOSS 2007 Front End Web/Query server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action stop

On the MOSS 2007 Index server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action stop

On the MOSS 2007 Index server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action start -role index

On the MOSS 2007 Front End Web/Query server:
* Start > Run > CMD > stsadm.exe -o osearch -action start -role query