Friday, March 25, 2005

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Excellent resource page on the summary of Caching

Excellent resource page on the summary of Caching


One of the tools that I use extensively in troubleshooting is HttpWatch. I highly reccomend this tool if you need to see what is going on with the browser. I like Fiddler as well, however, with HttpWatch, I do not have to do anything special in set up, click the button and start capturing the information I need. Yes, Fiddler is Free, but sometimes a little change goes a long way.

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

AppSettings In web.config

AppSettings In web.config



This article will cover a couple of tips for flexibly using the appSettings element of web.config to store runtime configuration information.

Blog Thoughts from Braintrust 2005.

Blog Thoughts from Braintrust 2005.

[RandomElements] SharePoint: Writing Custom Web Services.

SharePoint: Writing Custom Web Services.



The Writing Custom Web Services Sample download provides a sample Web service for remote document access. This sample is used in conjunction with the article "Writing Custom Web Services for SharePoint Products and Technologies."

 

Get it here.

[Daily SharePoint Reports from across the globe] Documenting SharePoint Solutions with Whitehorse

Documenting SharePoint Solutions with Whitehorse



I'm currently trying to document (via reverse engineering and a some manual efforts) a .NET application built on top of SharePoint using Whitehorse. Whitehorse is the codename for the Visual Studio 2005 SOA tools (or maybe it's the codename for all of the new graphical designers in VS2005 I can never get that straight). Anyways, we have a SharePoint solution that is made up of a gaggle of Web Parts, a domain and various service and utility classes. Rather than using the normal UML markup for documenting our architecture (which I've already started) I wanted to give VS2005 a run for it's money and see how easy (or hard) it's going to be to move toward this. UML is nice and works but being a Microsoft shop, we're moving towards the DSL approach where the model is the system and away from the UML documentation model where it's just a pretty picture but not reality. My end goal here is that if I document the current (ASP 1.1/SharePoint) system now and it (somewhat) reflects reality then moving to a 2.0 based system where the model is <strong>real</strong> and not just a disconnected set of bits, I get a model of a system that works to show what the migration path will be like. It would make it easier if I took a regular ASP.NET app to do this, but I figured let's really challenge the system (even though VS2005 won't be out til later this year and SharePoint won't support .NET 2.0 until at least 2006).

Anyways, using drag and drop it's easy to lay out a system with the new tools. You drag an ExternalDatabase onto the model and specify the connection, etc. This is all great as you can use the items from the toolbox. Only problem is that there's nothing I can use to represent a SharePoint site or system because it's a bit of a hybrid. It's UI <strong>and</strong> a data access component. There's a nice little wiget to drag a BizTalkWebService on the system (or just a regular ExternalWebService) but we're talking to SharePoint through the object model. What the heck do I use to represent this? A WebApplication? An ExternalDatabase? A GenericEndpoint? Anyone tried this or have some thoughts on modeling a solution where you're using various parts of Microsoft systems as essentially middleware?

SharePoint Webcasts and Samples - copied from mindsharpblogs.com/todd

Webcasts and Samples






2005 SharePoint Webcasts:
  • Integrating Enterprise Applications into SharePoint Portals (Level 300)
  • Programming SharePoint Site Lists and Document Libraries (Level 300)
  • Customizing and Branding SharePoint (Level 300)
  • Creating and Customizing SharePoint List, Library, and View Definitions (Level 300)
  • Tips and Tricks for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services (Level 200)
  • Coding and Using Web Part Connections for SharePoint Sites (Level 300)
  • Integrating BizTalk Server 2004 with SharePoint
  • Best Practices for Developing and Deploying Web Parts for SharePoint Sites (Level 300)
  • Tips and Tricks Integrating Microsoft Office 2003 and SharePoint (Level 100)
  • Enabling SharePoint Applications on the Internet with ISA Server 2004 (Level 200)
  • Advanced SharePoint Workflow Using Custom Document and Form Libraries (Part 1 of 2) (Level 100)
  • Advanced SharePoint Workflow Using Custom Document and Form Libraries (Part 2 of 2) (Level 300)
  • How Microsoft IT Plans and Optimizes an Enterprise SharePoint Infrastructure (Level 200)
  • Connecting SharePoint Portal Server 2003 With SAP

