Create Site Collection in Separate Content Database in SharePoint

Problem:

When a “Site Collection” is created in a web application, then the proceeding Site Collections created in the same “Web Application” will use the Same Content DB.

This creates problems in the following scenarios:

1. Size of the one Site Collection grows large then it will affect the other Site Collection too. The
reason being maximum size of a Content DB for a Site Collection with good performance is 200 GB
(referred some MSDN articles).

2.  During migration/archival/splitting of content DB.

Solution:

The solution for the above problem is to “Create Site Collections with Separate Content DB for each Site Collection”.

But by default SharePoint allows you to create new site collections in the Same Content DB which is used by the web application (one created first – Top Level Site Collection)

Using Central Administration page:

1.   Suppose that we have created a Top Level Site Collection with content DB named “WSS_Content_1000”. Now our scenario is to create a new site collection in the same web application with different content db.

2. Now navigate to Central Admin -> Application Management -> SharePoint Web Application Management -> Content databases

3. By using the option Add a content database in the menu, create a new content DB named “WSS_Content_1050”

 6. Now, you can see the database (WSS_Content_1000) in the stopped state: 

 7. Now, try creating a new Site Collection in the same web application. “Your new site collection will be forced to create in the Content DB which is available in the web application” (in our case it is WSS_Content_1050).

8. Now, change the status of the first content db to Ready state.

9. Now to check whether our new site collection is created in different db’s go to Central Administration -> Application management -> Site collection list. “You can see two site collections in two different databases” as shown below:

     ØTop level site collection created in WSS_Content_1000 db

     ØTop level site collection created in WSS_Content_1050 db

10. As shown in the above screenshot, we are able to create a new site collection with a new Content DB using the above method.

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This item could not be crawled because the repository did not respond within the specified timeout period - SharePoint Search Error

Problem:

Environment: WSS 3.0, Microsoft Search Server Express 2008

The Search server is crawling the contents properly and the search is working as expected. Suddenly, search crawling stopped and the error in the Search log is

"This item could not be crawled because the repository did not respond within the specified timeout period. Try to crawl the repository at a later time, or increase the timeout value on the Proxy and Timeout page in search administration. You might also want to crawl this repository during off-peak usage times".

Solution:

I understood that the error is due to the Proxy and checked the Proxy and Time Out settings in Search Server Administration and it is 120 Seconds.

Then, removed the Proxy Settings configured in the IE. Followed by an incremental crawl fixed this issue and I didn’t see any errors after that.

Also, uncheck the option in the IE “Automatically Detect Settings” (if it is checked).

Here is the link which gave the complete solution for this issue:

http://sharepointmadeeasy.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/search-crawl-time-out-or-proxy-issue.html

Happy Sharing!

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Advantage of PowerShell over STSADM

In SharePoint 2010, new concept called Power Shell is introduced. The main adavantage of using Windows Power Shell over STSADM is follows:

• Windows PowerShell is built on the Microsoft .NET Framework and accepts and returns .NET Framework objects. Hence, can interact with .Net objects directly.
• Here we use commandlets (cmdlet) instead of commands. Commandlet is a instance of .Net objects
• We can automate the tasks using power shell scripts.
• Windows PowerShell also gives you access to the file system on the computer and enables you to access other data stores, such as the registry and digital signature certificate stores.

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Event ID 28721 in Source cannot be found

Problem:I have faced this problem when I tried to upload a document one of my document library in SharePoint. Neither the upload is successful nor no errors while uploading.
Event Log:I was unable to view any errors with respect to the document upload in the event log. I could see only the following logs in the event viewer:
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Windows SharePoint Services 3
Event Category: General
Event ID: 28721
User:  N/A
Description:The description for Event ID ( 28721 ) in Source ( Windows SharePoint Services 3 ) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: #960013: Antivirus scanner timed out.

Following are the investigations done for fixing the errors:
1. Checked the file size limit in the web application general settings – but I have tried to upload only a few KB text file.
2. Checked the SQL server logs and there is enough space for the upload.
3. Created a new document library and tried attaching a new document which is unsuccessful.
4. Created a new list and added an item which is successful. But when tried attaching a document (or text or small file) it is unsuccessful.
Hence, I have concluded that there is no problem with SharePoint or any corruption of document library or list definition.
Looking at the event log carefully, I finally came to an idea that Antivirus is blocking something and it is where the problem is arising.

