Ignite Online: Now Available on the Partner Learning Center
Partners can upgrade their skills to SharePoint 2010 through a series of self-paced modules of SharePoint 2010 technical training –including demos, presentations and hosted hands-on-labs now available through the Partner Learning Center! With two different tracks, both IT professionals and developers can take advantage of SharePoint 2010 Ignite to get ready to deploy and support implementations of, or build custom applications on SharePoint 2010. Share the links below with your partners today!
· SharePoint 2010 Ignite Online for IT Professionals
· SharePoint 2010 Ignite Online for Developers
Microsoft Pinpoint Sound Bites
· In January 2010, 1 in 4 customers engaged with a Partner via Pinpoint communication options *
· Visitors spend on average 6 minutes on Pinpoint
· The Search facility in Pinpoint is 3 times as popular as the Browse facility
· Pinpoint profiles which contain Ratings and Reviews are 3 times as popular as profiles without
· Pinpoint is currently available in: UK, USA, India, the Netherlands and Germany and will be soon available in: France, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Australia, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Venezuela
* Pinpoint communication options are: Email This Company (email form sent to a Partner), Click to reveal the phone details of a Partner, Click on a Partner’s website URL, Click on General Information link, Click on the Buy From this Company option, Click to download a trial, Click to download a demo, Download a free product, Click on a screenshot, Click on a support/training link, Download a customer study and Download a white paper.
If you have a question regarding the data above, please contact pinptuk@microsoft.com. To get listed on PinPoint click here.
Silverlight 4 Training Kit
We’ve just released a new free Silverlight 4 Training Kit that walks you through building business applications with Silverlight 4. You can also download the entire offline version of the kit here. You can use the 8 modules, 25 videos, and several hands on labs online or offline from links on the Channel 9 site. I’ve included a breakdown and links to all of the content here in this post. The key to this training material is not the features it covers (though it covers a variety them) but rather that it teaches from the perspective of building a business application.
In this lab, you will create a web site for managing conferences that will be the basis for the other labs in this course. (Don’t worry if you don’t manage to complete a particular lab. These lab manual instructions are accompanied by completed solutions, so you can either build your own solution from start to finish, or dive straight in at any point using the solutions provided as a starting point.) You will learn how to set up WCF RIA Services, create bindings to the domain context, filter using the domain data source, and create domain service queries.
Videos
Module 2.1 - WCF RIA Services
Ian Griffiths sets up the Entity Framework and WCF RIA Services for the sample Event Manager application for the course. He covers how to set up the services, how the Domain Services work and the role that the DomainContext plays in the sample application. He also reviews the metadata classes and integrating the navigation framework.
Module 2.2 – Using WCF RIA Services to Edit Entities
Ian Griffiths discusses how he adds the ability to edit and create individual entities with the features built into WCF RIA Services into the sample Event Manager application. He covers data binding fundamentals, IQueryable, LINQ, the DomainDataSource, navigation to a single entity using the navigation framework, and how to use the Visual Studio designer to do much of the work .
Module 2.3 – Showing Master/Details Records Using WCF RIA Services
Ian Griffiths reviews how to display master/detail records for the sample Event Manager application using WCF RIA Services. He covers how to use the Include attribute to indicate which elements to serialize back to the client. Ian also demonstrates how to use the Data Sources window in the designer to add and bind controls to specific data elements. He wraps up by showing how to create custom services to the Domain Services.
This lab demonstrates how to build a login screen, integrate ASP.NET authentication, and perform validation on data elements. Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) is introduced and used in this lab as a pattern to help separate the UI and business logic. You will also learn how to use implicit styling and the new RichTextBox control.
Module 3.1 – Authentication
Ian Griffiths covers how to integrate a login screen and authentication into the sample Event Manager application. Ian shows how to use the ASP.NET authentication and integrate it into WCF RIA Services and the Silverlight presentation layer.
Module 3.2 – MVVM
Ian Griffiths covers how to Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) patterns into the sample Event Manager application. He discusses why MVVM exists, what separated presentation means, and why it is important. He shows how to connect the View to the ViewModel, why data binding is important in this symbiosis, and how everything fits together in the overall application.
Module 3.3 –Validation
Ian Griffiths discusses how validation of user input can be integrated into the sample Event Manager application. He demonstrates how to use the DataAnnotations, the INotifyDataErrorInfo interface, binding markup extensions, and WCF RIA Services in concert to achieve great validation in the sample application. He discusses how this technique allows for property level validation, entity level validation, and asynchronous server side validation.
Module 3.4 – Implicit Styles
Ian Griffiths discusses how why implicit styles are important and how they can be integrated into the sample Event Manager application. He shows how implicit styles defined in a resource dictionary can be applied to all elements of a particular kind throughout the application.
Module 3.5 – RichTextBox
Ian Griffiths discusses how the new RichTextBox control and it can be integrated into the sample Event Manager application. He demonstrates how the RichTextBox can provide editing for the event information and how it can display the rich text for selection and copying.
This lab builds new features into the sample application to take the user's photo. It teaches you how to use the webcam to capture an image, use Silverlight as a drop target, and take advantage of programmatic access to the clipboard.
Module 4.1 – Webcam
Ian Griffiths demonstrates how the webcam adds value to the sample Event Manager application by capturing an image of the attendee. He discusses the VideoCaptureDevice, the CaptureDviceConfiguration, and the CaptureSource classes and how they allow audio and video to be captured so you can grab an image from the capture device and save it.