  • Late 2004 SharePoint Webcasts:
  • Powering Productivity with SharePoint (Level 200)
  • Tips and Tricks to Integrate Microsoft Office 2003 SharePoint (Level 100) duplicate?
  • Deploying Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2003 shared services (Level 200)
  • Customizing Windows SharePoint Services (Level 100)
  • Easy Access and Analysis of SAP Information with SPPT (Level 200)
  • Creating Custom Rendering Templates with the MCMS Connector for SPPT (Level 300)
  • Integrating Project 2003 with Windows SharePoint Services (Level 300)
  • Creating Custom Web Part Views for the MCMS Connector for SPPT (Level 300)
  • SharePoint Portal Server 2003: Deploying Shared Services (Level 300)
  • Migrating eRooms, Windows File Services and Exchange Public Folders to SharePoint (Level 300)
  • SharePoint Portal Server 2003: Deploying as an Extranet (Level 300)
  • Case Study: Office InfoPath 2003 and Windows SharePoint Services (Level 100)
  • Digital Asset Management for SPPT (Level 200)
  • Project 2003 Integration with Windows SharePoint Services (Level 300)
  • Customizing Windows SharePoint Services (Level 100)
  • SharePoint Implementations in the Real World (Level 200)
  • SharePoint Portal Server Infrastructure Implementation Best Practice (Level 300)

    Find more Webcasts here.

    SharePoint Samples on GotDotNet:
  • GotDotNet User Samples

  • Tuesday, March 22, 2005

    TurboScout Search Engine - Enter Keyword Once! for search

    TurboScout Search Engine



    TurboScout

    TurboScout Search Engine - Access Search Engines Without Retyping - A 21 year-old undergraduate from Singapore launched TurboScout.com, a new search tool that helps Internet users to access and compare original results from over 90 search engines across 7 categories on a single web page, removing the hassle of retyping keywords into different search engines. Comparing results from different search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN Search, and Ask Jeeves is a common practice for many…

    Direct and Related Links for 'TurboScout Search Engine'



    Now, where is the search engine that reads my mind and only returns what I want from ALL the search engines and eliminates the duplicates, and eliminates the duplicates!

    Monday, March 21, 2005

    SharePoint Site Definitions - Maping files to pages on a SharePoint site

    Thank you to Heather for putting together a great reference on how each file is mapped within a SharePoint site at SharePoint Site Definitions - Maping files to pages on a SharePoint site

    I have to remember to go back to this site

    Internet Explorer ToolTask "ToolTask is an Internet Explorer toolbar written in C# to remind you to view important web pages as and when you need them.By utilizing the Microsoft Outlook functionality ToolTask can be easily integrated into almost any Windows PC that has Microsoft Outlook 2000 or later installed (NOT Outlook Express)." Found on Scoble's Link Blog Thanks!

    Saturday, March 19, 2005

    Thursday, March 17, 2005

    DIVERSION - Google oh picture montage matic

    I highly reccomend searching for RUMEN

    Another RSS convert - kind of explains what I have been trying to explain about this blog stuff

    Another RSS convert



    Michael La Porte is an attoney from Chicago.  He's just 'got' RSS....

    "For now, I'm a convert."

    One by one...

    Chat functionality in SharePoint? LCS WebParts

    Chat functionality in SharePoint



    Last week I appealed for your help regarding a possible chat functionality inside SharePoint. Eric Schoonover replied that the next version of Windows Messenger (Office Communicator) is supposed to be packaged with SPS web parts that offer all of the functionality we are looking for. Great to hear Eric and tx for the tip. When seeing Mark's post regarding the beta program for Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 which is open for nomination, I of course immediately subscribed. I will keep you informed about this when I start getting the bits.

    Office Communicator 2005 links from Graham Tyler Blog

    Office Communicator 2005 - next generation of communications!



    You may have seen Bill Gates announce the new Office Communicator 2005 product recently (if not, you can watch a recording). This is the future of comms - and you could try it now by signing up for the beta programme! (instructions here)

    Mayur has written a great overview of the new software here. I'm sure there will be plenty of reasons for further posts about Communicator over the next few months - watch this space!

