Interestinger and interestinger...

A few posts ago I'd listed a few of my disappointments about SharePoint 2010. In particular I'd mentioned that SharePoint Templates Packages, or .stp files-- the file type for list and site templates, would no longer be supported in SharePoint 2010. And how, obviously, that would leave those of us with custom site templates, and the 20 Fantastic 40 templates from Microsoft itself, in jeopardy.

Well, I happened to be monitoring the End User SharePoint live coverage twitter feed for the SharePoint Conference because I am not happy about missing all that critical info because I'm not there, and I came across a link to a blog post about one of the sessions. The presenter of the session was none other than Laura Brown, who is Product Manager of SharePoint over at Microsoft. Listed in the blog post was an intriguing sentence:

"The Fantastic 40 templates will be fully upgradable to SharePoint 2010"

Hmmm, does that mean all of the templates (since half of them are already .wsp or "solutions packages" and therefore supported by default in the upcoming version of SharePoint), including .stp's? I am hoping so, because that means that all of the custom templates I use for my book and my presentations will be portable. Hundreds and hundreds of list items won't have to be painstakingly remade, custom views, fields, lists, libraries, and more, all safe to import into a bold new world...

...Well, at least into a new install of SharePoint 2010, and ready to be presented to a new audience in the future.

So for Liam and the other attendees of my sessions of the last year, here's hoping that Laura is saying that, somehow, .stp files, and those who made them, won't be abandoned come SharePoint 2010's release date.

You can see the blog entry I am referring to here.

Want to get your hands on the SharePoint 2010 beta?

Howdy all,

I've had access to the early, early beta 1 bits of SharePoint 2010 (and of course, focused on WSS, or "SharePoint Foundation") since early this summer.

But, just like you (I know, kind of ironic), I've been waiting for the Beta 2 bits to become available for me to play with (and write books based on). For some reason, only TAP participants (Microsoft's Technical Adoption Program-- only available to large, large early adopting businesses), have gotten any of the more recent (ie, actually working) bits. This means that MVPs are in the same boat as the general public when it comes to getting to work with the most recent beta release of SharePoint 2010.

The beta 2 release is basically considered "feature complete." I have been given to believe that this means that all the features of the release version of SP2010 are there, however, it may not be as snappy, resource lean, or, well, functional, as the release version (c'mon, it's a beta).

If you would like to sign up to get a copy of the SharePoint 2010 beta 2 release, you can sign up here http://sharepoint2010.microsoft.com/try-it/Pages/Trial.aspx.

Good luck. : )

SharePoint Conference, SharePoint 2010, and more...

Howdy all,

I had to take a brief break from blogging due to health issues, both mine and my equipment unfortunately. But I am back now, with a vengence, lol.

So, to start, SharePoint 2010.

I didn't get to go to the big, sold out SharePoint Conference in Las Vegas this year, but I did get to see the keynote, and have had access to the beta bits since earlier this summer. However, I was not allowed to tell you about the new version of SharePoint until today.

Today, timed to coincide with the SharePoint conference, the Non-Disclosure agreement against talking about SharePoint 2010 has been lifted.

A few points, just to give you a taste.

• The new version of Windows SharePoint Services, what would have been WSS 4.0, is now been rebranded as "SharePoint Foundation 2010." No one has absolutely promised me that, with this rebranding, it will remain to be free. I will keep you posted.
• Like Server 2008 R2-- SharePoint will not be available in 32 bit. In otherwords, SharePoint only comes in the 64 bit version. So if you haven't upgraded your current 32 bit systems (hey, don't fix what ain't broke, right?), you can't upgrade to the 2010 version of SharePoint.
• SharePoint Foundation 2010 (or what I'm going to call SPF) will offer lots of new things, and take away some old, beloved things. They've made home pages of team site automatically wiki pages-- and removed the option to have a wiki site out of the box. Active Directory Account Creation mode and Directory Management Services are still supported (much to my surprise).
• Currently there is no longer a Site template gallery at the top of each site collection. STP files are no longer supported. So all those cool site templates you've created (or downloaded from Microsoft)? Not gonna fly with SPF 2010. Now, site templates are packaged as "solutions." We'll see if there is going to be any support for converting STP's to WSPs, as time goes by.
• There is a new site template out of the box (oob) for SPF, Groupboard. This site template is very much like a team site template, only it's focused, it seems, on tasks that a receptionist or administrative assistant might need to do to manage a team. I'll be showing that to you soon.
• Some Business Data Catalog capabilities have been surfaced for this version of WSS (I mean SPF). Also, the limited data analysis features have been broadened with the Health analyzer and better monitoring.
• File/document management has some improvements, like Documents sets (something else I'll be showing you at some point).

