Life inside MOSS » Cool Links

SharePoint Development Tools

Geek — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:50:45 +0000

The following is the list of tools that I happen to use during Sharepoint Development. These tools help the SharePoint developers to do their work efficiently.

Visual Studio Extensions for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Tools	Tools for developing custom SharePoint applications: Visual Studio project templates for Web Parts, site definitions, and list definitions; and a stand-alone utility program, the SharePoint Solution Generator. Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Tools: Visual Studio 2005 Extensions Visual Studio 2008 extensions for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
SharePoint SDK	The Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 SDK contains conceptual overviews, “How Do I…?” programming tasks, developer tools, code samples, references, and an Enterprise Content Management (ECM) starter kit to guide you in developing solutions based on MOSS 2007. Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Software Development Kit (SDK) SharePoint Server 2007 SDK: Software Development Kit
Microsoft Best Practices Analyzer for WSS 3.0	The Microsoft Best Practices Analyzer for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and the 2007 Microsoft Office System creates detailed reports to help administrators achieve greater performance, scalability, and uptime.
SPDisposeCheck	SPDisposeCheck is a tool to help you to check your assemblies that use the SharePoint API so that you can build better code. It provides assistance in correctly disposing of certain SharePoint objects to help you follow published best practice. This tool may not show all memory leaks in your code. Further investigation is advised if you continue to experience issues.
U2U CAML Query Builder	The tool will help you build, test and execute your CAML Queries. Download U2U CAML Query Builder
SPCamlViewer	This SPCamlViewer tool will help you in viewing/writing CAML Queries.
Imtech Fields Explorer	Imtech Fields Explorer for auto generating content type-based Page Layouts and features.
SharePoint Search Service Tool	The SharePoint Search Service Tool is a rich web service client that allows a developer to explore the scopes and managed properties of a given SharePoint Search SSP, build queries in either Keyword or SQL Syntax, submit those queries and examine the raw web service results. http://www.codeplex.com/SharePointSearchServ
Search Community Toolkit	The Search Community Toolkit is comprised of a number of tools and code samples that have been contributed to enhance the Microsoft search experience. http://www.codeplex.com/sct
WSPBuilder	WSPBuilder is a SharePoint Solution Package (WSP) creation tool for WSS 3.0 & MOSS 2007.
SharePoint Solution Installer	SharePoint Solution Installer for easy deployment of WSP packages. Download @ http://sharepointinstaller.codeplex.com/
SharePoint 2007 Features	This CodePlex project contains a number of helpful features like Debugger Feature, Log Viewer, Toolbar Manager etc. http://www.codeplex.com/features
SmartPart for SharePoint	The SharePoint web part which can host any ASP.NET web user control. Download @ http://smartpart.codeplex.com/
SPVisualDev – SharePoint Developer Tool	SPVisualDev makes it easier for Sharepoint 2007 developers to develop features and artifacts with Visual Studio 2008. It is written in C# and is implemented as a Visual Studio 2008 Add-in. http://spvisualdev.codeplex.com/
SharePoint Manager 2007	The SharePoint Manager 2007 is a SharePoint object model explorer. It enables you to browse every site on the local farm and view every property. Download SharePoint Manager2007
SmartTools	The SmartTools for SharePoint project is a collection of SharePoint extensions to make your life as a SharePoint user, developer or administrator a little bit easier! http://www.codeplex.com/smarttools
SharePoint SUSHI	SharePoint SUSHI is a powerful, user-friendly utility enabling you to accomplish common administrative tasks. http://www.codeplex.com/sushi
SharePoint Portal Server Support Report Tool (SPSReport)	The SPS Reporting Tool is utilized to gather detailed information regarding a systems current configuration. The data collected will assist the Microsoft Support Professional with fault isolation. Download @ http://www.codeplex.com/spsreport
BDC Meta Man	http://www.lightningtools.com/bdc-meta-man/default.aspx
SharePoint 2007 Test Data Population Tool	The SharePoint 2007 Test Data Population Tool (WSSDW.exe) is a capacity planning and performance testing tool that populates data for testing SharePoint deployments. http://www.codeplex.com/sptdatapop
SharePoint Content Deployment Wizard	This tool (beta version) provides a wizard-like approach to deploying content between SharePoint sites. http://www.codeplex.com/SPDeploymentWizard
Reflector	You can find more details about here
Fiddler	Fiddler is a Web Debugging Proxy which logs all HTTP(S) traffic between your computer and the Internet. Fiddler allows you to inspect all HTTP(S) traffic, set breakpoints, and “fiddle” with incoming or outgoing data.
Firebug	Firebug integrates with Firefox. Using firebug you can edit, debug, and monitor CSS, HTML, and JavaScript live in any web page
Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar	The IE Developer Toolbar provides a variety of tools for quickly creating, understanding, and troubleshooting Web pages
DebugView for Windows	DebugView is an application that lets you monitor debug output on your local system, or any computer on the network that you can reach via TCP/IP. Download DebugView

Disclaimer: All information in this article is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights and on a “use at your own risk” basis.