    Here's the blurb from the product site:

    Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 is an enterprise messenger that integrates communications capabilities (including instant messaging, rich presence, PC-based voice and video, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and enterprise telephony) with productivity and other communications applications.

    Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 will be the recommended client for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005, which provides a standards-based, enterprise-grade, instant messaging (IM) solution and an extensible, real-time collaboration platform to connect people, information, and business processes seamlessly in real time.

    Office Communicator 2005 - next generation of communications!



    You may have seen Bill Gates announce the new Office Communicator 2005 product recently (if not, you can watch a recording). This is the future of comms - and you could try it now by signing up for the beta programme! (instructions here)

    Mayur has written a great overview of the new software here. I'm sure there will be plenty of reasons for further posts about Communicator over the next few months - watch this space!

    Here's the blurb from the product site:

    Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 is an enterprise messenger that integrates communications capabilities (including instant messaging, rich presence, PC-based voice and video, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and enterprise telephony) with productivity and other communications applications.

    Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 will be the recommended client for Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005, which provides a standards-based, enterprise-grade, instant messaging (IM) solution and an extensible, real-time collaboration platform to connect people, information, and business processes seamlessly in real time.

    SharePoint Links and References from Matthew Cosier's Blog

    SharePoint Links and References from Matthew Cosier's Blog

    Collaboration Data Objects - Links and References

    Collaboration Data Objects - Links and References as I begin another journey to make my job easier. I want to find a way to have users manage a request for addition or deletion to a distribution list that I own on Exchange. If I can cut down 3 clicks out of the 5 it now takes, wow productivity that I can share.

    Eileen Brown's WebLog - Office Communicator 2005

    Eileen Brown's WebLog - Office Communicator 2005 has a summary of information and links regarding the Office Communicator 2005. I am very excited of the possibilities that this allows with SharePoint technologies and other Office products. I am looking forward to the roll out of this to replace the unsupported NetMeeting.

    Wednesday, March 16, 2005

    Link to VS.Net add-in TestDriven.Net

    TestDriven.Net

    TestDriven.NET makes it easy to run unit tests with a single click, anywhere in your Visual Studio solutions. It supports all versions of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET meaning you don't have to worry about compatibility issues and fully integrates with all major unit testing frameworks including
    NUnit,
    MbUnit, &
    MS Team System.

    LINK - "Because software development is still hard; .NET just means it's a little less typing."

    I loved the quote on their entry site, had to share the link "Because software development is still hard;
    .NET just means it's a little less typing."

    Implementing Sharepoint info in Outlook Today per Trond's Blog

    Sharepoint info in Outlook Today



    I got this from an ex-colleague of mine who now works with a Norwegian Oil Company. They have developed a new Outlook Today page, that in addition to the regular Outlook stuff shows the users what sites he/she has access to, sharepoint tasks, etc. Pretty cool!

    Another backup to look at, BEWARE

    new free sharepoint tool





    Stramit just finished a new SharePoint tool : Granular Backup Manager



    from his blog:



    >>> This App is the steroid version of GuiSmigrate ;)

    You can manage all the tree structure of a WSS site : each site and sub site can have his own backup and his batch file.



    very nice tool, saves myself some scripting ;-) .

    beware! It can only be used on a pure WSS server (no SPS installed)



    Windows SharePoint Services: IntelliSense XML File

    Windows SharePoint Services: IntelliSense XML File



    This download includes an update of the XML file used to produce IntelliSense® information for the Microsoft® Windows® SharePoint® Services managed object model within the Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET IDE.



    Get it Here


    Now to find the Intellisense XML File for my kids, wife and the Starbucks order schematic

    Group Policy to set policies that manage how Outlook and Windows SharePoint Services Interact

    Thank you Bart for a great set of instructions that I will need to look more into.

    You can use Group Policy to set policies that manage how Outlook and Windows SharePoint Services int...



    You can use Group Policy to set policies that manage how Outlook and Windows SharePoint Services interact for users in your organization. You can set a policy to specify the time interval between information synchronizations or you can disallow linking altogether.