Things I am not thrilled about:

• The ribbon. Now it takes three or more clicks to do what I could with one thanks to the new, context sensitive Ribbon. With SPF, instead of clicking on the link for the document library, and while the page is barely finished loading, clicking new, you now have to wait for the page to load, the tabs to be drawn, to click on the document tab, wait for that ribbon to populate, then click on another link to start a new document.
• Although STSADM is still going to be supported, MS is throwing everything into PowerShell. That means that there are, apparently, 500 new cmdlets (command-lets) for managing SharePoint in PowerShell. However, when I've used PowerShell to do things, it's much, much harder to do. We'll see what comes of that as the release data for SPF approaches. I don't have high hopes though.

And for those of you going for certification, well, that's 500 more things to learn.

• Edited to add another change to SharePoint that I really don't like with this next version--- The WID,windows internal database, or SSEE, SQL Server Embedded Edition, will not be what SPF installs if you use a Basic, single server installation. Nope-- SPF is taking a step backwards and going to use SQL Express for the database if you do a single server, basic install. I guess the WID worked too well and was valid competition for SQL? So for those of you using WSS 3.0 in a basic configuration-- and database size could be an issue-- do not upgrade. Don't even think about it, unless you want to invest in new hardware, software, and licenses to go full SQL Server. I've been mad about that for a while now, and had to get it off my chest. (that and not supporting all those Site Templates I've made, and taught people how to make, over the years)
  

Beyond the SPC conference, I am also prepping for two SharePoint Saturdays: One in Cleveland Ohio, Nov. 14, and one in Richmond, Virginia on Nov. 21. And, as I have been doing for months, I am still trying to find a venue in which to present the TTT content for a Windows Server 2008 R2 FireStarter event (right now a possibility in Pittsburgh on Dec. 9th).

That's it for now. More later. : )

SharePoint Saturday, Baltimore continued

As promised, I've got my presentation slides (in PDF) for the Frugal Admin Series: Session two- How to create a Dashboard (without code or SharePoint Designer) available temporarily for download. The session was intended to be about an hour in length.

SharePoint Saturday, Baltimore

I finished my adventures in Baltimore over the weekend and wanted to give a shout out to the wonderful organizers, attendees, and fellow speakers. I had a great time and, once again, the SharePoint Saturday audience was the best audience ever. I wish I had had more time to teach more stuff. I'm really greatful for all the appreciation they showed for the work I was doing. It makes all those hours prepping content worth it.

Speaking of content, please stop back in a day or two as I will have (until it's posted on the SharePoint Saturday Baltimore site) the slides for the Dashboards session available for download. It'll be in PDF form, ready to be read like a tips and tricks, recipe book for my faithful attendees.

Thanks again for attending. In the future, barring unforeseen circumstances, I expect to be presenting at the DC, New York, Cleveland/Columbus, and Pittsburgh SharePoint Saturdays. I wanted to give you all a heads up, as the Baltimore event filled up 12 hours after registration opened.

Also, for those of you who end up wait-listed. There ended up being less people that expected by mid-day in Baltimore. Now the mechanism for keeping track varies by site, but for those of you waiting to see if you can get in on the day of the event-- if you're turned away in the morning, check back later, there may be an opening for you then. I felt really bad that there were people from my area that wanted to go, but stayed away because they weren't sure the drive would be worth being locked out anyway.

And for those of you who have never attended a SharePoint Saturday-- these events (as I listed under the Happenin' Things heading in the right column of this blog) are FREE for attendees. They are put together and offered by volunteers in locations all over the US, as well as abroad. Check out http://www.sharepointsaturday.org/ for more about all the events going on.

IF you find an event that you plan on attending-- register as soon as possible, because they are filling up as more people know they're happening. The sessions vary by location (depending on what presenters can attend). Methods concerning wait-listing, registering, location types, etc., also vary per site- so check that site's website for real details about the event.

