Becky's Blog

As per a normal day for me I have found yet another creepy crawling Sharepoint Bug just for Halloween.  If you create a top level site and do not give the users contribute access, then the spell checker will not work on any subsites.  For example, our main portal had all the users as read access, but some of them in the IT Department could not use the spell checker as contributers on the IT Subsite.  The only way to really get around this issue is give the people contribute access, but change the list permissions based on what you want people to have the ability to do.

I am going to speak about Disaster Recovery using stsadm at the KC Office Developer User Group.  Here is a link to Jeff Julian Blog with the information: http://geekswithblogs.net/jjulian/archive/2007/10/29/116428.aspx.  Ideally I am finishing up my slides tonight, so that I can send them off to Jeff for proofing.  I had some type of bug all weekend long and when I finally got to working on my slides I realized my external hard drive was FAT 32 and spent most of Sunday moving stuff off it and reformatting.  If there is interest I can try and post the slides later on this week after the presentation on Thursday. 

I just joined feed burner and created this blog link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BeckyBlog if anyone wants to subscribe.

 I will note that I did not originally write these two scripts, however I did modify them a bit for Sharepoint 2007 and combined the two.  Here is the code for a backup that will time stamp folders and will delete folders with backup files older than 5 days:
'''''''''''''
'Begin Script
'''''''''''''
Dim fso, f, fspec
dim yr, mo, dt, hr, min, sec

yr = Year(Now)

mo = Month(Now)
if mo < 10 Then
mo = "0" & mo
end if

dt = Day(Now)
if dt < 10 Then
dt = "0" & dt
end if

hr = Hour(Now)
if hr < 10 Then
hr = "0" & hr
end if

min = Minute(Now)
if min < 10 Then
min = "0" & min
end if

sec = Second(Now)
if sec < 10 Then
sec = "0" & sec
end if

destFolder = "MOSS-" & yr & "-" & mo & "-" & dt & "-" & hr & "-" & min & "-" & sec
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set f = fso.CreateFolder("Your Directory" & yr & "-" & mo & "-" & dt & "-" & hr & "-" & min & "-" & sec)

bkFolder = f.Path

'''''''''''''''''''''''''
'Run the spsbackup script
'''''''''''''''''''''''''
Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

objShell.Exec("stsadm.exe -o backup -backupmethod full -url yourssp -filename " & bkFolder & "sitecollectionssp.dat")
objShell.Exec ("stsadm.exe -o backup -backupmethod full -url yoursite -filename " & bkFolder & "sitecollection.dat")

'Deletes folders from Sharepoint Backups after 3 days…

Dim ScriptStart
Dim SharepointDirectoryPath
Dim SharepointFolder
Dim SharepointSubFolders
Dim iDaysOld

iDaysOld = 5

Set ScriptStart = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
SharepointDirectoryPath = "yourdirectoryyouwanttodeletefrom"
set SharepointFolder = ScriptStart.GetFolder(SharepointDirectoryPath)
set SharepointSubFolders = SharepointFolder.subfolders

For each SharepointFolder in SharepointSubFolders
    if SharepointFolder.DateLastModified < (Date() – (iDaysOld-1)) Then
        SharepointFolder.Delete(True)
    End If

Next

Set ScriptStart = Nothing
Set SharepointFolder = Nothing
Set SharepointSubFolders = Nothing

I hope that this saves some people time and money.  I couldn't believe that there was no combination of the two.  What I may work on next is some type of archival, rather than deleting the files after 5 days.
My boss actually threw a curve ball to some of the AvePoint people this week.  From what I understand he asked them why would you use there program when you could just use Windows Scheduler and a Batch or Script File?  I have to ask you guys why would you pay that kind of money when you have the tools and the resources sitting in front of you?

I love the option "Open in Explorer View", however something weird happens on occasion.  A user may click this option and it will not open the folder at all.  I just created a bunch of document libraries and I can open the files in "Explorer View" as the Site Collection Administrator, but the anyone with full control and below can not.  For some weird reason we do not have this issue with every document library.  I would like to know if anyone else has this issue and what they have done to fix it.  I have tried google, but alas for this problem I find myself in the dark.

I created a form and I am trying to link it to a workflow.  So far I have tested the Approval and Three State Workflows that are built into MOSS.  I do not like the limitations that they provide.  You can only use a choice picker field that is a Sharepoint column for the Three State Workflow.  I wanted to use a column from Infopath.  I had some issues trying to get 2003 to use the MOSS webservice and post the column data (which could be a compatibility issue using Infopath 2003).  So basically this workflow was thrown out and they wanted three states, so the Approval Workflow would not work at all.  Now I find myself working with designer, which is great if you are using an Infopath posted field and just conditions to e-mail someone once the field is changed.  Once you start getting into deleting items from a task list it no longer works for me.  I have tried updating and deleting items that this workflow creates.  It is not even linking task items to the workflow instance for the form.  I tried filtering based on the title from the form library to the title in the task item, however it does nothing.  I am going to attempt to play with it some more today and I will keep you guys posted if I find some more information.