Solution:1. I have tried changing the Antivirus settings in the Central Administration 
2. Go to -> Central Administration -> Operations -> Antivirus -> Antivirus Settings -> I have unchecked the option Scan Documents on Upload -> Clicked save

3. Now, I have tried uploading the documents in the document library which is successful. Hence, concluding that the problem is due to the Microsoft Fore Front Security Antivirus.
4. Note: But we cannot make this option as default, since without antivirus scan, unwanted files (viruses, malwares, spywares, etc.,) may be uploaded which would be threat to the SharePoint environment.
5. Finally, updated the Antivirus definitions and license for the Fore Front antivirus. Then onwards, the upload is successful and secured one.

Microsoft Fore Front Security Antivirus1.  It is an antivirus provided by Microsoft dedicated to SharePoint environment. It will protect the SharePoint environment from the virus, spywares and other treats being uploaded.
2.  To know about the Microsoft Fore Front Security Antivirus click on this link

http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/en-us/product/Related-Technologies/Pages/Forefront-Protection-2010-for-SharePoint.aspx
3.  In the central Administration -> Operations -> Antivirus -> Antivirus Settings -> Scan documents on upload is set, then all the documents being uploaded will be scanned by the for front and then only uploaded into the SharePoint environment.

Happy Sharing!

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Parser Error Data at the root level is invalid. Line 1, Position 1

I have got this error message suddenly in a (WSS 3.0) SharePoint site. The site is working as expected and it does not throw any errors before.
The error screen shot is below:

From the error message, I could understand that there is a problem with the browser comapatibility.
Solution:
I have navigated to the SharePoint site in the IIS and then explored the files in the IIS.
Then navigated to APP_Browsers folder, there I could see there is a  sub folder named _vti_cnf  inside I could see a file compat.broswer in it. This file (file which mentions the compatible browsers for loading the SharePoint site.) is already present in the root directory.
I have deleted this file (compat.browser) which is inside the _vti_cnf folder and refreshed the site, it worked as before.
Happy Sharing!

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The POP3 service could not create the mailbox – the account already exists

In Windows Server 2003, I have configured POP 3 service, created domains and mailboxes.
I have created many users and associate mail boxes in the POP3 service and deleted for some reasons.
When I try to create the same user I have got the error:
The POP3 service could not create the mailbox - The account already exists

Even on manually deleting the folders (mailboxes created for each user created), I got this error.
Reason:
Then I came to know that the user associated with the mailbox is not deleted.
Right Click on My Computer -> Manage -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management -> System Tools -> Local Users and groups -> Users -> Delete the user account for which you are unable to create the mailbox.
Note: Check the user associated with any other applications or any services before deleting the user.
Now, try creating the mailbox, you will be able to create the mailbox successfully!

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Download Image from Right Click Disabled Website

In this article, we will know a small trick where we can download the images from the web page in which the right click is disabled in the web page.
Usually, web masters will disable the right click on the web pages in order to protect the content in the web page.
But sometimes, we need to download the images or copy the content from the web pages. Following are the different steps:
1. In the web page, only Right Click is disabled. Hence, we will use LEFT CLICK. Point the image and left click on the image and then drag the image to the desktop or to the address bar in the browser. Hurray! You can save the image.
2. In Internet Explorer, we can disable the active scripting and copy the image. The reason behind this is kind of scripting is written using “JAVA SCRIPTS”.Got to IE -> Tools -> Internet Options -> Security Tab -> Custom level -> Go to Scripting -> Active Scripting -> Disable -> Click OK and restart the browser

3. In Mozilla Firefox  the steps is as follows:
Open the browser -> Go to Tools -> Options -> In the Content Tab -> Uncheck or Deselect the Enable JavaScript -> Restart the browser

There are many third party tools which enable to download the images and contents. But the above are the few easy steps to achieve the goal!

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SharePoint 2013

Everyone knows SharePoint 2013 server and SharePoint 2013 foundation has been released with many new features by Microsoft.

 

Here are the few links for the SharePoint 2013 for the start up:  

• Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Preview
• SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview
• SharePoint Designer 2013
• Language Packs for SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

 Let’s start using SharePoint 2013 and start collaborating more than ever!

