Kristof De Causemaeker - Information Worker

Technology specialist in Windows & Web applications

2008-03-16T18:43:00.002+01:00

Last week I passed Exam 070-526 - Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0 - Windows-based applications.

Now I'm a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist for .NET framework 2.0 Web and Windows applications

Outlook Express: Exceeding the maximum mailbox size

2008-02-21T20:07:00.002+01:00

A small tip for Outlook Express users:

Few days ago I found out that Outlook does not warn us (with a suitable error message) when one of its archive maps (*.DBX file) is too big. In fact Outlook Express has an archive map per folder (inbox, outbox, sent items, ...).

For example: At the moment that 'Postvak IN.DBX' is too big (> 2Gb), Outlook Express will try to connect to the mail server, but returns a hexadecimal error which tell us that Outlook Express cannot connect to the server.

So, outlook express users, keep each folder in your OE mailbox smaller than 2 Gigs. Attention, if your inbox folder is too big, it is still possible to send mails when the 'OUTBOX.DBX' and 'Sent items' file is smaller than 2 Gigs!

No problems for Windows Vista users. In Vista you do not have Outlook Express, but Windows Mail. The new mail client stores its mails as files (*.eml) and not as database files. Don't think you can store the whole world in your mailbox, because all those mail files are stored in your windows profile folder!

Happy blogging in 2008!

2008-01-01T13:00:00.000+01:00

Happy blogging in 2008!

May all your dreams come true!

Microsoft Sync Framework CTP

2007-12-26T19:25:00.000+01:00

Microsoft has released the Microsoft Sync Framework CTP 1 few weeks ago.
With the MS Sync Framework you can easily synchronize any application, any type of data, using any protocol over any network.

The steps below explains how you to synchronize a folder. In fact, you can use the following example to create a backup of a certain folder:

//Start method
public void Backup()
{
/*1. Create or retrieve SyncId file (a Sync Id file contains a GUID to uniquely identify each folder*/
SyncId sourceSyncId = GetSyncId(Path.Combine(sourcePath, idFileName));
SyncId destinationSyncId = GetSyncId(Path.Combine(destinationPath,idFileName));

/* Adding synchronization options */
FileSyncOptions options = FileSyncOptions.ExplicitDetectChanges | FileSyncOptions.RecycleDeletes;

/* Adding synchronization filters: do not synchronize/backup the SyncId file.*/
FileSyncScopeFilter filter = new FileSyncScopeFilter();
filter.FileNameExcludes.Add(idFileName); // Exclude the generated SyncId file

/* Detect synchronization changes.*/
DetectChanges(sourceSyncId, sourcePath, filter, options);
DetectChanges(destinationSyncId, destinationPath, filter, options);

/* Synchronize (backup) source to destinationfolder*/
SyncFiles(sourceSyncId, destinationSyncId, sourcePath, destinationPath, filter, options);
}

In the Backup() method we used following supporting methods:

private void DetectChanges(SyncId syncId, string path, FileSyncScopeFilter filter, FileSyncOptions options)
{
using (FileSyncProvider provider = new FileSyncProvider(syncId, path, filter, options))
{
provider.DetectChanges();
}
}

private void SyncFiles(SyncId sourceSyncId, SyncId destinationSyncId, string sourcePath, string destinationPath, FileSyncScopeFilter filter, FileSyncOptions options)
{
using (FileSyncProvider sourceProvider = new FileSyncProvider(sourceSyncId, sourcePath, filter, options))
using (FileSyncProvider destinationProvider = new FileSyncProvider(destinationSyncId, destinationPath, filter, options))
{
//Create SyncAgent
SyncAgent agent = new SyncAgent();
agent.LocalProvider = sourceProvider;
agent.RemoteProvider = destinationProvider;

//Upload = Synchronize files from LocalProvider to RemoteProvider
agent.Direction = SyncDirection.Upload;

//Synchronize!
agent.Synchronize();
}
}

private SyncId GetSyncId(string idFilePath)
{
SyncId replicaId = null;

//Try to read existing ReplicaID
if (File.Exists(idFilePath))
{
using (StreamReader sr = File.OpenText(idFilePath))
{
string strGuid = sr.ReadLine();
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(strGuid))
{
replicaId = new SyncId(new Guid(strGuid));
}
}
}
//If not exist, Create ReplicaID file
if (replicaId == null)
{
using (FileStream idFile = File.Open(idFilePath, FileMode.OpenOrCreate, FileAccess.ReadWrite))
{
using (StreamWriter sw = new StreamWriter(idFile))
{
replicaId = new SyncId(Guid.NewGuid());
sw.WriteLine(replicaId.GetGuidId().ToString("D"));
}
}
}

return replicaId;
}

Resources

Click here to download the MS Sync Framework CTP 1.

Sync framework Development Center

Sync framework Blog

Integrated WiX support in SharpDevelop

2007-12-22T14:38:00.000+01:00

In fact, WiX is the Open source toolset which generates Windows Installation packages or MSI files. WiX provides command line tools to build MSI packages.

Wikipedia describes the WiX toolset as follows:

The Windows Installer XML toolset (WiX), pronounced "wicks", is a free, open-source toolset that builds Windows Installer (MSI) packages from an XML document. It supports a command-line environment that developers may integrate into their build processes to build MSI and MSM setup packages. ...

The developer has to create an xml file with .Wxs extension. This file contains all files, folders, registry keys, SQL databases, IIS directories, users, shortcuts, … which must be included in the installation. Creating the .Wxs file is not that easy. Currently, there is no user-friendly application to create this file. There is already an Open Source project, called WixGUI, but they haven’t released anything yet ...

Compilation process

To build our MSI file with WiX, we need 2 executables: Candle.exe & Light.exe.
1.Candle compiles the .Wxs file into a .WixObj file. (intermediary xml file)
2.Light transforms the .WixObj into the final MSI package

You can create your own batch file with following commands:
candle Test.wxs
light.exe -out Test.msi Test.wixobj

Sharp Developer

Did you ever heard about SharpDevelop? SharpDevelop is the Open Source Integrated Development Environment in contrast to Visual Studio IDE. SharpDevelop has also integrated WiX support. You can visually create your .Wxs file. You can also design custom installation dialogs and watching the result before executing the installation package. By pressing F5 (alias ‘Build solution’) the Candle and Light executables are automatically executed. So by building your solution, your MSI file will be created automatically!

SharpDevelop has Setup projects which has built-in WiX support:

In the Setup project you have a tree-structure with all files, directories, components, ... which can be added visually.

You can also view the resulting customized installation dialogs, without executing the installation package:

Remarks

There is also a project, called Votive, which provides WiX support for Visual Studio .NET/2005/2008. This integration allows you to have intelliSense in the Wxs file, but you cannot create files, directories, etc… visually!

References

SharpDevelop Community
WiX online tutorials
Article on SharpDevelop and integrated WiX support

Syntax formatters for blogs

2007-11-27T21:14:00.000+01:00

Do you prefer an online code formatter for blogs? click here to use the Ejeliot Code Formatter

Alternative: Syntax Highlighting for Windows Live Writer

Check also the 10 tips for Windows Live Writer on this website.

Creating drawings on Mobile devices

2007-11-26T20:48:00.000+01:00

I am currently developing a mobile application for my customer. In that application the customer wants to create and modify pictures/drawings. Those pictures must be stored in a database as binary data.

Possible solutions
There are two possible solutions:

Using the Microsoft Ink controls

Implementing a custom paint

Using the Microsoft Ink conrols
The Microsoft Ink controls are not included in the .NET framework. You must download the Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition Software Development Kit 1.7 to use the Microsoft.Ink namspace. After installation the Microsoft.Ink library will be installed in the GAC.

The Ink controls are especially developed for Tablet PCs. In fact the Ink controls provides a wrapper class around a COM component.

The namespace contains 4 Ink controls:

InkEdit

InkPicture

InkCollector

InkOverlay

In our project, we are using the InkCollector to create and modify drawings. It is not necessary to use the Ink controls for text recognition. In fact it is also an out-of-the-box drawing surface to generate images.

