August 2007 - Posts

• Dynamic CAML Query

  Occasionally the need arises to build dynamic CAML queries in order to get items from a SharePoint list.  This was the case recently while delivering a solution for a customer.  In my solution I used a combination of controls including ASP .NET and SharePoint controls. In my solution I created a form which posted to the server the values which were to be used for the query.  For the solution I decided to use a string builder function and a string array to store the values, and then I looped through the results and used those which contained values to build the CAML query.   Read the article Posted Aug 28 2007, 04:04 PM by Robert J Wheeler with 4 comment(s) Filed under: lists, CAML, query, SharePoint

• How To Access the Controls In A Master Page

  Ever wonder how to access the placeholders in a Sharepoint masterpage and add new controls programmatically?  Let's assume you are adding a Label control with some text to display.  You could create the control and then call the master page from within your ASPX page.  When SharePoint renders the page you can programmatically add the control.  To catch the error if one is generated, use the InnerException.Message to see what it is since SharePoint will return a very generic message. Label label = new Label(); label.Text = "Something to display"; try {     this.Master.FindControl("PlaceHolderMain").Controls.Add(label); } catch (Exception ex) {     Response.Write(ex.InnerException.Message); } Posted Aug 23 2007, 10:12 AM by Robert J Wheeler with 2 comment(s) Filed under: placeholder, inline code, masterpage, programmatically add controls

• Create Wizards in SharePoint

  Recently I developed a wizard using SharePoint lists.  The challange was to use only WSS 3.0, no compiled code, and it needed to be designed so that users could manage the questions themselves.  The extra limitations were that the solution had to be provided using only the basic templates (Surveys were no available) and it needed to be generic enough to cover a wide range of questions. To see how this was accomplished, and in a very short time, read my article Create Wizard Functionality With SharePoint Lists Posted Aug 23 2007, 10:01 AM by Robert J Wheeler with 2 comment(s) Filed under: custom masterpage, Wizard, inline code, lists

• Adding file shares to Enterprise Search

  Adding file shares to search within MOSS is relatively easy.  The results of searching within the scope of the file share will display the links as 'file://...' and will display the first few lines of the content. For this example, on the SharePoint Server, create a shared folder: i.e. C:\Shared => \\[server]\Shared Open the SharePoint Central Administration and navigate to the Shared Services where the index will be created.  Click on the Search Settings link under the Search section. We want to add the shared drive as a content source but we do not want to add it more than once.  When satified that the source is unique and can be access for crawling, click the link next to Content Sources.  This will get us into the Manage Content Sources screen where we will add a new content source.  Click New Content Source from the menu to add the source. Give the source a name: e.g. Shared Drive Content and then select File Shares from the options below.  Enter the start address for the content which should be the one that was created earlier: i.e. \\[server]\Shared.  Choose whether or not to crawl sub-folders or just the share itself. When finished, click OK which will take you back to the ‘Content Sources’ page.  Click on the content source created to show the context menu and select "Start Full Crawl".  This will begin the process of indexing the items on the shared drive. Next we will add a scope which will use the content source created above. Back on the Search Settings page, scroll down to Scopes and click the link next to the item 'Scopes'.  You will find the content sources and the number of files created next to them.  Click 'New Scope' and enter a Title for this.  Click Okay to save. Back on the View Scopes page you will see the scope that was just added with a link to 'Add Rules'.  Click this link to add the content source.  On the Add Scope Rules page select Content Source, and select the source created above.  Click OK to save. Navigate back to the Search Settings page and scroll down to Scopes again.  Click 'Start Update Now' which will update the scopes that were added. Navigate to the site that will use the new scope and click Site Settings -> Manage All Settings -> Search Scopes.  Create or select the group that will use the scope created.  You will see the list of scopes included in the group, and all scopes that are available to use, and the order of preference.  Select the scope created and click OK.At this point the scope is added and the drop-down list next to the search box will display the name.  Select this scope and then search for the items. Notice that the results are returned like other search results with a hyperlink pointing the files.  This is all well and useful except what about security on the file share?  What about results that we do not want people without access rights to see?  This will be explained in the next part 'Using Folder Access Permissions with Shared Drive Indexes in MOSS'.   Posted Aug 03 2007, 02:45 PM by Robert J Wheeler with 13 comment(s) Filed under: Indexing, Shared Drive