I am trying to figure out what I need to buy if I wanted to do some development work at home for fun and/or profit so far here is the list:

• Development Laptop with at least 4 gb of Ram and 2.2 ghz duo core processor w/ dvd/rw (probably a Dell Latitude High End Business Computer with XP Pro) $2300-$2500
• MSDN Subscription (either Professional or Premium) $1000+
• External Hard Drive 500 gb 7200 rpm $134
• Sharepoint 2007 Administrator's Companion $37
• Sharepoint 2007 Development $31

Subtotal = $3702

I don't like shelling anything out above $100 if it is not essential.  I am wondering if all this equipment is worth buying in the long run.  Also, should I add anything to this list and how much of an estimated total would the new addition be? 
 

My new job with Terracon starts on Monday officially, even though technically I have been working there as a consultant for 6 months.  I am really excited, because I get to stay in one city and work with Sharepoint only.  No more consulting for a while at least.  I also get a huge salary bump and probably a slight tax bump.  That means I may be able to buy myself more toys…Maybe if I can bribe my boyfriend with a video ipod I will be able to get an Iphone:)

I'm also speaking at the Office Developer User Group in Kansas City in November.  I am trying to come up with an abstract and a biography, but failing miserably.  I am going to try and speak about backing scripts for Sharepoint and restoring Sharepoint in the event that a site fails or the entire collection fails.  I am a bit nervous, because I have never actually spoken in front of a bunch of developers outside of meetings.  I have been doing a bit of in house Sharepoint Training via Webex, but it is nothing like speaking in front of a group of people.  I am hoping that I can start down a track where I get more involved in the Sharepoint Community.  This will be a test on how I will do in the future.  I really really hope that I don't freak out or stutter.

So here is what I came up with related to definitions of Key Sharepoint Business Roles:
Sharepoint Project Manager

• Defines Business Rules for Sharepoint
• Writes requirements specifications for the Sharepoint
  Developer, Architect, and Designer
• Monitors the Sharepoint Developer, Architect, and Designer's
  project progress
• Acts as a go between for the customer and Sharepoint Developer,
  Architect, and Designer
• Re-allocates resources available for Sharepoint Projects based
  on supply and demand
• Changes project priority as needed

Sharepoint Administrator

• Monitors the Innerworkings of Sharepoint through Central
  Administration and Server Side Administration
• Maintains backup strategies and scripts
• Maintains Services Related to Sharepoint
• Performs Disaster Recovery
• Sets up services for Sharepoint

Sharepoint Architect

• Creates and maintains the Sharepoint Structure based on user
  requirements and content needs
• Documents Sharepoint site structure
• Helps the developer find practical solutions for users
• Maintains use case scenarios in UML and other user based
  diagrams
• Works with the Project Manager to get a better idea of what the
  users need

Sharepoint Developer

• Writes custom web parts and applications for Sharepoint in
  Visual Studio 2005, Sharepoint Designer, and Javascript Editors
• Tests, Debugs, and Deploys custom Sharepoint Solutions
• Documents Custom Solutions
• Develops a better strategy for custom solutions

Sharepoint Trainer/Support

• Works with the Architect and Project Manager to train users on
  Sharepoint Sites and Concepts
• Creates Webex Sessions and hosts them
• Assists users on how to utilize Sharepoint
• Answers user questions via e-mail, in-person, or webex
• Helps the Sharepoint Architect and Sharepoint Developer
  understand user related issues better
• Creates documentation faq for users, so that they can better
  understand Sharepoint Functionality

Sharepoint Designer

• Manages all custom visual content in Sharepoint
• Creates custom templates based on Project Requirements from the
  Sharepoint Project Manager and User Specifications created by the Sharepoint
  Architect
• Designs and maintains custom default.master pages, so that changes can be
  made dynamically and easy
• Creates and maintains custom style sheets based on company and user
  requirements defined by the Sharepoint Project Manager and Sharepoint
  Architect
• Works with the Sharepoint Architect to get a better feel for the
  templates based on user requirements

I am not saying this is entirely accurate.  This is just something that I am still working on and would enjoy any comments people out in the community would be willing to give me.

I was searching in google the past few days looking for Key Business Roles in Sharepoint.  For example, do you need developers, admins, project managers, etc…  What defines the responsibilities of these people?  I started writing on a wiki on my companies Sharepoint Site and I figured out these people are at least needed:

• Project Manager
• Administrator
• Designer
• Developer
• Support/Training
• Architect

I am going to work on role definitions in the next few days and post them.  I would love to hear your comments and maybe some suggestions or changes in these Business Roles for Sharepoint.