We can store the drawings created by the Ink controls in:

ISF (Ink Serialized Format)

Fortified Gif image (regular Gif + metadata in ISF)

HTML (with Base64-encoded fortified gif)

Xml (with Base64-encoded ISF)

When you need to modify the stored files, you must use a ISF/Xml file or Fortified gif image.

You can save the Ink as fortified Gif or ISF/Xml file by calling the Save method on the Ink property of the ink control.

byte[] fortifiedGif = anInkCollector.Ink.Save(PersistenceFormat.Gif)

When it is not necessary to modify the images in the future, you can access the Renderer property on the Ink control to generate a picture in a .NET ImageFormat (Gif, jpg, Bmp, Png, ...)

Click here to learn more about the Microsoft.Ink namespace.

Custom Paint solution
In fact, it seems to be quite easy, but writing a good custom paint is not easy at all. I conduct the possibilities and I survived following problems:

The more lines, points on the form, the more the form is flickering
Drawing too fast, do not result in a solid line, but in a range of dots.

The first problem can be easily resolved by a search on Google. (Code Project flicker-free drawing project). The second problem is tough!. In fact the MouseMove event does not fire for each movement an event. This result in a dotted line, not in a solid line ! We can use a Line-Drawing Algorithm, for example the 'Bresenham Line-Drawing algorithm.

You can download the Phoenix Paint project (Open source project under BSD license), author: http://grapefruitopia.com.

Conclusion
Both solutions provides a drawing tool. The Ink controls are specially created for Tablet PCs and uses the Ink Serialized Format to store drawings. On the other hand, the custom paint solution is more open. You determine the resolution, size, colors, format and compression.

The choice is up 2 you !

Using SandCastle with XpertBuildDoc

2007-09-17T19:34:00.000+02:00

This weekend I read a nice about SandCastle article of Maarten Balliauw.

I also want to mention that besides the SHFB project, we can also use the XpertBuildDoc add-in for Visual Studio 2005. Which is also free and is also integrated into Visual Studio 2005.

You can download the add-in here

More information
SandCastle June 2007 CTP
XPertDoc products
XPertBuildDoc forums
Francis Dion's blog

Microsoft Certified Professional Developer: Web developer! (MCPD)

2007-08-28T19:20:00.000+02:00

Friday I passed the PRO: Designing and Developing Web-Based Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework exam. (70-547 - Visual Studio 2005 credentials)

Now I am a Microsoft Certified Professional Web Developer. (MCPD Web developer)

2007-08-07T21:09:00.000+02:00

In this blog post I refers to the Microsoft SDK for Open XML Format to create Word documents with .NET code. Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint2007 are using the Open XML format as file format. This format is based on ZIP and XML. The following example will help you to create Word documents programmatically.

Guidelines

Add '\OpenXMLSDK\1.0.0531\lib\Microsoft.Office.DocumentFormat.OpenXml.dll' as reference to your Visual Studio project.
Add another reference to the WindowsBase dll of the .NET 3.0 framework.
Adding word document through the following code:

// How to: Create a new package as a Word document.
public static void CreateNewWordDocument(string document)
{
using(WordprocessingDocument wordDoc = WordprocessingDocument.Create(document,WordprocessingDocumentType.Document))
{
// Set the content of the document so that Word can open it.
MainDocumentPart mainPart = wordDoc.AddMainDocumentPart();
SetMainDocumentContent(mainPart);
}
}

// Set content of MainDocumentPart.
public static void SetMainDocumentContent(MainDocumentPart part)
{
const string docXml = @" Hello world!"

using (Stream stream = part.GetStream())
{
byte[] buf = (new UTF8Encoding()).GetBytes(docXml);
stream.Write(buf, 0, buf.Length);
}
}

Tips
To create Excel sheets, you can use the SpreadsheetDocument and to create Powerpoint presentations you can use the PresentationDocument

Downloads
Microsoft SDK for Open XML Formats (Microsoft)
Open XML File Format Code Snippets for Visual Studio 2005 (Microsoft)
Office Open XML Format file creation (CodePlex)

Visual Studio 2008 beta 2 released

2007-07-27T07:00:00.000+02:00

Visual Studio 2008 beta 2 has been released.

Click on the link to download:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/default.aspx

Using the SQL Server's Timestamp datatype

2007-07-26T20:17:00.000+02:00

The Timestamp datatype is supported by SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 2005.

It is a good way to indicate the row version because it represents a unique value.
A field defined as 'timestamp' is automatically updated by SQL Server when rows are inserted or updated. You cannot read the content of a timestamp field in the Management Studio. It is encapsulated as 'binary'. ('Timestamp' is stored in 8 bytes as binary(8)).

Why is the timestamp datatype useful?
The timestamp datatype guarantees to be unique across the DB. It is generally used as a DB generated ID in tables.

Other methods?
You can also use a DateTime datatype to indicate a row's version. A datetime field is not automatically updated and is not unique across the database.

Click here to read more about SQL Server 2000/2005 datatypes

Workflow Persistency: adding Oracle and MySQL support

2007-07-25T19:13:00.000+02:00

Workflow Foundation (WF) provide assistance to use SQL Server as datasource for workflow persistency and tracking.Companies which want to work with Oracle, cannot use the same scripts and default logic.
Workflow Foundation uses services to accomplish this task. Normally you want add a SqlWorkflowPersistenceService to the Workflow Runtime Manager to enable workflow persistency.
In case of Oracle you can download the Oracle Persistency Service for Oracle databases written by Mick.

For Oracle & MySQL support, you can download the Workflow Foundation Tools (release 0.2.2 -alpha at this moment)Release date: 15th July 2007

To read more about 'Workflow Persistence' you can read the sample chapter of Bruce Bukovic's book by clicking on this link.

Bruce's fantastic: 'PRO WF, Windows Workflow in .NET 3.0'

2007-07-24T20:51:00.000+02:00

I would like to suggest the wonderful book of Bruce Bukovics.
Last month I read his book "Pro WF: Windows Workflow in .NET 3.0." which I can only suggest to everyone!

The book explains you every aspect of Workflow Foundation in a very practical way!
So, just buy and read the book.

To read his blog, just click here.

EventDeliveryFailedException in State Machine Workflow

2007-06-19T10:11:00.000+02:00

I am currently diving into Windows Workflow Foundation. During my first steps (kind of hello world examples), some errors occurs ... Sometimes it's hard to resolve some errors...
Let's have a look at the EventDeliveryFailedException ...

Has this error ever occured?
An unhandled exception of type 'System.Workflow.Activities.EventDeliveryFailedException' occurred in System.Workflow.Activities.dll.
Additional information: Event "AskWorkflowValues" on interface type "App.GeneralLib.IMyService" for instance id "8385d402-19fb-4549-a765-c7e2b4c0a856" cannot be delivered.

When adding an eventDrivenActivity to a State Machine's worfklow State Activity, you wouldn't receive this exception when firing an event from the host application to the workflow.

This exception only occurs, in my case, when adding an eventDrivenActivity to the State Machine's workflow self... (and not to a state activity).

Solution

The host application fires an event through a local service method. In that method you must specify the ExternalDataEventArgs parameter. Now to resolve the problem you must set the WaitForIdle property of the ExternalDataEventArgs instance.

If this property is true then the workflow should go idle before raising the event by the host application through the local service. At default, this property is false and the event can only be catched by an EventDrivenActivity within a State Activity. So, in other words the workflow has to process it things first before this event can be deliverd. That's why the WaitForIdle must be true.

Local Service Interface

[ExternalDataExchange]
public interface IMyService
{
event EventHandler AskWorkflowValues;
}

Local Service implementation

[Serializable]
public class MyService:IMyService
{
public void OnAskWorkflowValues(ExternalDataEventArgs e)
{
if (AskWorkflowValues != null)
{
AskWorkflowValues(null, e);
}
}

Host application

...
//calling local service's method to fire an event to the state machine workflow
localService.OnAskWorkflowValues(GetEventArgs(instance.InstanceId));
...