    You can change the synchronization interval to make it longer, if, for example, users are linked from Outlook to a large group of Contacts which would trigger a time-consuming synchronization; or shorter, if users need access to updated information at all times. You can even turn off automatic synchronization. However, regardless of how the synchronization interval setting is configured, linked folders are automatically synchronized when users switch to one of these folders.



    To set the synchronization interval for updating Outlook folders



    In Group Policy, load the Outlook 2003 template (Outlk11.adm).

    Under User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office Outlook 2003\SharePoint Integration, double-click Sharepoint folder sync interval.

    Select Enabled to enable configuring the policy.

    In the Select interval to sync Sharepoint folders: (minutes) box, enter a decimal value (or use the up and down arrows to select a value), then click OK.

    Another option is to use a policy to disallow any linking between Outlook and Windows SharePoint Services for your users.



    To disable linking between Outlook and Windows SharePoint Services



    In the Group Policy snap-in, load the Outlook 2003 template (Outlk11.adm).

    Under User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office Outlook 2003\SharePoint Integration, double-click Disable Sharepoint integration in Outlook.

    Select Enabled to enable configuring the policy.

    Select Check to disable Sharepoint integration in Outlook, then click OK.

    Stretch SPS Mucking around with SharePoint Site Definitions (Thank you Chris Chapman)

    Mucking around with SharePoint Site Definitions



    When I was interviewed for my role here at imason, I was warned: “There is no comfort-zone here -- we expect you to always be reaching beyond your grasp.”  Over a year later, this has been borne out time and again.


    So it is with my current project where we are trying to bend SharePoint to our will in some weird and wonderful ways that we tried to achieve in other ways but have now resigned ourselves to creating a custom SharePoint site definition to accomplish.  Once this solution gets fleshed out a little more, I may post some details -- for now, if you're new to SharePoint this is a worthwhile area to explore as it deals with the mechanics of how the page rendering engine works.


    Here are some links I've found that begin to unravel the Caramilk secret of site definitions:


    MSDN:  Introduction to Templates and Definitions
    MSDN:  Creating s Site Definition from an Existing Site Definition
    MSDN:  Introduction to Collaborative Application Markup Language (CAML)
    .NET Developer's Journal:  Creating Custom Site Defintions in WSS (Kris Syverstad)
    Kris Syverstad:  Site Defintions and FrontPage:  Is there a right answer?


    For my next trick - SRS using WSS/SPS list data

    Ian Morris' Blogcast on using Access with WSS list data was very inspiring. I now want to see if I can use SQL Reporting Services to do something similar. I will be attempting this over the next few days on the down time.

    SCRIPT - Don Jones Scripting Resources on Microsoft.com

    http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/donjonesscripting.mspx

    I am posting the link so I can share with some other peeps that might make their job easier!

    March Madness! Patterns and Practices Webcasts

    http://www.microsoft.com/resources/practices/default.mspx

    patterns & practices Live
    patterns & practices Live is a series of webcasts that focus on patterns & practices guidance. Come learn about the content straight from the team that built it. patterns & practices Live webcasts are free, and are part of the comprehensive list of interactive webcasts from Microsoft.3/3/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Overview3/4/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Configuration Application Block3/8/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Data Access Application Block3/10/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Caching Application Block3/14/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Logging & Instrumentation Application Block3/17/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Exception Handling Application Block3/22/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Cryptography Applciation Block3/24/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Security Application Block3/28/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library - Building your own application block3/31/2005 - patterns & practices Live: Enterprise Library Applied

    A Few good things to read and watch, posted originally at bryantlikes

    Things to Read and Watch



    Enterprise Library webcasts.




    So this is a reminder for myself so that I can find all these later on...


    Update: There are also hands-on labs for that go with the Enterprise Library webcasts here [via Scott Densmore]. After watching the Logging Application Block webcast I decided to add it into an existing application so that some of the other developers could get emails when the processed failed. It took me about five minutes to add it. Watching the webcast made the job easy for me.