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Visual Studio Workflow in SharePoint

Part II

To know about the Basics and Advantages of using Visual Studio Workflow

read this article.

In this article, we will how to Create a Simple Sequential Workflow Console Application.

Steps:

1. Open Microsoft Visual Studio -> File -> New Project -> Select Visual C# -> SharePoint -> Workflow -> SequentialWorkflowConsoleApplication

2.  You can see the required DLL’s added in the solution for running the work flow in the Solution Explorer

3.  From the Toolbox -> Select Code -> drag and drop inside the designer view as shown below. Double Click on the codeActivity1 -> you will be navigated to Code behind page of the solution.

4. I have initialized a variable with get and set methods and activity for the code1 as shown below:

5. Now, go to the Design view -> From Toolbox -> Drag and drop IF ELSE activity and the code activity for IF and ELSE branch

6. Right click on codeActivity2 and click Generate handlers to create handlers the activity and do the same for codeActivity3

7. Now, we will set the condition for the ifElseActivity1 and 2. Right Click on ifElseActivity1 -> Properties -> Condition -> Select Declarative Rule Condition

8. Give the Condition Name and then Click on Expression for setting the condition:

9. Following are the conditions set for both the activities:

10.Now,if you click on any one of the activity -> properties -> select the name

then -> you can see the two conditions being used in the solution as shown:

11. Finally, I have added the message to be returned for the both activities

12. Now build the solution and then execute the code:

Here is the full solution. Click to download. Happy Sharing!

Hope, you have enjoyed this article.

Please free to comment and share this article, if it helps you!

Happy Coding!!

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Visual Studio Workflow in SharePoint

Part I

To know about the Basics of Workflow in SharePoint, read this article.

To know about the Creating a Designer Workflow, read this article.

To know about the New Features added in SharePoint Designer 2010, read this article.

In this we will learn about Basics of Visual Studio Workflows in SharePoint.

Windows Workflow Foundation -WWF:

Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) is a Microsoft technology for defining, executing, and managing workflows.

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Workflow_Foundation

Why Visual Studio Workflow is necessary?

From the business perspective, we need some custom workflows to be designed and developed in order to meet the requirements. By using designer, we cannot achieve all the custom actions and hence Visual Studio workflows are necessary.

Moreover, Visual Studio is a known environment to the developers (working with Microsoft Software’s) and hence the design and development is very easy.

Software Requirements

  Ø  Windows Server 2003 R2 Download

  Ø  Microsoft .NET framework 3.0 Download

  Ø  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Download

  Ø  Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 with SP1 Download

  Ø  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 SDK Download

  Ø  Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for Windows Workflow Foundation Download
   Limitations of using Designer Workflow:

  Ø  A major disadvantage is that, you can create only Sequential Workflows using designer and not the State Machine workflows.

  Ø  We cannot write custom code and custom activities for workflows while creating using designer.

  Ø  Maintenance and upgradeable methods are very less.

To know how to create a sample Sequential Workflow using Visual Studio, read this article Visual Studio Workflow in SharePoint.

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Prevent Outlook from Sending Emails with a Blank Subject

Objective:

In the IT Industry, Outlook is most popularly used as the Email client. The subject line is a very important part of any email. Many times has it happened to you that you have sent an email through Outlook without a subject line? After clicking the Send button, you realize that you have made a mistake (What if it is a case you have sent a mail without Subject to a Client or a Manager?)

By default, Outlook does not validate a mail with a blank subject and here is the solution.

Steps:

1. Open MS Outlook -> Tools -> Macro -> Visual Basic Editor

2. You will see Visual Basic Editor will be opened 

 3. Click ThisOutlookSession which will open the Code Editor paste the below code in the Editor -> Save it and Close the window.