ExternalDataEventArgs GetEventArgs(Guid instanceId)
{
ExternalDataEventArgs e = new ExternalDataEventArgs(instanceId);
e.WaitForIdle = true;
return e;
}

Debugging Workflows in Visual Studio 2005

2007-06-13T19:35:00.000+02:00

To debug your workflow library, execute following steps:

Compile both projects (GUI/Business Workflow library)

Go the the Workflow Library project's properties

Go to the Debug tab

Set the 'Start External Program' below the 'Start Action' section

Browse to the compiled GUI project and select the executable (.exe).

Make sure that your Business Workflow Library is set as startup project

Exam MCTS 070-528 successfully passed!

2007-05-07T20:54:00.000+02:00

Friday I passed Exam 070-528 - Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0 - Web-based Client Development.

Now I'm a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist for .NET framework 2.0 Web applications!

TaskPanes and Javascript in InfoPath 2003

2007-04-17T21:43:00.000+02:00

Using HTML, CSS and JavaScript in Task panes is sometimes very tricky. Some functionalities are not allowed, but InfoPath do not alert errors … frustrating … isn’t it ?

HTML/CSS samples

Show/Hide DIV tags

Javascript samples

onload event of BODY tag
javascript included in href attribute of anchor
you are not allowed to talk to window.external.Window.XDocument; when using ASP.NET pages in a fully trusted, signed form.

Printing the Task pane’s content

Do not add the javascript:window.print() method not to the href attribute of the anchor tag to print … In this way (using href) you are not sure (100%) that the print functionality works! InfoPath 2003 do not generate errors when you try to trigger the print link, but … in Internet Explorer this works perfectly!

A possible solution is using the onClick event of the anchor tag. In this way you are sure that the window.print() method is called and the Print window will appear.

There is no other way to print the content of a custom task pane. So use the window.print();

Export to Word and Excel

It is quit simple to export your custom task pane content to Word and Excel. Because Word and Excel supports HTML, we can save the content of our custom task pane (html) as Word or Excel document

Suppose you an ASP.NET web page (.aspx) which button to export content to Word and Excel.

When the user clicks on the ‘export to Word’ button, we will dynamically add a very small IFrame tag to the page which will call another ASP.NET page. This page is responsible to generate the word or excel document. You can use the QueryString to add a parameter which indicates the type of export (xls/doc).

Response.AddHeader("content-disposition", "attachment;filename=defaultExportFileName");
Response.ContentType = @"application/msword";
Response.Write(“your html content”);

The Content Types are defined in the register (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT). Select the .doc or .xls folder and have a look at the Content Type.

When clicking on the ‘Export to Word’ button, a download window will pop up to open or save your document.

Use HTML pages in fully trusted, signed forms

It is impossible to call window.external.Window.XDocument when using an ASP.NET page in a fully trusted, signed form. The external window seems to be unavailable at that moment.

If we use an static HTML page as Task pane, we can access the external window!
I suggest to communicate from InfoPath 2003 to the task pane. The communication in the other way is quit difficult if you use fully trusted, signed forms.

Using parameters in HTML Task Pane

It is possible to use a QueryString, also with a static HTML page which is included as resource file. Just call aHtmlTaskpaneObj.Navigate("start.html?key=value");

You can parse the QueryString by using JavaScript. [Read article about parsing javascript]

Hiding Task panes at startup

It is not allowed to hide Task Panes in the Start Up method because not all InfoPath objects are loaded at that time. So it is possible that your Task pane is not hidden, when the form is started. The time the task pane needs to hide depends on the form load.

Blogger is integrated in Microsoft Office Word 2007

2007-03-29T20:07:00.001+02:00

Writing blog posts in Microsoft Office Word 2007 is now much easier.

Click on the Office button to select 'New'
Select 'New Blog Post…'
Configure your blog provider (in my case Blogger)
After registrating the blog provider, you are able to publish posts on your blog !

Taskpanes: Moving, resizing and navigation

2007-03-29T19:31:00.000+02:00

Have you ever had the idea to move your InfoPath 2003 taskpane to the bottom of your screen, to the left or the right?
A taskpane cannot be moved (in default cases), but by using customized Office code we can do it !

Move and resize task panes

using Microsoft.Office.Interop.InfoPath.SemiTrust;
using Microsoft.Office.Core;
using System.Reflection;

//The following function unwraps the CommandBars object so that the CommandBars object
//is easier to use in the code.
private CommandBars UnwrapCommandbarsObject(ObjectWrapper commandBarsWrapper)
{

//Get the System.Type object for the CommandBars wrapper object.
Type t = commandBarsWrapper.GetType().BaseType;

//Use the Type object to retrieve the InnerObject property of the wrapper.
CommandBars objCommandBars = (CommandBars)t.InvokeMember("InnerObject", BindingFlags.Public BindingFlags.NonPublic BindingFlags.Instance BindingFlags.GetProperty, null, commandBarsWrapper, null);

//Return the result.
return objCommandBars;
}

//Move/Resize
private void ButtonClickAction()
{
CommandBars objCommandBars = UnwrapCommandbarsObject( (ObjectWrapper) thisXDocument.View.Window.CommandBars);

CommandBar oCommandBar = objCommandBars["Task Pane"];
oCommandBar.Width = 600;
}

Navigate to website urls
HTMLTaskPane tp = (HTMLTaskPane)this.thisXDocument.View.Window.TaskPanes[0];
tp.Visible = true;
tp.Navigate("myWebSite");

In InfoPath 2007 it would be:
HtmlTaskPane pane = (HtmlTaskPane)this.CurrentView.Window.TaskPanes[0];

Requirements

You need full trust!
Add a reference to COM component -> Microsoft Office 11 Object Library

Disadvantage

Changing the behaviour of your TaskPane at runtime, also effects InfoPath at design time !
You can only undo the TaskPane customization by re-executing the reversed code.

Resources

Microsoft

How to Validate Arguments Of Public Methods? (Microsoft Design - CA1062)

2007-03-06T19:04:00.000+01:00

FxCop can drive you crazy, but ... It improves the quality of your code!
Tip: enable the Code Analysis in the beginning!

I am sure that you have ever seen the following FxCop warning:
Microsoft.Design --> CA1062:ValidateArgumentsOfPublicMethods

This article gives you a uniform way of validating parameters!

1. Validating parameters in every public method
If you have to check every parameter every public method. This means that you add at least 3 lines ...

Example
if( condition )
{
// exception statement;
}

Disadvantages:

Re-writing code every time you need to check parameters
3 lines of code extra in every public method which has parameters.

2. Using the ParameterCheck class for Parameter validations
You can reduce the 3 lines of code into 1 line. Just make a separate Visual Studio Project which is responsable to check parameters. It is a static class which has static methods.

ParameterCheck Method Overview

NotNullOrEmpty
Checks if a string is empty or null
NotNull
Checks when an object is null. In case of a DateTime object, it cannot be the MinValue (which will be compared with null)
WithinRange (for int)
Checks if the Int value (16/32/64 bit) has a value within the range (ranges inclusive)
WithinRange (for double)
Checks if the decimal value (decimal, single, float, double) has a value within the range (ranges inclusive)
WithinRange (for DateTime)
Checks if the DateTime value has a value within the range (ranges inclusive)
BiggerOrEquals (for int)
Checks if a number has a value which is bigger or equals to the minimum value (minimum value included)
SmallerOrEquals (for int)
Checks if a number has a value which is smaller or equals to the maximum value (maximum value included)

Example
public static void NotNullOrEmpty(string parameterName, string parameterValue)
{
if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(parameterValue))
{
throw new ArgumentNullException(parameterName);
}
}

Advantages

Just 1 line of code!
Reusability!
Same result

Disadvantage

FxCop/Code Analysis does not recognize your class as being a valid parameter validation. You should add a SuppressMessage (right-click on the warning in the error list and select 'suppress message')

You can download the code of this article here.

The fabulous 40

2007-02-22T18:59:00.000+01:00

40 application templates for Windows Sharepoint Services 3.0 are available. They are developed with Office SharePoint Designer 2007 and incorporate many of the new features in WSS 3.0.

You can download them as a single package download. (English version)

Surviving the MCTS 70-536 exam

2007-02-20T19:09:00.000+01:00

This morning I finally passed Exam 70–536: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation. Which is a good start to become Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications.

