Real World SharePoint 2007: Indispensable Experiences From 16 MOSS and WSS MVPs (Programmer to Programmer) (Paperback)

~ Robert Bogue (Author), Adam Buenz (Author), (Author), Stacy Draper (Author), Luis Du Solier Grinda (Author), Todd Klindt (Author), Jason Medero (Author), Dustin Miller (Author), Shane Perran (Author), Joris Poelmans (Author), Heather Solomon (Author), Nick Swan (Author), Jan Tielens (Author), Mike Walsh (Author), Shane Young (Author), (Editor)
Key Phrases: web publishing rule, master page gallery, class library, Visual Studio, Big Ideas, Central Administration (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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) so sensitive information does not leave an organization.

• Upgrading from SPS 2003 to MOSS 2007 Using the Gradual Method by Shane Young: One of the biggest trends in the SharePoint community is upgrading from SharePoint Portal Server 2003 (SPS 2003) to MOSS. This examines all of the different upgrade approaches, and then walks the reader through the gradual method for upgrading. Contains a wealth of field experience learned from performing many upgrades.

This book is also available as part of the 4-book SharePoint 2007 Wrox Box (ISBN: 0470431946) with these 4 books:

• Professional SharePoint 2007 Development (ISBN: 0470117567)
• Real World SharePoint 2007 (ISBN: 0470168358)
• Professional Microsoft SharePoint 2007 Design (ISBN: 047028580X)
• Professional SharePoint 2007 Web Content Management Development (ISBN: 0470224754)

From the Back Cover

Written by the most well-known SharePoint experts in the field, this book arms you with in-depth information on the critical areas within the platform. Sixteen Microsoft MVPs guide you through SharePoint 2007's products and technologies, focusing on topics related to both WSS and MOSS. The authors share their unique knowledge and experience on the specific parts of SharePoint that they know best.

Covering the full breadth and depth of SharePoint, you'll learn everything from how to configure forms-based authentication and administer a SharePoint site to developing a publishing site within MOSS and building workflow solutions. You'll find different approaches to site design and corporate site branding using SharePoint Designer 2007 or using CSS depending on your needs. You'll see advanced development scenarios using Excel Services for reports and advanced administrative functions for securing SharePoint communication. All of this will help you develop a dynamic SharePoint site that meets the needs of your company.

What you will learn from this book

• The strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches to SharePoint authentication

• How to keep your SharePoint farm healthy including the essential command utilities you'll depend on

• A structured approach to developing SharePoint sites that eases management and maintenance

• Web Part development with C#

• Creating Workflows with either WSS or MOSS including InfoPath® forms with MOSS

• Developing applications with the Business Data Catalog, Excel® Services, and Information Rights Management

• The different approaches to a SPS 2003 to MOSS 2007 upgrade emphasizing the gradual method

Who this book is for

This book is for experienced .NET developers, Office (VBA) developers, and IT professionals developing and implementing SharePoint solutions.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 504 pages
• Publisher: Wrox (August 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470168358
• ISBN-13: 978-0470168356
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,902 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SharePoint Administrators - Buy this book!, August 29, 2007

By	Andrew Velez (Southern California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A better title for this book would be "Everything You Wanted to Know About SharePoint But Were Afraid to Ask (or Google Couldn't Tell You). If you are a SharePoint administrator, and you want to do something that slightly deviates from the out of the box installation of WSS 3.0 or MOSS, then you definately should buy this book. I own 6 WSS 3.0 books and by far this one is the best. Other books tell you "you can do x advanced feature;" this book says "this is how you implement and use x advanced feature." Among other things it will teach you setting up form authentication, an in-depth look into STSADM, using Excel Services, Business Data Catalogs, and how (and why) to use SharePoint Designer. This book isn't for people just starting off with SharePoint, and I would still recommend another resource for the mundane type questions. However, if you want to really know how to maximize your SharePoint implementation, this book is definately for you.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Next best thing to having a Sharepoint MVP on the payroll, October 4, 2007

By	Michael R. Groh "dad" (Florida) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Just got my copy of "Real World Sharepoint 2007", and I'm really glad it's here. I've been tasked with converting an old Outlook application (written in VB6) to Sharepoint 2007 and was having a lot of trouble getting a grasp on the process of building a brand-new Sharepoint site. This book really helped bring things into focus.

I like the fact that this isn't a 7-pound doorstop book. Each chapter is to the point, and covers its topic with enough detail to keep me going. I'm getting my questions answered without spending hours searching the internet for bad or misleading information or having to wade though pages and pages of irrelevant fluff.

Normally I shy away from "ensemble" books with multiple authors. Too often the writing and coverage varies from chapter to chapter, and I come away feeling cheated on topics that weren't adequately covered. Fortunately, these guys avoided that trap. Each contributor took on a topic near and dear to him, and they've all done a great job of assembling an excellent Sharepoint reference. There are things in this book that I haven't seen anyplace else, and it's been a big help in my work.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book with practical advice, October 8, 2007

By	Darvish Shadravan "bigd" (Des Moines, Iowa) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As the title indicates, this book has a lot of great information that you can put to work as you deploy SharePoint 2007. I like the way each chapter represents a discrete topic so that you can pull the book out when you need to accomplish a specific task and easily find the guidance you need.

Unlike some other books, this one is not just filled with info you can find in the product documentation. The MVP's that wrote the book provide advice that appears to come from actually doing real implementations. My only nitpick is that I wish there was a full chapter dedicated to InfoPath and Forms Services, but there are other books for that topic.

Definitely worth the investment for SharePoint admins or anyone else that needs details and directions to accomplish specific functionality with SharePoint. Also a handy reference for SharePoint developers that don't have any experience with the newer features of 2007 (BDC, Excel Services, etc).