Intermediate

SPSI2101

SPSI2102

SPSI2103

SPSI5101

Advanced

SPSA4101

SPSA4102

SPSA4103

SPSA4702

SPSA4703

SPSA5102

SPSA5103

SPSA5104

SPSA5702

SPSA5703

Sharepoint Developer Get Ready Set

Introduction

This course will focus on how to alter the underpinnings and exploit Windows SharePoint Services and SharePoint Server 2007 for application developers. Be sure to check out the pre-requisites as we technically wade in pretty deep.

Join us for the best opportunity to gain hands-on experience and learn about SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services.

Description

What you will learn:

• First, we come to a common understanding of what SharePoint (both WSS and SPS) do out of the box, A to Z including security
• Throughout this process we debunk many myths and come to a consensus on terminology
• We proceed to discover how SharePoint accomplishes this feat and how we can alter it
• With an introduction to FrontPage, we begin to piece together an understanding of the technologies (IIS, SQL Server, etc.) and framework (Web Part Pages, Safe and Direct Mode Pages, etc.) that SharePoint relies upon
• With this new found understanding, we set out to create Web Parts, in "ten easy steps", that work within the confines of the SharePoint platform to deliver what we don't get out of the box and what we can't achieve thru Site Definition, Custom Templates, or third parties
• After an exhaustive study of Web Parts that includes Deployment, Debugging, adaptation of User Controls, creation of Custom Properties and Tool Parts, and even creating Connection interfaces, we delve into Document Library events.
• We finish out the Summit with help on how to style a SharePoint Site including CSS and DWTs followed by a final question and answer session covering specific items of interest to students.

Outline

Overview of SharePoint Products and Technologies 2007

This module covers the fundamental constructs of SharePoint Products and Technologies 2007. It is necessary to understand the out-of-the-box functionality of the SharePoint platform in order to have a common understanding and vocabulary regarding the objects we will be working with. Objects covered include: Site Collections, Top Site, Sub Sites, Site Templates, Web Parts, Areas, Area Templates (Contents, Topics, News, Sites, Directory, and Community), Workspaces (Document and various Meeting), Listings, Audiences, My Site (and other My stuff Web Parts), SPS Search, and more:

• Overview of WSS 2007
• Creating a Top-Level WSS Site
• Overview of SPS 2007
• Feature Differences between WSS/SPS

The Underlying SharePoint Framework

So, what if SharePoint doesn't provision sites the way that you would like it to? Modifying a few of the underlying XML files can have a dramatic impact. In this module we explore the underlying Site Definition XML files and Custom Templates. Once we understand what Microsoft is doing here, we create our own Site Definitions, Site Templates, and List Templates. Frequently, when you know how something works you can overcome difficulties that present themselves that you would otherwise be unable to even understand. At least you'll know your options. We also learn about how SharePoint works within IIS to respond to a page request, managed paths, the "60" hive, ghosted pages, the underlying database entities and the like:

• IIS Architecture
• SharePoint IIS Architecture
• SharePoint Templates/Definitions
• SharePoint Databases and Tables

Data View Web Parts

This module introduces the student to the raw power of the generic Data View Web Part. Data-driven Web sites in FrontPage 2007 are enabled by the Windows SharePoint Services Data Retrieval Service and support a complete set of WYSIWYG tools for creating and modifying XSLT Data Views. These Data Views include industry-standard reporting tools for sorting, grouping, filtering, and conditionally formatting data. You can use these tools to create high quality, dynamic Web pages for presenting live data:

• FrontPage vs. VS.NET
• Convert a LVWP to a DVWP
• The Data Source Catalog
• Displaying SharePoint Data
• Displaying Data in other SharePoint Sites
• Displaying Data in Any Other Data Store
• Manipulating the XSL
• Conditional Formatting

Building Web Parts - The Basics

You know how you want information presented but none of the techniques introduced thus far fit the bill. This module covers why, when, and how you construct your own Web Parts including a step by step approach that increases the likelihood you won't forget anything:

• Purpose of a VS.NET Web Part?
• Web Part Framework
• Create a VS.NET Web Part in "10 Easy Steps"
• Web Part Template for VS.NET

Building Web Parts - Deployment Options

Once a Web Part is constructed there are several tedious steps that must be taken to make it available to your users. Deploying DLLs to various destinations, versioning, DWP files, other dependent Web Part resources, strong naming and safe controls, web.config alterations, STSADM, etc. This module covers ways in which we can simplify that deployment and reduce the likelihood of human error:

• Create another Web Part
• Alter the Manifest.xml file

Building Web Parts - Debugging

Murphy said it best, "If anything can go wrong, it will." That said, we better investigate how we can try to see what exactly is going wrong with the Web Parts that we build:

• Setting Up Your System for debugging 
• Setting Breakpoints
• Attaching to the ASP.NET process
• Automatic vs. Manual Debugging
• Trace
• Other Tools

Building Web Parts - User Controls

What happened to my wonderful WYSIWYG development environment? Now I have no choice but to code every GUI element by hand? User Controls to the rescue. In this module, we cover how you can consume a User Controls from within a Web Part and the deployment implications associated with doing it.