To study this exam, I used the MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-536): Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0–Application Development Foundation. A very good study guide to pass this exam!

How to manually decoupling your Visual Studio 2005 solution from Visual Source Safe 2005

2007-02-19T21:05:00.000+01:00

Follow these steps to decouple your VS .NET 2005 Solution from Visual Source Safe 2005 by yourself:

First of all: take a backup ! ;-)
Go to the properties of the folder where you can find all your project files.
Uncheck the 'Read-only' checkbox.
Open the .csproj file and delete following tags
<SccProjectName>SAK</SccProjectName>
<SccLocalPath>SAK</SccLocalPath>
<SccAuxPath>SAK</SccAuxPath>
<SccProvider>SAK</SccProvider>

You can find them below the Project > PropertyGroup tags
Delete following files:
*.vspscc
*.user
*.scc
Go to the solution file and delete following lines
Project
SccProjectName = ...
SccAuxPath = ...
SccLocalPath = ...
SccProvider = ...

GlobalSection(SourceCodeControl) = preSolution
SccNumberOfProjects = ...
SccLocalPath0 = ...
SccProjectUniqueName1 = ...
SccLocalPath1 = ...
SccProjectFilePathRelativizedFromConnection1 = ...
SccProjectUniqueName2 = ...
...
SccLocalPath9 = .
SccProjectFilePathRelativizedFromConnection9 = ...
EndGlobalSection
Open your solution file again...
If your solution doesn't want to open Visual Studio, then you have to open Visual Studio 2005 manually.Open the solution file through the Open Dialog in VS 2005.

Succes!

SharePoint, WebParts, Impersonation and Editing List Items

2007-02-15T20:27:00.000+01:00

What the hell is Impersonation?
Impersonation is one of the most useful mechanisms in Windows security. It's also fragile and easy to misuse. Careful use of impersonation can lead to a secure, easy-to-administer application. Misuse can open gaping security holes. In fact Bob can be Sarah and Sarah can be Bob :-)

Impersonation is still useful in some cases. This story is about WSS 2.0/Microsoft Sharepoint Portal Server 2003, but is still interesting for other applications in .NET.

Suppose ..
You have to create a webpart which can give users read permissions to certain files or folders.
You want to store extra information in a custom list with custom properties (from/until/user's full name).

The SharePoint List, which is the data store, must be synchronized through the webpart. Attention, the user may not modify the list by himself. So in this case, the list is read-only for a certain group of people and the webpart is our user interface, which can modify the list.

Solution
To be sure that the current user can only view the list, we will deny the edit list items' permission and only give him the read-only permission on the list.
Now we have a problem ... How can we write data programmatically to the custom List if you haven't the 'edit list items' permission? Of course, "Bob will we Sarah" ... impersonation !

Impersonation
The webpart is running as the current user called Bob. Suppose that 'Sarah' is a 'background user' which has the permission to edit list items. Bob hasn't the permission so ... He transforms into 'Sarah'. Click here to download the Impersonator class which helps you by transforming Bob into Sarah.

// current user : Bob (read only list permission)

Impersonator imp = new Impersonator("domain", "Sarah", "password");
imp.Impersonate();

// current user : Sarah (edit list permission)
// => now you can create new list items into the custom list

imp.Undo();

// Do not forget to call Undo(). This will stop the impersonation, which transforms Sarah back into Bob.

Editing List Items and Security conflicts

Please write the code below after the Impersonate() call and before the Undo() call.
It seems to be very easy. It is logical ... but permissions are tricky ...

SPSite site = new SPSite("http://server");
site.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true; //resolves this problem: The security validation for this page is invalid
SPWeb web = site.Rootweb;
SPList list = web.Lists["My Custom List"];

SPListItem newItem = list.Items.Add();
newItem["from"] = DateTime.Now;
newItem["until"] = DateTime.Now.AddDays(10);

newItem.Update(); // you only need the permission to edit List Items.
list.Update(); //when updating the list, you need to have the permission to modify List settings
//in this case we don't need an list update, because Sarah has no sufficient rights.

Difference between SPListItem.Update() and SPList.Update()

If you are administrator or another person which can modify the List settings, you can call the SPList.Update() without any problems. SPList.Update() do not only update the data in the list, but also fields and settings. That's why you need some more rights.

If you can only edit List Items, you need to call the SPListItem.Update() method.

This is very logical, but so frustrating when receiving an E_ACCESSDENIED exception.

More Information on SharePoint Security and Impersonation
Click here to read Jay Nathan's article on 15seconds.

I've been tagged... siX things you don't know about me

2007-02-06T20:08:00.000+01:00

Did you know ... ?!

... I love Spain. A great country, The sun and an attractive language! If I have some leisure time I would follow spanish lessons (long term course). Kristof goes latino ;-)

... I followed 'spanish lessons for travelling' Last year?

... I love the French wines. The wines in the region Languedoc-Roussillon are absolutely fantastic and fruity. Mmm.. Once I visited a castle in Fitou (the best and sweetest white wine I ever met).

Tip:
Muscat De Rivesaltes http://www.twis.info/wineregion.php?ID=241&action=setLanguage&LANGUAGE=nl

I am very fascinated in trains and miniature trains. Once i had the opportunity to have a ride from Ghent to Ostend with a real Belgian engine.

. Favorite computer games
- Roller Coaster Tycoon 3
- Sim City 4

I have a Roland Synthesizer (E-60) at home to make some music (yeah ... a keyboard with PS/2 ... ;-)

(this is the renewed design of this keyboard.)

Now it's my turn to tag some people ;-)

7 Development Projects for Sharepoint 2007 and Sharepoint Services 3.0

2007-01-30T19:47:00.000+01:00

Thanks to Geert I found this interesting e-book about Sharepoint 2007

It's a free book about 7 Development Projects for Microsoft Office Sharepoint Server 2007 and Windows Sharepoint Services 3.0

You can download it here

Querying Data Connections using the InfoPath 2007 Object model

2007-01-30T19:08:00.000+01:00

Web services are completely integrated in InfoPath 2003/2007. We can submit and retrieve data whenever we want. If the current InfoPath functionalities does not satisfy your manager's ideas, you can improve your forms with custom code. Today I show you how to integrate web services by using the InfoPath 2007 Object Model

Actually, the way you used the Object Model in InfoPath 2003 has been changed since InfoPath 2007 has been released. The new Object Model is completely managed and is integrated with the .NET Framework 2.0 classes (System.Xml namespace)

Suppose we have a ASP .NET Web Service on server which defines the following web method:

[WebMethod]
public string SayHello(string name)
{
return "Hello " + name;
}

Now, Open your InfoPath Form Template and add a button on the screen
(Design Tasks > Controls > Button)
Open the Button's properties by double-clicking on the button
Click on the 'Edit Form Code...' button to start up the Visual Studio Tools for Applications.
(you can choose the programming language through the Form Options item in the Tools menu)
Add the following lines of code to your button handler:

//do not forget to import the System.Xml namespace at the top of this class
using System.Xml;

//Create Xpath Navigator for WebService Data Source
//"SayHello" = the name of the data connection
XPathNavigator nav = this.DataSources["SayHello"].CreateNavigator();

//Xpath expression to retrieve parameter xml node
// tns:SayHello = method
// tns:name = name of the argument at server side
XPathNavigator webServiceNavi = nav.SelectSingleNode("dfs:myFields/dfs:queryFields/tns:SayHello/tns:name", this.NamespaceManager);

//set parameter(s)
webServiceNavi.SetValue("Kristof");

//retrieve data: call the "SayHello" webservice
DataConnection conn = this.DataConnections["SayHello"];
conn.Execute();
The web method returns a string. You can drag and drop the dataFields section of your secondary data source (which corresponds to your web service connection) to the screen.

Attention

Using managed code in Browser Enabled Forms needs an administrator approval
In browser enabled forms you will mainly use web services to retrieve data
Have a special attention for the security issues
- use Data Connection Files in Data Connection Libraries (UDCX)
- InfoPath Forms Services makes the big picture more difficult, it introduces a extra tier.