    Tuesday, March 15, 2005

    Ian Morrish - BLOGCAST - Using Access to report on users who have not completed a SharePoint survey

    Ian Morrish just posted a brief Blogcast on using Access to display, query Windows SharePoint Service data. This is an excellent demonstration and has provided me fodder to share with some of the Access junkies that have been "afraid" of SharePoint technologies. In addition, I can demonstrate more of the business power behind WSS/SPS and protect the SQL Server backend (I have been burnt before by Access in a production environment).

    Thank you Ian!

    http://www.blogcastrepository.com/Office/Contrib/Imorrish/AccessIM.htm


    Using Access to report on users who have not completed a SharePoint survey * Get Windows Media Player 9 or above to view this page.by Ian Morrish - 3/15/2005 - Elapsed Time: 2:18 Audio= YesI recently had a customer ask how they could send follow up emails to people who had not completed a server that they were invited to through the WSS add user wizard. Although this is not an out-of-the box solution in WSS it is a solution made possible by the Office 2003 System. By Using Access 2003s ability to link to SharePoint lists via XML Web Services, you can run a query to find unmatched records between the site members and people who have responded to the survey. This would work for any list where you expect users to create a list item. E.g. asset register, annual leave calendar etc.

    Diversion - Did you see that sign? you know, the one everywhere?

    http://www.funnysign.com/default.htm

    From the Boiler Room - CorasWorks: Understanding the Configuration Database vs the Content Database in a WSS or SPS Environment

    CorasWorks: Understanding the Configuration Database vs the Content Database in a WSS or SPS Environment



    Courtesy of CorasWorks:


    Understanding the Configuration Database vs. the Content Database in a Windows SharePoint Services or SPS Environment

    With the move to Windows Sharepoint Services and Sharepoint Portal Server 2003 all data has moved into the SQL server instead of the file system and database. This has made maintenance simpler but the new configuration requires some understanding.

    There are 2 logical types of data storage in Windows SharePoint Services & SPS. One is the Configuration database and the other is the Content Database. For those of you with some knowledge of IIS & SharePoint terminology, this comparative review will provide a clearer understanding of how these databases should function in the SharePoint environment.

    The Configuration Database

    Typically, Windows SharePoint Services & SharePoint Portal Server do not access the configuration database for every user request, but reserve the configuration database for comparatively infrequent administrative tasks such as, extending virtual servers, adding physical servers, and adding web parts.

    There should only be one Configuration Database per Windows SharePoint Services environment installation shared by all Virtual Servers. It should store all the global configuration information for your Sharepoint or Windows SharePoint Services implementation and maintain the current set of metadata describing all resources available in the server farm. This allows the configuration database to define the boundaries of a server farm, including all of the metadata necessary to reconstruct a server farm. This includes information such as physical server identification (web server and database servers), globally installed Site templates and content database and installed web part information. (For the database table structure see below.)

    The configuration database for Sharepoint Portal Server is a Windows SharePoint Services configuration database configured with SharePoint Portal Server-specific extensions.

    Name and Descriptions

    AntiVirusVendors- Antivirus software vendors

    CustomTemplates- Templates that appear in the global templates list (template picker)

    Databases-Content databases and associated settings

    Globals-Settings that apply to all sites on the physical server within a Windows SharePoint Services topology

    InstalledWebPartPackages-Web Part Packages that are available to the virtual server

    Servers-Physical computers in the Windows SharePoint Services topology

    Services-Services such as database, Web, and mail services that are included in the Windows SharePoint Services topology

    Sites-Sites in the Windows SharePoint Services topology

    VirtualServers-Virtual servers and their associated settings

    WebPartPackages-Web Part Packages that are installed in a topology

    The configuration database for Sharepoint Portal Server is a Windows SharePoint Services configuration database configured with SharePoint Portal Server-specific extensions. Since there is only one configuration database and it is not used in every query its location relative to the servers returning the content is less critical than that of the content database.

    The Sharepoint Services Administrative Virtual server Application Pool is the one reading from and writing to the configuration database.

    Backup Strategy

    Changes occur when web parts / virtual servers / templates / databases are added at a global level. Daily back-up is generally sufficient.

    The Content Database

    All web part page configuration information, list item data, documents in document and Picture libraries for any given virtual server are contained in the content database.

    Close physical proximity to the web servers providing the content for the virtual server is required since this database is used for EVERY page returned to the user.