The vast majority (if not all) of the presenters are MVPs, so the quality of these sessions is top notch. These things are not some cheesy, marketing oriented, low quality shlock. This is serious, grassroots, community oriented, free information sharing from those of us in the community who know SharePoint and believe that you should know it too. There's developer stuff, admin stuff, power user stuff, etc., depending on who's speaking there. Always check the particular SharePoint Saturday site's sessions to see what's happening that you'd like to learn.

And please remember, we the speakers are offering our services for free, at our own expense, at these events. We're are doing this for you between our day jobs and other commitments. So if you like what we're doing, please let us know. It's what makes it worth it, and encourages us to do it again at the next location. : )

BTW-- I started Twittering (is that the right word?) especially for the Baltimore event, but plan to keep twittering for all events I work from now on. If you'd like to follow me, my Twitter username is: cacallahan.

Some sneak peek info about the next version of SharePoint, SharePoint 2010

This morning Microsoft posted some preview info about SharePoint 2010 on their SharePoint site: http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/2010/Sneak_Peek/Pages/default.aspx. This site has several videos, one for a general overview, one for IT Pros, and one for Developers. In addition, there's data on what kind of specs the new SharePoint will need.

What isn't covered, and this isn't surprising, is what exactly will be in the new Server edition, and what will be available in good old SharePoint Services 2010.

As far as details, well, they're being held of until October, for the SharePoint Conference in Las Vegas. Apparently, it's at that event that SharePoint 2010 is really going to be unveiled.

Now, I can send in abstracts for the event and possibly speak there. However, I am not sure what people would like to see. So if you've got ideas for sessions, questions about the new version of SharePoint Services that might be a good session topic, or otherwise think it's a good idea for me to present at that event, please let me know. : ) I've been spending the summer doing Frugal Admin stuff, and could use some brainstorming.

A few SharePoint-y things going on

I've got two things going on this month involving my sessions that I thought you might want to know about:

1-- The SSWUG folks are rebroadcasting every, single session I've ever done for them (including the ones that are not my favorites, lol). If you're interested (and you are/or want to become a member of that online SQL user group), the sessions will be streamed essentially back to back on the 22nd and 23rd of this month (July 2009). I'll be there for the live chats if you'd like to come visit. To see what those sessions are, check out their blurbs in the "Happenin' things" section of this blog on the right of the page.

(Some inside knowledge for my readers, the frugal admin series of sessions were done this year. The camera set up in the "new" studio was a bit awkward for me, but otherwise I was pretty well rested, familiar with the situation, and healthier. However, for the sessions that are being repeated from 2008, I wasn't so lucky. I was completely new to talking to a camera in an otherwise empty room, had a bit of food poisoning that day, and was suffering from a touch of undiagnosed clinical hypothyroidism (it's since been taken care of, but at the time I was struggling to do the hours and hours of presentation in the new environment). The first presentation of that set (and still my favorite content to do, ever) was about exploring (and exploiting) the free templates available online at Codeplex and Microsoft (namely the fantastic 40 templates). Since then I have expanded that session for the frugal admin series to include a bunch of nifty free tools... but I digress. That freebie session, as it were, is the best of the 2008 sessions, because it was the first one. After that I was so completely exhausted I was grey. So if you'd like to see me working under duress, feel free to stop by and check out those additional 2008 sessions... ; )

2-- On July 25th, I'll be in Baltimore (actually at the UMBC training center, 1442 South Rolling Road in Halthrope Maryland) at the free SharePoint Saturday event, presenting the Dashboards session of the Frugal Admin series. I am not sure exactly when my session will be that day, but I am hoping it'll be in the afternoon, for those of you wanting to drive up and check it out. I'll be giving away a free copy of my book (I only have three copies for giveaway there)-- and, of course, I'll be glad to sign it for you. This is a live and in person event, at no cost to you (except for travel), so if you can make it, I'd love to see you there.

In August I hope to have more time to finish creating the fall and winter Frugal Admin sessions. This will also be the time I put the spring sessions to pasture and offer them for free on my site (making those videos will take some time, so they'll be up no earlier than the end of the month). So stay tuned, this busy summer should soon be winding down, which will give me more time to post things here (and I do have all kinds of ideas).