With InfoPath 2003, you never had to worry about security issues. You ran InfoPath on tier 1, and the Web service on tier 2. Now that you are designing forms that run in a web browser, you'll need to think about tier 3.

Tips

Did you know that you can use your 'Receiving Data Connections' to send data? The parameters specified at server side can be used to return a filtered set of data or as input for the database ...
Did you know that you can use your own .NET classes or Data Sets as parameter or as return value in web methods? Both are serializable to xml.

Creating Custom Taskpanes with .NET User Controls in VSTO

2007-01-22T22:29:00.000+01:00

Developing InfoPath Add-In

With VSTO 2005 (Visual Studio Tools for Office) you can easily create InfoPath add-ins!
Watch ...

First download VSTO on the Microsoft website (free download)

After installation, start up Visual Studio 2005 and select the InfoPath2007 add-in as template.

In your project contains 2 methods:
private void ThisAddIn_Startup(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
private void ThisAddIn_Shutdown(object sender, System.EventArgs e)

Since InfoPath 2007 we can use .NET User Controls as Custom Task Pane. In InfoPath 2003 we had to use JavaScript, ASP.NET or HTML files. We can also use help files (CHM files) as custom task pane.

Add a new Item to your project (User Control)You can add Windows controls to this User Control.

To show the Custom TaskPane we have to add some code to the ThisAddIn_Startup method.In the Startup method you call the CreateCustomPane() method below:

private TaskPaneUC tpuc;

private void CreateCustomPane()
{
this.tpuc = new TaskPaneUC();
this.tpuc.submitEvent += new TaskPaneUC.OnSubmit(tpuc_submitEvent);
this.tpuc.switchViewEvent += new TaskPaneUC.OnSwitchView(tpuc_switchViewEvent);
this.tpuc.exitEvent += new TaskPaneUC.OnExit(tpuc_exitEvent);

this.ctp = this.CustomTaskPanes.Add(tpuc, "Happy 2007");
this.ctp.Visible = true;
}

For redirecting button actions to the ThisAddIn.cs we use delegates and events.

Example
TaskPaneUC.cs
public delegate void OnSubmit(object sender, SubmitArgs args);
public event OnSubmit submitEvent;

ThisAddIn.cs
private void CreateCustomPane()
{
this.tpuc.submitEvent += new TaskPaneUC.OnSubmit(tpuc_submitEvent);
}

Through the User control in this example you can do the following tasks

Set a field’s value
Switch View

Exit application

Download this example here.

Installing the InfoPath Add-In

The add-in will be automatically installed when debugging the application.
For deployment you can use the Setup project which will be added automatically to your project.

Uninstalling the InfoPath Add-In

When you move the InfoPath Add-In project to another location, the Add-in will be automatically deactivated.

Overview of InfoPath Add-In

1. Open InfoPath 2007.
2. Go to the Help menu and select 'Privacy Options'

Walkthrough: Publishing administrator-approved form templates

2007-01-19T20:39:00.000+01:00

A. Steps at client-side (for InfoPath developers)

Create an InfoPath form and use managed code (C#) as business logic.The business logic needs full trust on the server to run.

Save your form and publish it to a SharePoint Server with or without InfoPath Forms Services

If you opt for ‘Document Library’ a library will be created or updated and the template can only be used in this library. If you opt for ‘Site Content Type’, you can use your template in multiple document libraries on several sites. A site content type is nothing more than a type of document with some specific properties.
In this situation you cannot opt to create a document library or a content type because you used managed code. You must select ‘Administrator-approved form template (advanced)’. We need the ‘full trust’ security level to run .NET code.

We can’t publish the form directly on the Sharepoint Server. First of all we must store the InfoPath form to a location which is accessible for the administrator.

B. Steps at server-side (for administrator)

Go to Central Administrator > Application Management. Select ‘Manage Form Templates’ in the ‘InfoPath Forms Services’ section.

Click on ‘Upload Form template’. The admin must browse to the location where the InfoPath form was stored by the developer.

Open the context menu of the uploaded file in the Form Templates List. Select ‘Activate to a Site collection’. This will publish the InfoPath Form as a Site Content Type to a site collection.

C. Steps at server-side (for site owners)

Go to the site collection on which you activated the InfoPath form template. Open the list where you want to install the form template.Click on Settings and select ‘Site Settings’. Click on ‘Advanced Settings’ in the ‘General Settings’ section and activate the content type management. (select ‘Yes’)
Now you will be able to manage the Content Types. Click on ‘Add from existing site content types’ to add the activated Form Template as Site Content in this list.

Go back to your list and Click on the ‘New’ Button to start a document based the uploaded Form Template.

Embedding audio and video in InfoPath 2007 forms

2007-01-10T23:10:00.000+01:00

Microsoft InfoPath 2007 offers now Custom Controls:
1. ActiveX controls (uses COM and ActiveX technologies)
2. Template Parts (reusable form pieces)

--> You can embed audio and video if you use an ActiveX custom control.

Using ActiveX Custom Controls
1. Go to menu View
2. Click on Design Tasks
3. Select Controls in the 'Design Tasks' Task pane
4. Click on the 'add or remove custom controls' button to install your custom
control
5. Click on the Add button and select ActiveX Control
6. Select the Windows Media Player control
7. Select the necessary properties for databinding and finish the wizard.

After you have added the control, you can drag and drop the control on your screen.
Right-Click on the control and select the 'Windows Media Player properties'
Fill in the URL to automatically embed the file to play.

Attention ...
ActiveX controls must be installed on each user's computer,
but you can opt to include a .cab file (which contains the custom activeX control)
in your template which automatically installs and registers your control.
(you can specify the .cab file in the 'steps' wizard above.

---
Reference: http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1039675&SiteID=1

VSTA/VSTO problem when installing Office InfoPath 2007 & .NET 3.0 solved

2007-01-10T22:26:00.000+01:00

Error message:
InfoPath cannot start Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications.To work with Visual Basic or C# code, Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) is required. the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and Microsoft Core XML Services 6.0 must be installed prior to installing VSTA. To install VSTA, open Add or Remove Programs, locate your 2007 Microsoft Office System installation, and then click Change [full problem description on Jeroen Ceuppens ' blog]

The problem has a very simple solution, just respect the way you install the Office products.

SOLUTION: Please respect the following installation order ...

1. Install the Microsoft Office 2007 clients
without .NET programmability support for .NET Framework version 2.0
2. Install the .NET 3.0 framework
3. Install the Microsoft Office Sharepoint Portal Server 2007
4. Go to 'Add or Remove Programs...' and add the '.NET programmability support for .NET Framework version 2.0' right now. The installation makes sure that it has to use the .NET 2.0 framework which is already installed on the computer.

The ultimate test...
5. Start up Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007.
6. Save your blank template on your disk
7. Go to menu Tools > Programming > Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications

Information about VSTA - Visual Studio Tools for Applications
You can find the VSTA executable on this location:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\vsta.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8\Common7\IDE\vsta.exe.config
Have a look at the vsta.exe.config file. You will see that vsta.exe requires the v.2.0.

<supportedruntime version="v2.0.50727" safemode="true"/>
<requiredruntime version="v2.0.50727" safemode="true"/>

Remark
A better solution would be: first install the Office 2007 server products and afterwards you can install all Office 2007 Clients on it. (I did not test this remark ...)

Articles: Using .NET applets in browsers & NHibernate explained

2007-01-09T22:08:00.000+01:00

Check out following articles:

Geert Verhoeven is writing about .NET applets. Simply using .NET controls within your browser. Read the article about his first .NET applet.

Maarten Balliauw wrote an article about NHibernate, the .NET version of Hibernate.

VSTA/VSTO problem when installing Office InfoPath 2007 & .NET 3.0 ...

2007-01-09T21:57:00.000+01:00

Jeroen Ceuppens (a collegue) and I experienced some troubles when using Office InfoPath 2007 in combination with .NET 3.0.

When you try to start up VSTA within InfoPath 2007, you will receive a message which says that VSTA is not installed on your computer yet ... The computer is also complaining about MSXML 6.0... So MSXML 6.0 and VSTA must be installed on your computer ?!

Jeroen described the whole problem on his blog. Please check out and provide us some feedback if possible!