    The application pools assigned to the virtual servers use this database. See below for the database table information.

    Name and Descriptions

    Categories-Associations among documents and their assigned areas

    ComMd-Document discussions

    Deps-Document dependencies

    DiskWarningDate-Date and time of last warning about disk quota

    Docs-Documents and document folders

    DocVersions-Version history of documents from document libraries

    EventCache-Cache for alerts

    EventLog-Log for alerts

    HT_Cache-Cache of documents transformed for viewing in a Web browser

    HT_Settings-Settings for HTML viewing

    ImmedSubscriptions-Alerts that are set to be sent as soon as the changes occur

    Links-Links to be recalculated during a site recalculation

    Lists-Lists in the site

    NavNodes-Nodes that are displayed in the navigation bars

    Personalization-Personalization done to Web Parts

    SchedSubscriptions-Alerts that are set to be sent on a daily or weekly basis

    SiteGroupMembership-Members of cross-site groups

    SiteGroups-Cross-site groups

    Sites-Sites in the content database

    TimerLock-Locking scheme that determines which server locks which database

    UserData-List data

    UserInfo-Info about each user added to the site

    WebCat-Links between Web sites and areas

    WebGroupMembership-List of members of the site groups

    WebGroups-Site groups (such as Administrator, Web Designer) for the site

    WebMembers-Members of a site

    WebParts-Web Parts available for the sites. A view is a Web Part

    Webs-Subsites associated with a site

    WelcomeNames-Default documents for the site

    Every Virtual server has at least one physical content database. Every single page requires access to the database. There is one logical content database per virtual server but this could actually be multiple physical databases.

    For example, if you wanted to restrict the file size of the database due to back-up concerns or disk space restrictions you can create a second database to assign to a virtual server. This could be on the same physical server as the first content database or another completely different physical server.

    Then you would take the first database off-line (meaning that no new sites could be created there but current sites could be accessed) and leave the second to hold new sites.

    Backup strategy

    Since this database contains every single page & list item it is advisable to back up more frequently than the configuration database. This could be achieved using SQL backup set to run more frequently or there are other options out there in the market. For example Per list item backup solutions available, this allows a single list item to be restored. This presents a great advantage in mission critical list and site usage.

    Avepoint-http://www.avepoint.com/website/feature_docave_2.5.html is one example.

    Note from the field - Implications of Database storage for External Cache effectiveness.

    In our experience there is little benefit to external caching in front of a Windows SharePoint Services or SPS infrastructure due to the fact that the last modified date on web pages is always the time the page was requested – making caching almost useless. This is because the page is composed on the fly from the database contents.

    Only those files served from the _layouts folder (ows.css & shared graphics files for example) can be cached since they have a reliable modified date. In fact we only saw around 1% of content being delivered from the cache on our ISA server rather than the almost 99% being directly delivered from the Windows SharePoint Services & SPS server infrastructure.

    Oldy But Goody - The SharePoint Portal Server Object Model

    http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sppt/reskit/c3461881x.mspx

    All about the Object Model!

    VIA Larkware - Book Review: Microsoft Log Parser Toolkit

    http://www.larkware.com/BookReviews/LogParser.html

    Are you sleeping? If so, how you reading this?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/

    Sheep banging, HA you perv, shooting the sheep

    WHILE YOU'RE WATCHING 24



    You'll have plenty of time for shooting the sheep.



    (Thanks to cydstep) via Dave Barry's log

    No, I will not be writing any Ransom Notes! But a cool linkl

    Turn any string into ransom-note type based on found images



    Cory Doctorow:


    Wil Wheaton sez, "When I was a kid, I loved cutting up magazines and newspapers to make fake ransom notes. Via Waxy, I just discovered The Web of Letters. You can enter any text you like, and using the Yahoo API and its image search capabilities the text will be recreated using random image search results. It's very cool."

    Link

    (Thanks, Wil!)



    Update: Andreas points us to a Flickr version

    Tools You Might Have Missed

    http://blog.outer-court.com/archive/2005-01-29-n34.html

    Monday, March 14, 2005

    Picking Da Colors - not out of a hat

    Great Color Picker



    [Found via Andy Britcliffe, Thanks!]