Private Sub Application_ItemSend(ByVal Item As Object, Cancel As Boolean)
   Dim strSubject As String
   strSubject = Item.Subject
   If Len(Trim(strSubject)) = 0 Then
       Prompt$ = "Subject is Empty. Are you sure you want to send the EMail?"
      If MsgBox(Prompt$, vbYesNo + vbQuestion + _
            vbMsgBoxSetForeground, _
            "Email Subject is Empty") = vbNo Then
        Cancel = True
      End If
  End If
End Sub

4. Now, restart the outlook. You will be prompted with a window where in Click on Enable Macros.

5. Now try sending an email without subject, you will be prompted for entering a Subject in the Email.

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Pillars of SharePoint 2010

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Pillars of SharePoint 2007

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SharePoint 2010 Features

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Versions of SharePoint

Ø  Microsoft Content Management Server (CMS) (Year 2002)

Ø  SharePoint Portal Server (Year 2003)

Ø  Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (Year 2003) – Free Ware

Ø  Microsoft Office Share Point Server (MOSS) (Year 2007) (Built on .NET 2.0) –    

   Combination of CMS and SharePoint Portal Server

Ø  SharePoint Foundation Server (Year 2010) – Free Ware

Ø  Microsoft SharePoint Server (Year 2010)

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Databases must be empty before they can be used. Delete all of the tables, stored procedures and other objects or use a different database.

Problem:

I got this error when I tried to stop and start the Windows SharePoint Services Search service by the following:

Central Administration ->Operations ->Services on server->Windows SharePoint Services Search->Stop

Central Administration->Operations->Services on server->Windows SharePoint Services Search->Start

The below is the step by step solution to fix this issue.

Solution:

1. We have to delete some log files of database in the SQL Server by following the path:

Stop the SQL Server Express Service: Start -> All Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Services -> SQL Server -> Right click Stop

2. Now delete the following file in the below locations:

WINDIR%\SYSMSI\SSEE\MSSL.2005\MSSQL\DATA\WSS_Search_ Servername.mdf

WINDIR%\SYSMSI\SSEE\MSSL.2005\MSSQL\DATA\WSS_Search_ Servername_log.LDF

Or in this path WINDIR%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\

3. Restart the SQL Server Express Service by following the path:

 Start -> All Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Services -> SQL Server -> Right click Start

4. Now restart the Windows SharePoint Services Search by following the path:

Restart the Windows SharePoint Services Search: Central Administration->Operations->Services on server->Windows SharePoint Services Search->Start

5. In the Configure Windows SharePoint Services Search Service Settings page, in the Search DB section, give a new DB name in the Database Name field. Click Start.

6. If you give the old DB name you will get the error. Hence try giving the new DB name.

Please free to comment and share this post if it helps you!

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The specified database has an incorrect collation. Rebuild the database with the Latin1_General_CI_AS_KS_WS collation or create a new database

Problem:

 I have faced this error when I created a DB in the SQL server and then tried to create the Search Server DB name in the Search Server Configuration Page while configuring the Microsoft Search Server Express 2008.

Solution:

1. The problem is the database created has incorrect collation.

2. We have to change the collation to Latin1_General_CI_AS_KS_WS collation which is specified while configuring the web applications or search server DB in SharePoint.

3.  Connect to the SQL server -> Select the Database created.

4. Right Click on the Database -> Properties -> Select Options page -> Change the collation as shown below:

5. Now try to configure the Search or Web Application in SharePoint, it will work as expected.

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Hiding Default Title Column in a list in SharePoint

In this article, we will know about a small tip, How to hide the default title column which is created by default whenever a list is created in a SharePoint list.

Steps:

1. Whenever a list is created, you will see a default column “Title” in the list.

2. In Some cases, we do not need this and needs that to be hidden.

3. Go to Settings -> List Settings -> Advanced Settings (General Settings) -> Change Allow Management of Content Types to YES

4. Now List Settings page -> Click on ITEMS

You will see the list of columns in the list. Now we want to hide the Title Column and hence click on the Title column

There will be option for permanently hiding the column. Select the option “Hidden will not appear in forms” and click OK. 

5. We have hid the column in the form but it will appear in the VIEW. So, we have to hide the column in the view. Click on the View in the List.

In the Columns Deselect the Title and click OK.

6. When you click on New for adding a new item in the list, then you will not see the Title column in the form or when you view the list, you will not see the Title column in the view.

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Internal Column Name in SharePoint List

In this article, we will know how to find the Internal Column Name in a SharePoint list.