Try the 2007 Microsoft Office Systems for 60 days

2006-12-29T14:31:00.000+01:00

You can download a trial of the 2007 Microsoft Office Systems on htpp://www.trymicrosoftoffice.com

Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007 is not included in any trial package. :-/

For the Office 2007 in dutch, you can go to http://benelux.trymicrosoftoffice.com

Restricting the number of File Attachments

2006-12-03T10:55:00.000+01:00

It's quite simple to restrict the number of attachment in a specific InfoPath Form.With some knowledge of XPath expressions you can easily extend the InfoPath default behaviour.

Following these steps:
1. Create a new InfoPath form
2. Add a repeating section on your form (Design Task Pane > Controls) -> name: group1

3. Add an 'File Attachment' control in your repeating section -> name: field1

4. Double click on the 'repeating section' label to open its properties

5. Go to the Display tab and click on 'Conditional Formatting'

6. Click on the 'Add' button

7. Select 'The Expression' and enter following expression: 'count(my:field1) >= 10'

8. Apply following formatting: 'Don't allow users to insert or delete this control'

9. Click on OK (3 times)

10. Re-open the properties of the repeating section to open the conditional formatting again.

Have a look at the formatting you just have added ...

Your expression will be converted into another expression:

'Number of occurences of field1' is 'Greater than or equals to' 10

11. Test your form now and try to add 11 items ...

Enabling PDF search on WSS v3 (beta)

2006-11-20T20:37:00.000+01:00

Lots of troubles to enable the search functionality in WSS v3.
I found a fantastic article on Stan Spotts' blog about enabling PDF search on WSS 3.0 beta.

You must still use the Adobe iFilter for PDF's like you did in Sharepoint 2003, but you need to check some registry settings to make sure that WSS indexes your PDF documents correctly.

Click here to visit Stan Spotts' article.

Limitations
a It only indexes PDF documents after you have configurated this functionality.
a You can only search for full words

Search doesn't work ?!
I had a lot of troubles to configure the search functionality (without the PDF search).
Keep in mind to configure your Search Server first and then create your Content Database !
It seems that the order is very important in the beta version.

Enabling InfoPath Forms Services 2007

2006-11-15T18:06:00.000+01:00

It is quite simple to enable InfoPath Forms Services 2007 on your Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal 2007. Follow the steps below to use browser-enabled forms:

I. Central administration

1. Go to the Central Administration
2. Click on Application Management
3. Click on Configure InfoPath Form Services under the InfoPath Forms Services section.
(http://yourserver/_admin/ipfsConfig.aspx)

4. Make sure that browser-enabled form templates are allowed
(Check all checkboxes in User Browser-Enabled Form Templates)

5. You can specify other options if necessary. Click on OK to apply the changes.
6. You can close the Central Administration Website.

II. List Configuration
I created a new Document Library on my site called 'InfoPath Forms'. This document does not open InfoPath forms in your browser directly. You must configure this list in this way:

1. Open the List which contains browser-enabled InfoPath Forms
2. Click on Settings and select Document Library Settings

3. Select Advanced Settings Under 'General Settings'
4. Configure the Browser-enabled Documents section and select 'Display as a Web page'

5. Click on OK to confirm the changes

III. Publishing InfoPath Templates
Use the Publish Wizard to deploy the form on your Sharepoint Portal Server.
Define the location, promote the fields and publish!
(In this example you must update an existing Document Library)

Use following URL structure to deploy
http://yourserver/SiteDirectory/YourSite/YourList/Forms/AllItems.aspx

IV. Testing the deployed form
Create a new document in your 'InfoPath Forms' list. The form will be automatically open in your browser.

V. Tips

aYou can manage the toolbars at the top/bottom in InfoPath 2007.
(menu Tools > Form Options > Browser > 'Show toolbar at top/bottom of form')

VI. Download this example

download the example here

FormErrorCollection - Errors Property

2006-11-14T20:38:00.000+01:00

Custom validation with managed code will be improved in InfoPath 2007. Several new classes provides the possibility to generate data validation errors in code.

In InfoPath 2003 it was possible to generate errormessages (in JScript or through the .NET framework), but it wasn't possible to draw a border around the field which indicates the error.

InfoPath 2007 provides a FormErrorCollection containing FormError objects in the XmlForm as the 'Errors' property.

Methods
1. Errors.Add(XPathNavigator context, string name, string message);
It act like a Key/Value (name/message) collection and each error points to the node to which the error is associated (context).

2. Errors.Delete(string name);
You can remove the FormError by using the Key in the Errors.Delete method.

Example

public void InternalStartup()
{
// ...
EventManager.XmlEvents["/my:myFields/my:SampleField"].Validating +=
new XmlValidatingEventHandler(SampleField_Validating);
// ...
}

//Right-click on the control > Programming > Validating Event ...
public void SampleField_Validating(object sender, XmlValidatingEventArgs e)
{
// check if the new value isn't empty
if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(e.NewValue))
{
//current fieldvalue cannot be 'example'
if (e.NewValue.ToLower().Equals("example"))
{
//e.Site points to the node that is being changed, e.Site is always the reference to the field which you are validating at that moment
Errors.Add(e.Site, "Error_SampleField", "Invalid fieldvalue");
}
else // all other values are allowed
{
Errors.Delete("Error_SampleField");
}
}
}

Conclusion
a The FormErrorCollection is also accessible in Form Services 2007 !
a It acts like the 'real' Data Validation (at design time)
a You cannot submit the form without resolving the errors !

Microsoft InfoPath 2007 Object Model
2007 Office System: Developer Posters

Free licence keys for Windows Vista RC 1

2006-09-14T19:08:00.000+02:00

You can obtain free serial numbers to try Windows Vista Release Candidate 1.
First you have to log in with your Microsoft Passport on the german live.com website.
After completing some questions, a licence key will be generated.

Download links:

This Windows download is not the 'Enterprise' edition. Without this free key, you can use Windows Vista RC 1 just for 14 days. After the trial period you can insert a licence code (only for the 'Ultimate' edition)

Free e-books about Office 2007, Windows Sharepoint Services 3.0 & Sharepoint 2007

2006-09-02T10:24:00.000+02:00

This week I found free e-books on Scattered Notes.
A big thanks to the .NET aficionado who sent me the link.

You can directly download the free e-books in this post:

First Look 2007 Microsoft Office Systems
A first look to the new look and features of the 2007 Microsoft Office Systems

Author: Katherine Murray
Author's blog: You can read her technology blot at BlogOffice
7 development projects for WSS 3.0 and SPS 2007
The book is about Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, building solutions with Office SharePoint Server 2007, and creating workflows.

Publisher: Microsoft Press

Homepage: Microsoft Office Systems 2007

Picture Buttons in InfoPath 2007

2006-08-20T17:12:00.000+02:00

In InfoPath 2007 it is impossible to create buttons with images as background. But, you can adapt some InfoPath files by yourself to create those picture buttons. Follow my instructions:

1. Create a new InfoPath form template

2. Add a new button. (The button has ‘button’ as standard label.The border is black and the background is gray.)

Remark
In InfoPath 2003 it was still possible to replace the label value with a space character to have a button without text. In InfoPath 2007 it is impossible to add a space character as label value. We replace the standard value with ‘myvalue’.

3. Go to Tools > Resource Files and Add an .gif file as a Resource file. Rename the file to ‘picture.gif’.

4. Save your form template to ‘test.xsn’

5. Now, go to the location where you stored the form template and rename ‘test.xsn’ to ‘test.cab’.

6. Extract all files and open View1.xsl with notepad. This stylesheet file renders the xml data. The content is written in HTML en CSS. The XSL has the same relation like HTML & CSS has. HTML files contain content and CSS files contain style definition which can be applied to the content files (HTML files).

7. Navigate to the Style endtag.

8. Add a new CSS definition for the picture button

.imageButton
{
BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(picture.gif);
BACKGROUND-REPEAT: no-repeat;
}

9. Navigate to the input tag in the body which defines our button and add the newly created CSS definition the class attribute.

... class="imageButton langFont" ...

