Basics of Visual WebPart in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

In this article, we are going to discuss about an interesting feature of Microsoft which is called Visual Webpart.

Web parts play an important role in the SharePoint design and development.

In the lower versions of SharePoint, we have to write the code for designing the webpart and then the custom code for its function.

But with the introduction of Visual Studio 2010 and SharePoint 2010 improved the way of creating and deploying the web parts in SharePoint (which is drag & drop the controls and design easily).

What is Visual Webpart?

In simple words, visual webpart is the wrapping the web user control (.ascx page) within a web part. 

Hence, the Web Part class will load a User Control in the Web Parts CreateChildControls() method and this user control is what you can drag and drop your controls to design the webpart. The Visual Studio interface nicely makes these operations seamless and takes care of all the wiring for deployment.

I will diagrammatically represent the visual web part

Advantages

1. Design of the web part is very easy, since it involves only drag and drop of the controls

2. No need to use the STSADM commands for adding an deploying the solution to the SharePoint site, since it involves only single click to deploy the solution

3. When we want to alter the design or change the code due to some bugs, we can make the changes-> re-build the solution-> deploy from the development environment which will automatically make the changes in the SharePoint site and even in the web part added in any of the pages

See also, how to create and deploy a Visual Web Part using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 in this article.

See also, how to create a Visual Web Part and deploy the solution in SharePoint 2010 in this article.

Read More

Implementing Federated Search Result (Twitter) in SharePoint 2010

In the previous article, we have discussed about the basics of Federated Search Results in SharePoint
In this article, we will discuss how to implement the Federated Search results in SharePoint 2010.
Steps
Go to Central Administration of the SharePoint Server -> Application Management -> Manage service applications

You will see a list of services. In that Select Search Service Application

Clicking on this, you will be re-directed to the Search Server Administration page. In the left navigation, you will see some menus as shown below. Select Federated Results in the left navigation menu.

You will see a page, where you will find options for creating a New Location for Federated search or you can import the FLD file through Import Location option.

Clicking on the New Location option you will see the following page, where we will configure your Federated Location as shown below

That’s it. I have added the FLD file at the end of the article, for download so that you can download and import the file and work on it.

Now, we have configured the New Location and hence we will use the created Federated Location in the Search Center.

I have created a Search Center as shown below. First give a search query and in the results page, we will add the Twitter Results federated location.

In the search result page, edit the page and you will see options for adding the web part as shown below

After adding the Federated Results webpart, configure the results as shown below.

That’s it. We are done. Save the webpart and give a search keyword and test. You will be able to see the results from the intranet and from the internet search results (here Twitter).

You can download the Twitter FLD file from here.

Enjoy SharePoint using!

Read More

Federated Search Results in SharePoint

In this article, we are going to discuss about another interesting topic called Federated Search which came up with the MOSS (Microsoft Office SharePoint Server), when Microsoft updated the Infrastructure in SharePoint.

What is Federated Search?

Federate - Characterized by unity or being or joined into a single entity
Federation allows users to send the same query (search keyword) to multiple independent repositories, and display the results from each in its own region on a results page.

Advantages
1. It is helpful, when the search data is stored in the multiple repositories or to display results from various locations
2. We can bring the results from various social networking sites (Twitter, YouTube, Flickr etc.,) and search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.,) easily in our search results page
3. Displaying the results from various sites and search engines allows the user to view the results from different source in a single page
4. We can display different types of results like Sites, Images, Videos, etc., This allows the users to interact with the site more easily.

Disadvantages

1.If we are using this federated search results in a corporate intranet, then there will be security issue. This is because, all the search queries/keyword (which may be confidential to a company) will be sent to the search engines. This search engines will store the data for some time, even after querying the results.

2. We cannot crawl the results from the other sources (Search Servers) and store the index

Hope this helps you!


Also, read about Configuring a Federated Results for Twitter in SharePoint 2010 and using it in this article.