Running Code with Elevated Privileges

Geek — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:07:18 +0000

During custom development in Sharepoint, sometimes your code must call restricted methods within the Windows SharePoint Services object model even though the request is initiated by a non privileged user. In such cases you must be able to elevate the privilege of your code as it executes on web server. Meaning, instead of your code running under the context of the current user, you’ll want to run it using an account with a higher level of access.

The RunWithElevatedPrivileges method is used to for this purpose.

VB.Net Example:

Sub GetSiteInfo()

Dim siteColl As SPSite = SPContext.Current.Site

Dim site As SPWeb = SPContext.Current.Web

Using ElevatedsiteColl As SPSite = New SPSite(siteColl.ID)

Using ElevatedSite As SPWeb = ElevatedsiteColl.OpenWeb(site.ID)

End Using

End Sub

After you write a method such as GetSiteInfo you can execute it with elevated privileges by invoking the RunWithElevatedPrivileges method and passing a delegate reference created with the Visual Basic AddressOf operator. (note the creation of new SPSite and SPWeb objects)

SPSecurity.RunWithElevatedPrivileges(AddressOf GetSiteInfo)

Note:

You cannot use the objects available through the Microsoft.SharePoint.SPContext.Current property, because those objects were created in the security context of the current user. You need to create an new instance of the SPSite class and the SPWeb class after you elevate the privileges of your code by calling RunWithElevatedPrivileges within the context of a Windows SharePoint Services request.

You can find more details at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb466220.aspx

How to log errors to SharePoint Log file

Geek — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 10:01:52 +0000

When you work with share point custom code development such as Web parts, Features, Event Handlers, and Workflows etc., you can use the Sharepoint built in logging mechanism to log the errors instead of creating custom logging mechanism.

In SharePoint, log files are located at C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\LOG

To log errors/messages/exceptions to the default SharePoint log file use the following lines of code.

Microsoft.Office.Server.Diagnostics.PortalLog.LogString(”Exception Occurred: {0} || {1}”, Exc.Message, Exc.StackTrace);

Example Code snippet:

Try

{

}

catch (Exception Exc)

{

Microsoft.Office.Server.Diagnostics.PortalLog.LogString(”Exception Occurred: {0} || {1}”, Exc.Message, Exc.StackTrace);

}

MOSS 2007 limitations list for acceptable performance

Geek — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:11:22 +0000

If you are planning for big Sharepoint (MOSS 2007) Implementations, consider these limitations and guidelines for the best Sharepoint (MOSS 2007) Implementation.

The following table lists the recommended guidelines for site objects.

Site object	Guidelines for acceptable performance	Scope of impact when performance degrades
Site collection	50,000 per content database	Farm
Site collection	150,000 per Web application	Farm
Web site	250,000 per site collection	Site collection
Subsite	2,000 per Web site	Site view
Document	5 million per library	Library
Item	2,000 per view	List view
Document file size	50MB (2GB max*)	Library, file save performance
List	2,000 per Web site	List view
Field type	256 per list	List view
Column	2,000 per document library 4,096 per list	Library and list view
Web Part	50 per page	Page
Managed path	20 per Web application	Web application

You can find more details at:
Plan for software boundaries (Office SharePoint Server)

SharePoint Screencasts and Visual Howto’s

Geek — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:04:20 +0000

A huge list of Visual Howto’s related to Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 is available @ http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/aa940989.aspx.Office Visual HowTo’s provide instruction, code examples, and short how-to videos

If you are new to Sharepoint 2007, take a look at the following screencasts series.

Performance Optimization for WCM Sites & Optimize Sharepoint Site for Search Engines

Geek — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:31:37 +0000

In internet facing scenario performance optimization is a key thing for the successful implementation of any website. Microsoft has provided good articles related to Performance Optimization for the WCM site in SharePoint & also on how to optimize SharePoint for search engines.
Here is the link:

How to Optimize a SharePoint Server 2007 Web Content Management Site for Performance

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727371.aspx
How to Optimize SharePoint Server 2007 Web Content Management Sites for Search Engines

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721591.aspx

Sharepoint Free-Ebooks

Geek — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:27:58 +0000

My thirst towards understanding sharepoint better and better is a never ending story, I came across a cool microsoft link which offers free e-books available for download in word format. Following is the list of available books .

Getting started

Getting started with Office SharePoint Server 2007 Download

Planning

Planning and architecture for Office SharePoint Server 2007, part 1 Download

Planning and architecture for Office SharePoint Server 2007, part 2 Download

Governance guide for Office SharePoint Server 2007 Download

Deliver accessible solutions (white paper) Download

Best practices for developing accessible Web sites (white paper) Download

Deployment

Deployment for Office SharePoint Server 2007 Download

Upgrading to Office SharePoint Server 2007 Download

Deploying Office SharePoint Server 2007 Service Pack 1 Download as .doc Download as .pdf