10. InfoPath 2007 does not support an empty buttonlabel. But you can change the label manually in this file. So replace the ‘myValue’ in the value attribute with empty quotes.
... class="imageButton langFont" value="" ...

11. Save and close View1.xsl.

12. You can now reopen your form by right-clicking on manifest.xsf and select ‘Design’ in the menu.

13. The picture will be integrated in your view right now.

Greg Collins also wrote an article about Picture Buttons for InfoPath 2003.
My article is a supplement on his article.

Switch view when drop down list has changed

2006-08-13T16:57:00.000+02:00

It’s impossible to use the ViewInfos.SwitchView(string) method while the changed event is running. You can only switch a view by using the button clickhandler. This post will create a workaround to change view without clicking on buttons.

1. Using ViewInfos.SwitchView() method in the Changed event

While firing events it is impossible to switch to another view. Only the Click event on the button will permit a ‘SwitchView’ action. In all other cases you will receive a COMException at runtime.


public void InternalStartup()     
{                  
           EventManager.XmlEvents["/my:myFields/my:list"].Changed +=
           new XmlChangedEventHandler(list_Changed);     
}

public void field1_Changed(object sender, XmlEventArgs e)      
{
           ViewInfos.SwitchView("view2");                 
           // The code is successfully compiled, but will not run !
           // It results in a run-time error (COMException)   
}

Redirecting to another view is not quite simple. We have to use other tricks

2. OnContextChange event is asynchronous

The OnContextChange event is fired when the form or elements on the forms has been changed. There is just a little problem the event is asynchronous. So, it does not fire on every change in the context node.

Instead, it fires the event when all other events has been terminated.We will use the OnContextChange event (which is only enabled if you created a form without browser-compatible features) to redirect to another view.Test the Asynchronous OnContextChange event:


public void InternalStartup()
{
       EventManager.FormEvents.ContextChanged +=
       new ContextChangedEventHandler(FormEvents_ContextChanged);
}

public void FormEvents_ContextChanged(object sender, ContextChangedEventArgs e)
{
       System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("context changed");
}

While selecting several values in the drop down list, you will see that the OnContextChange event will not fire on every change in the context node.

More information:
Microsoft - OnContextChange event

3. Change the focus to force the OnContextChange event

We cannot trust on the OnContextChange event because it’s asynchronous. So we have to force the OnContextChange event by changing the focus from the drop down list to another field through code.

To change the focus we will use a textbox which must be visible and not read-only. You cannot set the focus to every control. More information :
http://blogs.msdn.com/infopath/archive/2004/04/07/109189.aspx

Following code will be executed while the ‘changed event’ of the drop down list has been fired.


public void list_Changed(object sender, XmlEventArgs e)
{
      SetFocus("/my:myFields/my:unusedfield");
}

private void SetFocus(string xpath)
{
      XPathNavigator fieldToFocus = MainDataSource.CreateNavigator().
      SelectSingleNode(xpath,NamespaceManager);
      this.CurrentView.SelectText(fieldToFocus);
}

Download the new InfoPath 2007 Object Model by this link:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/0/9/c/09cda3f2-6d3d-4082-aec5-9a62b7679ecf/Office2007InfoPathOMPoster.exe

4. Switch to another view

Now we can implement the OnContextChange method which allows to use the SwitchView() method.


public void FormEvents_ContextChanged(object sender, ContextChangedEventArgs e)
{
   ViewInfos.SwitchView("view2");
}

The code is insufficient. The OnContextChange event will fire many times while filling in a form. It is not every time allowed to change the view. We need an extra variable which indicates if the SwitchView() method me be called.


    private bool canRedirect = false;
    public void FormEvents_ContextChanged(object sender, ContextChangedEventArgs e)
    {
        if (canRedirect)
        {
            canRedirect = false;
            ViewInfos.SwitchView("view2");
        }
    }

5. Complete code


public partial class FormCode
{
    public void InternalStartup()
    {
        EventManager.XmlEvents["/my:myFields/my:list"].Changed += 
            new XmlChangedEventHandler(list_Changed);
        EventManager.FormEvents.ContextChanged += 
            new ContextChangedEventHandler(FormEvents_ContextChanged);
    }


    private bool canRedirect = false;
    public void list_Changed(object sender, XmlEventArgs e)
    {
        canRedirect = true;
        SetFocus("/my:myFields/my:unusedfield");
    }

    private void SetFocus(string xpath)
    {
        try
        {
            XPathNavigator fieldToFocus = MainDataSource.CreateNavigator().
                SelectSingleNode(xpath,NamespaceManager);
            this.CurrentView.SelectText(fieldToFocus);
        }
        catch (ArgumentException ex)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("The focus cannot be set to " + xpath);
        }
    }

    public void FormEvents_ContextChanged(object sender, ContextChangedEventArgs e)
    {
        if (canRedirect)
        {
            canRedirect = false;
            ViewInfos.SwitchView("view2");
        }
    }
}

6. Tips
You can hide the ‘canRedirect’ member by writing a wrapper class around this member

Hiding check boxes and DateTime controls

2006-08-08T20:26:00.000+02:00

InfoPath still does not allowing hided checkboxes and DateTime controls.
In certain situations it’s recommended to hide those controls for the users.
The conditional formatting options are restricted and we can only disable them.

Use following trick to hide controls:

1. Create an empty group (for example: CheckTest) in the main datasource.
This group will act like a wrapper section for the Checkbox (which can not be invisible)


       my:myFields
           -> CheckTest

2. Add a Boolean field into 'CheckTest'
If you don't want to hide FieldA, you can add this field directly below my:myFields.


       my:myFields
           -> CheckTest
                  -> FieldA

3. Use ‘CheckTest’ as Section on the screen.

4. Use conditional formatting to hide this section when the user may not see the check boxes.
Perhaps you need another field to base your conditional formatting on.
For example: if FieldB is empty then 'Hide'.

Tip: You can base your conditional rule on another field which is calculated by customized code or directly based on existing fields or expressions in your form.

For a detailed example please read Greg Collins' article on InfoPathdev.com

InfoPath 2007: Form Template Parts

2006-07-03T20:58:00.000+02:00

In InfoPath 2007 it will be possible to reuse forms by creating Form Template Parts.
You can compare those Form Template Parts with regular forms, which you can reuse into other forms.

Form Templates Parts Step by Step

For example: You have several forms which contains customerdata. It would be a lot of work to copy & paste all fields, conditional formatting and rules. If you have 10 customer datafields (name, address, postal code, ...) which will be reused on 5 forms, you have to manually adapt your main data source in each form in InfoPath 2003.

Now, in InfoPath 2007 we can create a separate form which contains our customer datafields and we save the template as an .XTP file.

1. How to create a Form Template Part ?

Open Office InfoPath 2007. Open the File menu and select 'Design a form'.
Select 'Design a new Template Part'. (we will base our example on a 'blank' form template)

Now, It seems that InfoPath has created an empty form for you, but it isn't.
This will be our Form template Part, which will be reused on other forms.

2. Managing data structure of a Form Template Part

You can add new datafields to your template by drag & drop some controls on your form.
You can also manually insert, update or remove datafields when you select 'Data Source'
in the Design Tasks taskpane. The root of you template will also be named 'myFields'.

I suggest you change the myFields root element into a more specific name like 'customer'.
The form which will reuse this template will copy this root element and his child elements into its form.
So it is usefull to change the root element in a understandable name for reuse.

3. Designing your template

You can design your form in the same way you design a regular form in InfoPath 2007.
You can add conditional formatting to manage the color or the visibility (hide/show/disabled) of your components.
You can also add some rules or data validation handlers to process your data.

4. Save your template

The template you have made, will be saved as an XTP file on your harddisk.
You can save your template in the same way you did by forms.

5. Reuse the template

Now you have to create a new form which will be based on our template.
Open the File menu and select 'Desig a form...'.
This time you will 'Design a new Form Template' based on a 'blank' form.

Before you can use your template, we have to import the Form Template Part as a custom control.
Open the 'Controls' panel in 'Design Tasks'. In InfoPath 2007 you will find a new item in this controls list which is called 'Custom'. You can import your template by clicking on 'Add or Remove Custom Controls...'
Point to the right template location on your harddisk and add the template as a custom control.