• Server Controls vs. User Controls
• Create User Control
• Consume User Control as Web Part

Building Web Parts - Custom Properties

The Web Part Framework provides a powerful Task Pane for collecting user input. Our Web Parts can respond that properties collected there. In this module we explore all seven types of properties we can use:

• Default vs. Custom Properties
• Supported Datatypes
• Interactive Demonstration
• Declaration
• Public Accessor Attributes
• Public Accessors
• Serializable Public Property
• RenderWebPart

Building Web Parts - Custom Tool Parts

What if those seven are not sufficient? The Web Part Framework allows us to create our own section in the Task Pane for collecting unique user input. In this module we explore create a Web Part that implements its own Tool Part:

• Custom Tool Parts
• Interactive Demonstration
• Add ToolPart Class
• Override GetToolParts

Building Web Parts - Connections

One of the coolest features of Web Parts is the ability of Vendor agnostic Web parts to flexibly exchange basic types of structured information with each other. Like an RCA or SVideo jack, you can create interfaces that allow your Web Part to participate in that functionality. Be aware, this is our most advanced coding effort:

• Connection Concepts
• Connection Scenarios
• Connection Framework
• Connection Web Part

SharePoint Object Model

To accomplish many of the things that we will want to do in our Web Parts we will need to interact with data that has been captured using SharePoint. Microsoft has provided a rich API for SharePoint developers. We explore the object models that are available to us. And who hasn't heard that XML Web Services are the future? We explore SharePoint's own set of Web Services for developers to take advantage of:

• SPS Object Model
• WSS Object Model
• SPPT Web Services

Document Library Event Sink

Responding to the events that fire when users interact with a document library can produce some very compelling results. In this module we create an audit module for all of the possible Document Library events:

• Document Library Events
• Event scopes
• WSS Event Handler
• Event Handler Settings
• Impersonation

Supplemental Module A - Securing SharePoint Server 2007

Security in SPPT is not for the faint of heart. This module focuses on how to successfully secure SharePoint, including allowing anonymous access. From Farm security, to Virtual Server security, to Site Collection security, to Site security, to List security, to List Item security; we cover the gamut. Specifically, we discuss the following topics:

• IIS Application Pools
• SQL Server Authentication
• IIS Authentication
• Anonymous Access
• SharePoint Administration
• Permissions
• Other Security Features

Supplemental Module B - Working with List and Library Web Parts Using IE6

There are so many things that SharePoint can do directly from the browser. Developers need to understand what can be done with SharePoint out-of-the-box before any coding is done. This will get us closer to reuse utopia that ever before:

• Lists/Web Parts Provisioned
• The Galleries
• Web Parts You Can Provision
• Columns
• ListViews
• Connecting Web Parts

Supplemental Module C - Other Helpful Web Parts

Knowledge of non-standard Web Parts that are available will again keep us from doing work that has already been done. This module covers Web Parts written by Microsoft and third parties for specific purposes.

• Portal-Specific Web Parts
• OWA-Specific Web Parts
• Developer-Oriented Web Parts
• MSNBC Web Parts
• Siebel CRM Web Parts
• Installed with SharePoint
• Freely Downloadable Web Parts
• Third Party Web Parts

Supplemental Module D - Working with List and Library Web Parts Using FrontPage 2007

FrontPage 2007's combination of design and coding tools provide more control and greater flexibility over the layout of text, tables, navigation elements, graphics, and other design elements on a Web page. FrontPage 2007 also includes built-in, rich support for SharePoint. In this module, we rediscover ways to do the same things with SharePoint that we did in Internet Explorer before, we learn how to obfuscated administrative functionality and diminish the permissive nature of SharePoint, plus a whole lot more:

• Why FrontPage 2007 Instead of VS.NET
• Anatomy of a SharePoint Page
• Web Parts Provisioned for You
• Built-In Web Part Styles
• Connecting Web Parts

Supplemental Module E - Using SharePoint with Style

Let's face it; SharePoint sites typically LOOK like SharePoint sites. They don't have to. This site delves into the wonderful world of CSS and how we can use "style" to make our SharePoint sites sing a little bit:

• DWTs
• Themes
• SharePoint's Use of CSS
• Using the CSS style finder tool
• Other FrontPage Features

Note: Suplemental Material Depending on Class' Needs