Steps:

1. Suppose that we have created a list with a column named “Continent” as shown below:

2. Go to Settings-> List Settings -> Click on the Column listed in the Lists to which you have to find the Internal Name

3. You will be navigated to the Title Edit page which is shown below:

4. Now copy the Browser URL (in my case is something is shown below):

http://sitename/_layouts/FldEdit.aspx?List=%7BE62DB5A7%2D12D4%2D474B%2D8EB8%2DF71DE8A86723%7D&Field=Continent

The Bolded letter is the Internal Name of the Column (In my case Continent is the internal column name for the column Continent)

Note: 
If the column name contains spaces then the Internal Name will contain some other characters. Be careful while taking handling this:

Ex: http://SiteName/_layouts/FldEdit.aspx?List=%7B2EB82952%2D9C0B%2D4650%2DB5E9%2D22788822B1AA%7D&Field=Arrived%5Fx0020%5Fon

Here in this name %5F is a '_'

So the Internal Name would be Arrived_x0020_on. Here the Column name is Arrived On but the Internal Name is different and hence beware of this!

5. You can find the internal name using code also.

Ex: string internalName = item.Fields["Field Display Name"].InternalName;

Here in the below link you will see a list of Content types in SharePoint and the Internal Name for it:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/michael_yeager/archive/2008/11/03/reference-list-for-internal-field-names.aspx

Please free to comment and share this post, if this helps you!

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Remove Blogger Attribution Widget in Blog

Sometimes, you would like to have your custom attribution in your blog. Here is the article to change the default blogger attribution.

Steps:

1. Go to Design -> you will see the default attribution in the blog as shown below:

2. By default, you do not have option to remove this widget like other widgets provided by blogger.

                                        

3. Now go to Design -> Edit HTML -> Check the Expand Widgets Templates option -> Click Ctrl + F to find the following word – Attribution

4. You will find that the widget is locked by the option “locked = True” as shown below:

5. Change the option to False and save the HTML.

6. Now edit the Attribution widget, you will find the remove option is enabled 

and now it is easy to remove the widget and you can insert your custom widget or any text box with your custom words in it.

A sample shown in our blog is as follows:

Happy Blogging!

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Error: Your Search cannot be complete because of service error

In this article, we will know a solution for the Search Server Issue in the SharePoint portal.

The Search server was working as expected and the results are shown properly. But suddenly the Search is not showing the results and it is showing the following error:

Your Search cannot be complete because of service error. Try you search again or contact your administrator for more information.

When I check the event viewer, following are the log description:

Event ID: 10040 & 10041
The last query machine has been taken out of rotation.  Check previous event logs to determine cause.  Propagation may be necessary.

Event ID: 10038
Not enough storage is available to complete this operation

Solution:

Initially the following were following steps are performed but no results from the search:

 Ø  Restarting the Index Service

   Ø  Resetting the content index

 Ø  Restarting the application pool

 Ø  Restarting the SSP

   Finally, the following actions are performed.

 Ø  Restarting the index server manually

 Ø  Then, restarted the Index Content

 Ø  Finally, resetting the crawler and a complete crawling is run

  This helped in fixing this issue and the search is showing the results as expected.

  Happy Sharing!

  Please free to share your comments and share this post if it helps you.

  Always your comments help me to write more!

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The file reached the maximum download limit. Check that the full text of the document can be meaningfully crawled.

Problem:

This is the error you find in the Microsoft Search Server logs when the size of the file being uploaded is greater than 50 MB. This is because the default size is 50 MB for crawling. Hence when the size of the file being uploaded exceeds the allowable limit then the crawler will not be able to crawl the file and throws this error. In this article, we will see how to fix this issue.

The error log screen is shown below:

Solution:

To allow the files that is larger in size and to be crawled and fully indexed we have to add the MaxDownloadSize dword value to the 50 MB or more.

Go to Run -> Type regedit  -> Navigate to the following path and change the value.

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office Server\12.0\Search\Global\Gathering Manager"

Change the following value "MaxDownloadSize"=dword:00000032

 Note: Hexadecimal 32 = Decimal 50.

Try restarting the index server and now initiate a full crawl then the files of large size will be shown in the Search Results.

Referred Links:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/sharepointsearch/thread/170bb0a3-1367-46d8-a4d9-36fca2457f69

This helped in fixing this issue and the search is showing the results as expected.

Happy Sharing!

Please free to share your comments and share this post if it helps you.

Always your comments help me to write more!

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