Drag & drop your created custom control on the screen.
The root and its child elements will be copied from the template into the main datasource of your form.
It is also possible to drag and drop more than one occurence of your template in the form.
InfoPath will automatically add '_x' to the imported datastructure to identify every field as a unique item.
(replace the x by a number starting from 1, 2, 3, ...)

Save and publish your form. The Form Template has been successfully integrated in your form.

6. Download the Customer example

You can download an example including an .xsn form which is based on a .xtp template.
The Word 2007 document will show you some screenshots.
(Data logic will not be added to the form, because it isn't relevant in this exercise)

Form
Invoice form

Template
Customer Template

Screenshots (Word 2007)
screenshots

Example Invoice (without data logic)
invoice example

InfoPath 2003: Tips

2006-05-27T15:46:00.000+02:00

1. Create a “please wait” and a “start up” screen when you receive or submit data to a data source.
(Use a combination of the OnContextChange and OnSwitchView InfoPath methods to create such please wait views.)

2. Use the Wingdings font to show images on buttons

3. Provide a static class in JavaScript or C# which contains methods to obtain data fields of your form. It will save you a lot of code to get and set data in your form!

Example:
my:myFields
---- my:Customer
--------- my:CustomerName
---- my:Product
--------- my:ProductName

> Use: Path.GetInstance(thisXDocument).GetCustomerItem(“my:CustomerName”)
> Class: Path
> Static Method: GetInstance(XDocument thisXDocument) [singleton pattern]
> Methods GetCustomerItem() (to retrieve object(s) of IXMLDOMNode = return type)

4. Avoid cycles, think about the need of rules,

Please think about ...

how many rules I will need,
which fields must have rules.
...

(Without this analysis, you will create cycles in complex forms)
(Too much rules are not maintainable)

5. Let's hope that InfoPath 2007 will provide more functionality:

Clickable images
Support for repeating sections within other repeating sections (no recursion)
a list with all rules and conditional formatting per control and field

InfoPath 2003: do's and don'ts

2006-05-27T15:38:00.000+02:00

I am currently a Office - InfoPath 2003 consultant. I really learn a lot about InfoPath and its boundaries. In my opinion it's interesting to summarize some practical do's and the don't for InfoPath 2003 before you promote InfoPath as Office's wonder. Those do's and don't can be a start for a new post. ;-)

Here they are:

Don’ts

- Do not make applications in InfoPath 2003 with logging, historical data
- InfoPath 2003 does not support workflows
- Do not create a form with one or more views for several roles when each role or view has its own rules. Rules are bound to data fields. So, if you use a rule on view 1, the rule will also be executed in other views. On the other hand conditional display formatting will be executed per control which represents a field on one view. So, a conditional formatting on view 1 will not influence other views.

- Do not use InfoPath as GUI + business + database
- InfoPath does not support multi – languages (if the company forbid to use several views per language)

Do’s

- Create forms in InfoPath 2003 without workflows. Do not call your form an application !!!

Examples: a form to request your holiday, a form which represents a bill and calculate totals

- InfoPath is perfect to replace the GUI part of your application, but it’s very difficult to replace all layers in your application.

Use InfoPath to show and format data from databases, web services, SharePoint, …
InfoPath can be a perfect smart client which can show, send, format, calculate data … but nothing more …

- If you use different rules on the same fields for different form users (roles). I suggest to divide the form in more than one form which will separate the rules for all different users. So, there will be no rule-conflicts.

- I prefer Visual C# to write custom code. You can use the IntelliSense of Visual Studio which can reduce frustrating moments in JavaScript.

How to enable SSL for IIS

2006-01-08T20:14:00.000+01:00

Enabling SSL in 4 steps

1. First of all you have to install the IIS Resource Kit

Download location:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=56FC92EE-A71A-4C73-B628-ADE629C89499&displaylang=en

2. After the installation you must retrieve your virtual server ID. (if you want to specify virtual server which different from ‘Default Web Site’ which has ID = 1)
(virtual server example > c:\inetpub\spsroot)

You will use MetaBase explorer to retrieve the ID. You can find this program under the newly created directory 'ISS resources' in your start menu.

In MetaBase explorer, you will open the server > LM > W3SVC node
Under W3SVC you can find several ID's with their corresponding data.
In this case: ID = 407700768 (c:\inetpub\spsroot)

3. Now we will enable SSL with SelfSSL (another program in the IIS Resource Kit)

This program uses several parameters to configure SSL on your virtual server.
Type the following command:
selfssl.exe /N:CN= /K:1024 /V:7 /S:487700768 /P:443
(you can find the meaning of the parameters in the documentation)

4. Surf to the secured website: https://servername

Attention please: do not use the port of your virtual server to access the secured portal.
for example: http://servername:101 becomes https://servername.
SSL uses port 443 as default.

How to delete your WSS sites completely ?

2006-01-08T19:52:00.000+01:00

It seems to be easy, but to delete WSS sites you have to do 3 things:

1. Remove the physical path
Go to your WSS site > Site Settings > Go To Site Administration > Management and Statistics > Delete Site

2. Remove the link to the WSS site
Go to SiteDirectory (http://server/SiteDirectory/Lists/Sites/Summary.aspx) > Manage Sites

3. Exclude the site of the search results
Portal > Site Settings > Configure search and indexing > View sites pending approval for indexing

Your WSS site has been deleted successfully!

How to configure your MyInbox webpart automatically ?

2005-12-05T20:39:00.000+01:00

It seems to be so difficult to configure your SharePoint Outlook webparts automatically, but it isn't !

Last week, I tried everything, but I failed to configure those Outlook webparts.
It seems to be nobody wants to configure a MyInbox automatically for every user on the MySite. I didn't found any website or blog with information, I just found some questions on forums without an answer.

So, Can I conclude that every user must know the servername and his mailboxname ?
No, it's irrealistic in my opinion !
This morning, I had 'one of my famous intelligent moments' *d'oh*

So, here's the one and only, the solution !

Follow the autoConfig lab below to succeed the configuration for every user at runtime

1. Create a new Webpart Library project
2. Override the CreateChildControls

// import section
using Microsoft.SharePoint.Portal.WebControls;

// attributes
private OWAInboxPart wpInbox;

protected override void CreateChildControls()
{
// inbox webpart
wpInbox = new OWAInboxPart();
Controls.Add(configureInbox(wpInbox));
}

3. Create a new method to configure your Inbox webpart. This method will determine the mailboxname and the servername at runtime for a particular user.

private OWAInboxPart configureInbox(OWAInboxPart wpInbox)
{
//Connect to the portal and get the portal context.
TopologyManager topology = new TopologyManager();
PortalSite portal = topology.PortalSites[new Uri(http://servername)];
PortalContext context = PortalApplication.GetContext(portal);

//initialize user profile config manager object
UserProfileManager profileManager = new UserProfileManager(context);
UserProfile prof = profileManager.GetUserProfile(true);

// use the profile object to retrieve the properties you need in your company to
// retrieve the mailboxname
// example: string workmail = prof[PropertyConstants.WorkEmail].ToString();
wpInbox.MailboxName = "kristofdc";
wpInbox.OWAServerAddressRoot = "http://servername/exchange";

return wpInbox;
}

4. Override the RenderWebPart method

protected override void RenderWebPart(HtmlTextWriter output)
{
try
{
wpInbox.RenderControl(output);
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
output.Write(ex.ToString());
}
}

5. And finally you will add a CAB-setup for your custom webpart.
6. Just compile, deploy and use !

Remarks:
This MyInbox example works also with the MyCalendar & MyTasks.

Success garanteed !

Happy Programming !
The Sharepoint Factory Geek

Welcome in the SharePoint Factory

2005-11-30T21:07:00.000+01:00

Dear bloggers,

Welcome @ my blog Site.

Since I've made the first steps into 'Microsoft's Sharepoint Factory', I realized why I need a blog: it's an efficient way to share information with other people.

It's always nice to meet other Sharepoint lovers in this factory.
So just contact me if you need some support.

Have a nice Sharepoint day!
Kristof