Read More

How to hide the left navigation bar in the SharePoint

In this article, we will see how to hide the left navigation in SharePoint siteThere are many ways for hiding the left navigation in the SharePoint. Here is the simplest way to hide it.
1.   Master.FindControl("PlaceHolderLeftNavBar").Visible = false;
2.   Place a content editor in the page you want to hide the left navigation pane in the site and add the following code in the source editor which will hide the left navigation bar.

<style>
.ms-navframe
{
display:none;
}
</style>

That’s it. We have easily hide the left navigation bar with a simple code.

Read More

Deploying Silverlight Application in SharePoint 2010

In the previous article, we have discussed about creating a simple Silverlight Application in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010.

Now, in this article we will discuss how to deploy the solution in the SharePoint 2010.
The New webpart feature added in the SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint Foundation 2010 is Silverlight which comes under Media and Content category.

The Solution of the Silverlight application produces a package with extension .XAP

Note: The .xap file is a package which consists of the solution created in the Silverlight Application

Hence, copy the XAP file in the SharePoint Document library and copy the shortcut (Link) of the file.
Now go to the page where you want to deploy the solution.

Insert the Silverlight webpart as shown below

Now, edit the webpart and in the URL property, browse for the .xap file copied from the Shared Documents or copy the shortcut URL as shown below

Now save the page and you will see the silverlight webpart created as shown below

So, when you click the Click this button in the webpart, you will see the message box “This is a simple silverlight Application”

That’s it, we have deployed the silverlight application in the sharepoint 2010. Enjoy.

Read More

MediaWebPart in SharePoint 2010

In this article, we will discuss how to use the out of box webpart named "Media WebPart" in SharePoint 2010.

Note : This webpart is prsent only in the SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint foundation.

Steps:

1. Go to the sharepoint where you want to add the media webpart.

2. Go to Edit Page -> Insert -> WebPart (from the ribbon) -> Categories (Media and Content) -> Select Media webpart and insert as shown below

3. Now click on Edit the webpart to configure the media.

4. Once clicked Edit you could see various options such as Media, properties, Styles, Play Styles and Size.

 

5. Go to Change Media option and there ae three options here. you link a media from the SharePoint Library or from your local computer or from any web address.

6. Here I will insert from the local computer and click save the web part, the web part is ready to use.You will see the media web part as shown below.

I gave the option as Start Media Automatically in the Media Properties so that, it starts when the page loads.

Read More

Tip of the Day WebPart for SharePoint

Hi All,

I would like to share a link which allows you to download the Tip of the Day webpart for sharepoint.

You can download the webpart here.

Configuring the webpart is clearly explained in the site.

Read More

Embedding YouTube Videos to the SharePoint Site

Steps

1.  Go to the YouTube site and navigate to the video which you like to embed in the SharePoint Application.

2.  Click on Share button below the video as shown below

3. On clicking Share you will find two options as Mail or Embed as shown below

 

4.  Copy the code from the Embed option as show above and save it in a notepad. I named it as youtubetest.txt

Code example in my case

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6986O9VA6LU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

5. Upload the text file to SharePoint Document Library and right click on the file and
copy the shortcut from it.

6.  Now go to the SharePoint page where you like to add the YouTube video and edit 

the page.

7. Click insert a web part -> add a Content Editor web part 
8. Edit the web part and now add the shortcut of the youtubetest.txt path in the Content Link property of the web part or you can directly add the code which is copied from the YouTube site in the Source Editor property of the web part and save it.

You will get the following result.

You can place this web part in the Home Page of your SharePoint site.

Enjoy!

Read More

Twitter WebPart for SharePoint

I have already posted a link which will guide you in creating the twitter and Face book web parts for SharePoint in this article. Twitter and FaceBook for SharePoint. Have a look at this.