    Check out this great (and simple) color picker, which helps you find associated, related colors to complement the base color.

    S A Nicholls - "The CSS Playground"

    A colleague sent along an intriguing link to http://www.stunicholls.myby.co.uk/index.html for some things that are done only with CSS. Very impressive.

    Thursday, March 10, 2005

    Posted from FeedDemon using w.bloggar

    Now using w.blogger



    I was digging around and even about to code my own poster so I could post from FeedDemon. In researching XML-RPC, I came across a link to http://wbloggar.com/. If this makes it to my blog, and I can make it work from FeedDemon, donation on the way!


    I LIKE IT!

    Now using w.blogger

    I was digging around and even about to code my own poster so I could post from FeedDemon. In researching XML-RPC, I came across a link to http://wbloggar.com/. If this makes it to my blog, and I can make it work from FeedDemon, donation on the way!

    Tuesday, March 08, 2005

    Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 Overview

    Microsoft Office Communicator 2005 Overview Just published, "Istanbul" presence.... more to come.

    Monday, March 07, 2005

    Poynter Online - RSS for Journalists

    A great, quick read on RSS and "cravings"
    Poynter Online - RSS for Journalists

    Blogs and RSS Search Engines || Fagan Finder

    I came across this site while looking for a better way to search the BlogoSphere. I will be posting more of these as I am trying to spread the blogitis to other techies that I work with.
    Blogs and RSS Search Engines || Fagan Finder was linked from Bots, Blogs and News Aggregators Presentation Sources and White Paper by Internet expert, author, keynote speaker and consultant Marcus P. Zillman, M.S., A.M.H.A.

    Friday, March 04, 2005

    bartdart.com -- freeware for you

    bartdart.com -- freeware for you Looking at the Context Menu Editor. Have you used or had any luck?

    StrokeIt - Mouse Gestures for Windows

    StrokeIt - Mouse Gestures for Windows The name is hopefully mis-leading. I am investigating to see if this tool will allow some customization of right mouse context.

    IETools

    IETools I am investigating some IE add ons to extend the context menu and came across this tool. Please comment if you have used or have any input.

    Office Developer Center: Customizing List Item Forms in Windows SharePoint Services

    Office Developer Center: Customizing List Item Forms in Windows SharePoint Services Looks like a great resource.

    Thursday, March 03, 2005

    Reporting Services WebParts - Part I

    Reporting Services WebParts - Part I

    Useful little tool: XML Importer

    Useful little tool: XML Importer

    Using GET on the Search Page

    Using GET on the Search Page

    People Finder Web Part

    People Finder Web Part Another one to bug my teammates about.

    Jelle Druyts - Projects|InfoPathHelper

    Jelle Druyts - Projects|InfoPathHelper

    greg hughes - dot - net - Understanding InfoPath: Webcast Replays Available

    greg hughes - dot - net - Understanding InfoPath: Webcast Replays Available

    Kingdomality - The Black Knight

    Kingdomality - The Black Knight

    Daily Dribblings of a Demented Developer: Peer Code Reviews

    Daily Dribblings of a Demented Developer: Peer Code Reviews

    Recover CHK Files

    Recover CHK Files

    CHK-Mate :: CHK file analysis and recovery

    CHK-Mate :: CHK file analysis and recovery To see if it helps my sister out.

    Lloyd Borrett - Computing - Play the Petals Around the Rose game (JavaScript)

    Lloyd Borrett - Computing - Play the Petals Around the Rose game (JavaScript) This is a GREAT diversion. Share, but don't reveal your secret.

    Blogthings - Cool Stuff To Put In Your Blog

    Blogthings - Cool Stuff To Put In Your Blog

    Blogthings - What number are you?

    Blogthings - What number are you?

    Petals Around the Rose

    Petals Around the Rose Diversion

    Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free online reference, research & homework help.

    Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free online reference, research & homework help.

    Capture Desktop Activities As a Movie

    Capture Desktop Activities As a Movie Going to try this to demo RSS and business processes, that or Camtesia.

