Real World SharePoint 2007: Indispensable Experiences From 16 MOSS and WSS MVPs

by Robert L. Bogue

Microsoft recognizes key individuals who contribute significantly to the community of technologists through the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award. These individuals are active authors, speakers, bloggers, and innovators. They are also skilled network engineers, developers, trainers, designers, and architects. In the SharePoint community, these MVPs are recognized for their expertise in either Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) or Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS).This book represents the efforts of 16 MVPs in the SharePoint community to present core areas of SharePoint 2007 products and technologies seasoned with significant field experience. The idea behind the book is to lower the learning curve for the reader, while providing the insight necessary to avoid common missteps. This book is an extension of the work the authors have done in their own blogs, books, and presentations.

This book is for the community of SharePoint professionals. That means that architects, designers, developers, administrators, and engineers all will find something useful in its pages. As a reader, you will want to focus on chapters that appeal to your areas of expertise directly. Some of the chapters, for example, assume a strong programming background, whereas others are centered on administration or maintenance. All readers should have some prior experience with SharePoint 2007 products and technologies to get the most out of this book, although the book does include an introductory chapter for those who are just getting started. The authors generally assume a working knowledge of SharePoint in an effort to focus the discussion on implementation and best practices.

This book covers SharePoint 2007 products and technologies. Specifically, you will find topics relating to both WSS and MOSS. The topics were selected by SharePoint MVP and Editor Scot Hiller based on the authors' capabilities to represent a cross-section of the most important areas within SharePoint. Although the chapters have been arranged in a logical order, they are intended to stand alone as independent articles.

Specifically, here's what the book covers:

Introduction to SharePoint by Mike Walsh: an overview of SharePoint

Configuring Forms Based Authentication by Stacy Draper: different approaches to FBA, along with their strengths and weaknesses including some custom solutions to problems such as user and role management.

Understanding SharePoint Administration by Todd Klindt: the basics (such as backup and recovery), more advanced topics (such as command-line utilities and tips), and techniques for managing site templates.

Developing Publishing Sites the Smart and Structured Way by Andrew Connell: an alternative technique for developing Publishing sites within MOSS discusses development with the SharePoint Designer (SPD), but then challenges the conventional thinking with a new structured approach. Readers will learn new ways to ease the management and maintenance of Publishing sites.

Using SharePoint Designer 2007 by Dustin Miller: This often-maligned tool can be a powerful part of your SharePoint toolkit.

Customizing and Branding the SharePoint 2007 Interface by Shane Perran and Heather Solomon: One of the first tasks in any SharePoint project is branding the use interface. The reader will learn all of the different ways to customize the look and feel of SharePoint using master pages, style sheets, and graphics.

Understanding Web Parts by Jan Tielens: walks the reader through the creation and deployment of Web Parts. Readers should have a strong C# programming background.

Creating Workflows in WSS by Robert Bogue: Readers will learn how to create custom workflows and forms for deployment in WSS including many tips and tricks from actual field experience. Readers should have a strong C# programming background.

Creating Workflow in SharePoint Server 2007 by Joris Poelmans: The big difference between WSS and MOSS workflows is the ability to use InfoPath forms. This has extensive coverage of InfoPath forms and how to use them with MOSS workflows.

Using the Business Data Catalog by Nick Swan: The Business Data Catalog (BDC) is used to allow MOSS to access line-of-business databases. Includes tips to make the development process easier. Readers should be familiar with XML.

Using Excel Services by Luis Du Solier Grinda: Excel Services is used to allow MOSS to present spreadsheet data to end users through a browser. This technology is a foundational element in the development of dashboards in the SharePoint Report Center.

Securing SharePoint Communication by Adam Buenz: Readers will learn to implement Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Kerberos security, and how to use the Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server.

Using Information Rights Management by Jason Medero: setting up IRM and using it with SharePoint libraries to restrict document functionality (such as printing and attaching...

Genres: Technical

478 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2007

About the author

Robert L. Bogue -(MCSE,MSCA:Security,etc.)- Robert has a driving passion for delivering solutions through both teaching and learning. His drive for resolving problems is fueled by his creativity and innovation – by his ability to find solutions that others cannot find. His experience in the technical world has given him a unique opportunity to learn how to solve problems both in a technical sense and an organizational sense well before problems arise.

Robert is a community leader and has owned his business for over 10 years. He has authored 28 books and has been an editor for over 100 additional books. Robert strives to be better today than he was yesterday and achieves this through his strategy, facilitation, elicitation, coaching, and mentoring techniques and skills. He has received the prestigious Microsoft MVP designation seventeen times. He combines his love for emotional intelligence, communication skills gleaned from working in the IT world and having to talk to others, and his dynamic presentation skills to help change lives one at a time.

Robert is an engaging presenter who speaks at local, regional, national, and international events. He has spoken to tens of thousands of professionals. Robert has fine-tuned his ability to focus others into effective communicating to create a wonderful experience for his audiences. He can bring together all departments of an organization to help build communication bridges to increase employee satisfaction and therefore increase efficiency within the organization. He is committed to “making the complicated simple”. His approach to continual learning has led him to be an expert in instructional design and video production.

Learn more about his most recent book, Extinguish Burnout: A Practical Guide to Prevention and Recovery, by visiting https://ExtinguishBurnout.com.