Yet another easiest way for twitter is as follows:

Steps:

1. Open the site page where you want to add the twitter widgets.

2. Add a Content Editor Web part.

3. Now open this URL in your browser

http://twitter.com/about/resources/widgets

4. You will find 4 widgets (in the Widgets for my site option) which is provided by default in the Twitter Official Site

·                      Profile Widget

·                     Search Widget

·                     Faves Widget

·                     List Widget

5. All the information about the widgets will be given the site.

6. Now for example I will add the SEARCH WIDGET to our site. I click on Search Widget which will navigate to this link

http://twitter.com/about/resources/widgets/widget_search

7. You have 4 options such as Settings, Preferences, Appearance and Dimensions.

8. Here you can customize everything and my sample is shown code grabbed from the site is shown below.

<script src="http://widgets.twimg.com/j/2/widget.js">
</script>
<script>
new TWTR.Widget({
  version: 2,
  type: 'search',
  search: 'SharePoint',
  interval: 30000,
  title: 'What people are saying about',
  subject: 'SharePoint',
  width: 250,
  height: 300,
  theme: {
    shell: {
      background: '#8ec1da',
      color: '#ffffff'
    },
    tweets: {
      background: '#ffffff',
      color: '#444444',
      links: '#1985b5'
    }
  },
  features: {
    scrollbar: false,
    loop: true,
    live: true,
    hashtags: true,
    timestamp: true,
    avatars: true,
    toptweets: true,
    behavior: 'default'
  }
}).render().start();
</script>

9. That’s it!! Add this code in the Source Editor of the Content Editor Web Part.

10. This will display all the tweets with respect to the Query you gave in the Search. The webpart will look like this.

11. Save it!! Enjoy the Twitter integration in your SharePoint Site.

Read More

RSS Feeds WebPart

In this post we will see how to create RSS feeds web part for SharePoint. it is very easy and we will learn it in the following steps.

1. Add a XML web part to a share point page where you want to add the RSS Feeds web part.
2. Edit the properties of the web part.
3. In the XSL editor place the code (given below).
4. In the XML link give the proper RSS feeds URL.
5. Click Save.
6. This will display the RSS feeds from the URL linked in the web part.

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0" xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" exclude-result-prefixes="xsl">
<xsl:output method="xml" omit-xml-declaration="yes" indent="yes"/>
<xsl:template match="/">
<div>
<xsl:apply-templates select="rss/channel"/>
</div>
</xsl:template>
<xsl:template match="rss/channel">
<xsl:variable name="link" select="link"/>
<xsl:variable name="description" select="description"/>
<ul><xsl:apply-templates select="item"/></ul>
</xsl:template>
<xsl:template match="item">
<xsl:variable name="item_link" select="link"/>
<xsl:variable name="item_title" select="description"/>
<xsl:if test="position() &lt; 6">
<li>
 <a href="{$item_link}" title="{$item_title}"><xsl:value-of select="title"/></a>
 </li>
</xsl:if>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

Read More

Displaying Multiple Document Libraries in a Single WebPart

A frequent requirement in the Share Point Projects is Displaying Multiple Libraries together in a single web part. It can be achieved by various methods but I am going to create it through Share Point Designer 2007.
In this article we will come to know how it can be done step by step.

1. The Important thing here to be noted is, whatever may be the number of Document Library going to be merged here, and it should contain the same number of columns and name.
2. If not, this web part won’t work.
3. Create two document libraries (Example : Test1,Test 2)
4. I have created 4 columns such as Type, Title, Name, and Created by in both document libraries.
5. Now, we are going to use the designer 2007 here to proceed.
6. Open the site in designer –> create an .aspx page.
7. In the right side of the designer -> go to Data Source Library -> Linked Sources

8. In the Linked Sources click -> create a New Linked Source.

9. We have Three Tabs here ,
General
a. In General -> Give the Name of the web part
b. In Description-> Give  the Description of your web part
c. In Key Words -> Give the Keywords if u like
Source
a. Click Configure Linked Source -> Pop up window will Show all the  Available Data Sources  as shown below

b. Under the SharePoint Libraries -> add the two document libraries created (Test1,Test 2)
c. Click Next Button

d. Leave the default option (Merger the contents of the data sources….)
e. Click Finish and it show it as shown below.

f. Click ok.
10. Now open the page where you want to add the web part in the designer. Then click “Click to insert a web part” option in the page.
11. In the Data Source Library under Linked Sources you will see the created (here I gave it as Multiple Document Libraries in Single List) the linked source as shown below.