    Research Resources Subject Tracer� Information Blog

    Research Resources Subject Tracer� Information Blog Looks like an excellent find on finding objects on the web.

    Wednesday, March 02, 2005

    Tuesday, March 01, 2005

    How To Find various file types With Google

    How To Find various types of files With Google

    worldKit :: easy web mapping :: Home

    worldKit :: easy web mapping :: Home

    Blogger API

    Blogger API

    Office Developer Center: Getting Started with Information Bridge

    Office Developer Center: Getting Started with Information Bridge

    Log Parser Repository

    Log Parser Repository

    Larkware Site Index

    Larkware Site Index

    BlogJet

    BlogJet

    Get IP Addresses of all machines in your network

    Get IP Addresses of all machines in your network

    Tips, Tricks, and Technology for the Field

    Tips, Tricks, and Technology for the Field

    The SnoMold

    The SnoMold Wow, I grew up in Florida, but learning in Michigan and Maryland about the white stuff!

    Belief-O-Matic -- A personality quiz about your religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs - a quiz answering What Religion Am I -- Beliefnet.com

    Belief-O-Matic -- A personality quiz about your religious beliefs and spiritual beliefs - a quiz answering What Religion Am I -- Beliefnet.com Hey, it's a quiz!

    Microsoft TechNet column: Tales from the Script - January 2005: All You Need is Log (Well, Log Parser)

    Microsoft TechNet column: Tales from the Script - January 2005: All You Need is Log (Well, Log Parser)

    TOOLS I USE - HttpWatch - HTTP Viewer for IE

    HttpWatch - HTTP Viewer for IE

    This is a VERY HANDY plug in that saves me lots of time in debugging issues between the browser and the server. I Highly reccomend this to any support engineer, web developer, geek etc!

    Molecular Expressions: The Galleria

    Molecular Expressions: The Galleria Even better, they are out there!

    Molecular Expressions: Images from the Microscope

    Molecular Expressions: Images from the Microscope Thank you to a fellow geek! You know who you are, now don't you.

    LogParser Rocks - What are users searching for in SharePoint Search

    I have been very pleased with LogParser for analyzing various log files. I have been wondering how can I determine what are the search strings that users are looking for on our intranet. Well, I can now wonder about other things, no problem there!

    1. Download and install LogParser 2.2 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=890cd06b-abf8-4c25-91b2-f8d975cf8c07&displaylang=en) Works best if you have the LogParser.exe on the same machine that the IIS Logfiles are on.

    2. I create a cmd file that calls the Logparser.exe and passes a sql file (check the documentation for other methods). "C:\Program Files\IIS Resources\Log Parser\LogParser" -o:csv file:search.sql

    3. The Search.sql file contains the following text.

    SELECT DISTINCT EXTRACT_VALUE(cs-uri-query, 'k') AS SearchString, COUNT(*) AS HowMany
    FROM *.log
    TO search.csv
    WHERE cs-uri-stem = '/search.aspx'
    AND cs-uri-query NOT LIKE '%[Microsoft+Office+SharePoint+Portal+Server+2003+LOG]%'
    AND SearchString IS NOT NULL
    GROUP BY SearchString
    ORDER BY HowMany DESC

    Alternative SQL (Cleans up mixed case search strings - Adds Scope)

    SELECT DISTINCT TO_UPPERCASE(EXTRACT_VALUE(cs-uri-query, 'k')) AS SearchString, EXTRACT_VALUE(cs-uri-query, 's') AS Scope, COUNT(*) AS HowMany
    FROM *.log
    TO search.csv
    WHERE cs-uri-stem = '/search.aspx'AND cs-uri-query NOT LIKE '%[Microsoft+Office+SharePoint+Portal+Server+2003+LOG]%' AND SearchString IS NOT NULL
    GROUP BY SearchString, Scope
    ORDER BY HowMany DESC

    4. Run the CMD file and Voila! Very fast (example statistics from my Feb 05 logs)

    Statistics:
    -----------
    Elements processed: 22480133
    Elements output: 16441
    Execution time: 110.55 seconds (00:01:50.55)


    Oui Oui Parsie!

    Downloads - Tools and Applications

    Downloads - Tools and Applications Worth a look?