12. Click on the Drop Down in the created Linked Source and click Show Data which will show the “Data Source Details” as shown below.

13. You will see all the columns present in the Document Libraries.
14. Press CTRL and select the columns which you want to display in the Web Part.
15. Then Click on the Insert Selected Fields as…  -> Select Multiple Item View

16. I have selected Name for Use in Forms, Created by and Path from the columns and inserted it in the site which is as follows.

17. We have to format this view so that it looks good to view.
a. First Column is formatted so that select the Format as with Label

b. Then second column  created by in the same way select Format as with Label
c. Finally third column select Format as with hyperlink and give the following the pop-up window.
     Address: /{@FileDirRef}
     Label: {@FileDirRef}
18. We have completed creating the web part. Finally it will look as shown below.

So we are now able to list and view the documents from two document libraries as shown below !!!

Read More

Integrating Twitter and FaceBook in SharePoint

I would like to share the link which is very simple and clear way of integrating the twitter and facebook in SharePoint.

Twitter Integration

http://code.google.com/p/sharepoint-twitter/wiki/GettingStarted

Face Book Integration

 http://code.google.com/p/sharepoint-facebook-wall/wiki/GettingStarted

Happy Sharing!

Read More

List of SharePoint 2010 Web Parts

Authoring

 Content Editor 

 Image Viewer

 Media Web Part

 Page Viewer 

 Silverlight Web Part

Business Data

 Business Data Actions

 Business Data Catalog Filter

 Business Data Item

 Business Data Item Builder

 Business Data List

 Business Data Related List

 Key Performance Indicators

 KPI Details

 Visio Graphics Service 

Content Rollup

 Chart Viewer

 Content Query

 HTML Form Web Part - Foundation

 Picture Library Slideshow Web Part

 RSS Viewer

 XML Viewer

 What’s Popular

Documents

 Document ID Lookup

 Document Set Contents

 Document Set Properties

 Relevant Documents

Filters

 Choice Filter

 Current User Filter

 Date Filter

 Filter Actions

 Page Field Filter

 Query String URL) Filter

 SharePoint List Filter

 SQL Server Analysis Services Filter

 Text Filter

My Information My Calendar

 My Contacts

 My Inbox

 My Mail Folder

 My Tasks

Navigation

 Categories

 Site Aggregator

 Sites in Category

 Summary Links

 Table of Contents

 Tag Cloud

Office Client Applications Excel Web Access

 InfoPath Form Web Part

 WSRP Viewer

People

 Contact Details

 Profile Browser

 Site Users - Foundation

 User Tasks - Foundation

PerformancePoint

 PerformancePoint Filter

 PerformancePoint Report

 PerformancePoint Scorecard

 PerformancePoint Stack Selector

Search Advanced Search Box

 Dual Chinese Search

 Featured Content

 Federated Results

 People Refinement Panel

 People Search Box

 People Search Core Results

 Refinement Panel

 Related Queries

 Search Action Links

 Search Best Bets

 Search Box

 Search Core Results

 Search Paging

 Search Statistics

 Search Summary

 Top Federated Results

Read More

Creating News Aggregator Web Part

Hi All,

I would like to share a link which will explain step by step creation of News Aggregator WebPart for SharePoint

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/markarend/archive/2006/07/25/news-aggregator-web-part.aspx

Read More