Module 4.2 - Drag and Drop in Silverlight
Ian Griffiths demonstrates how to capture and handle the Drop in the sample Event Manager application so the user can drag a photo from a file and drop it into the application. Ian reviews the AllowDrop property, the Drop event, how to access the file that can be dropped, and the other drag related events. He also reviews how to make this work across browsers and the challenges for this.
This lab builds on the application to allow grouping in the DataGrid and implement right mouse click features to add context menu support.
Module 5.1 – Grouping and Binding
Ian Griffiths demonstrates how to use the grouping features for data binding in the DataGrid and how it applies to the sample Event Manager application. He reviews the role of the CollectionViewSource in grouping, customizing the templates for headers, and how to work with grouping with ItemsControls.
Module 5.2 – Layout Visual States
Ian Griffiths demonstrates how to use the Fluid UI animation support for visual states in the ListBox control DataGrid and how it applies to the sample Event Manager application. He reviews the 3 visual states of BeforeLoaded, AfterLoaded, and BeforeUnloaded.
Module 5.3 – Right Mouse Click
Ian Griffiths demonstrates how to add support for handling the right mouse button click event to display a context menu for the Event Manager application. He demonstrates how to handle the event, show a custom context menu control, and integrate it into the scheduling portion of the application.
This lab teaches how to use the new printing features in Silverlight 4. The lab walks through the PrintDocument class and the ViewBox control, while showing how to print multiple pages of content using them.
Module 6.1 – Printing and the Viewbox
Ian Griffiths demonstrates how to add the ability to print the schedule to the sample Event Manager application. He walks through the importance of the PrintDocument class and its members. He also shows how to handle printing the visual tree and how the ViewBox control can help.
Module 6.2 – Multi Page Printing
Ian Griffiths expands on his printing discussion by showing how to handle printing multiple pages of content for the sample Event Manager application. He shows how to paginate the content and points out various tips to keep in mind when determining the printable area.
This lab builds a dashboard for the sample application while explaining the fundamentals of the out of browser features, how to handle authentication, displaying notifications (toasts), and how to use native integration to use COM Interop with Silverlight.
Module 7.1 – Out of Browser
Ian Griffiths discusses the role of an Out of Browser application for administrators to manage the events and users in the sample Event Manager application. He discusses several reasons why out of browser applications may better suit your needs including custom chrome, toasts, window placement, cross domain access, and file access. He demonstrates the basic technique to take your application and make it work out of browser using the tools.
Module 7.2 – NotificationWindow (Toasts) for Elevated Trust Out of Browser Applications
Ian Griffiths discusses the how toasts can be used in the sample Event Manager application to show information that may require the user's attention. Ian covers how to create a toast using the NotificationWindow, security implications, and how to make the toast appear as needed.
Module 7.3 – Out of Browser Window Placement
Ian Griffiths discusses the how to manage the window positioning when building an out of browser application, handling the windows state, and controlling and handling activation of the window.
Module 7.4 – Out of Browser Elevated Trust Application Overview
Ian Griffiths discusses the implications of creating trusted out of browser application for the Event Manager sample application. He reviews why you might want to use elevated trust, what features is opens to you, and how to take advantage of them. Topics Ian covers include the dynamic keyword in C# 4, the AutomationFactory class, the API to check if you are in a trusted application, and communicating with Excel.
This hands-on lab walks through the creation of a trusted out of browser application and the new functionality that comes with that. You will learn to use COM Automation, handle the window closing event, set custom window chrome, digitally sign your Silverlight out of browser trusted application, create a silent install option, and take advantage of MEF.
Module 8.1 – Custom Window Chrome for Elevated Trust Out of Browser Applications
Ian Griffiths discusses how to replace the standard operating system window chrome with customized chrome for an elevated trusted out of browser application. He covers how it is important to handle close, resize, minimize, and maximize events. Ian mentions that the tooling was not ready when he shot this video, but the good news is that the tooling now supports setting the custom chrome directly from the property page for the Silverlight application.
Module 8.2 – Window Closing Event for Out of Browser Applications
Ian Griffiths discusses the WindowClosing event and how to handle and optionally cancel the event.
Module 8.3 – Silent Install of Out of Browser Applications
Ian Griffiths discusses how to use the SLLauncher executable to install an out of browser application. He discusses the optional command lien switches that can be set including how the emulate switch can help you emulate the install process. Ian also shows how to setup a shortcut for the application and tell the application where it should look for future updates online.
Module 8.4 – Digitally Signing Out of Browser Application
Ian Griffiths discusses how and why to digitally sign an out of browser application using the signtool program. He covers what trusted certificates are, the implications of signing (or not signing), and the effect on the user experience.
Module 8.5 – The Value of MEF with Silverlight
Ian Griffiths discusses what MEF is, how your application can benefit from it, and the fundamental features it puts at your disposal. He covers the 3 step import, export and compose process as well as how to dynamically import XAP files using MEF.
Check out the video preview here.
Great work guys :o)
The upcoming release of the Microsoft Office 2010 suites presents a major new opportunity for partners to provide the best business productivity experience for their customers. Office 2010 and related products will deliver innovative capabilities and provide new levels of flexibility and choice that will help customers work anywhere with Office web applications; collaborate better with Microsoft Office and SharePoint 2010; and bring ideas to life with video and picture editing and broadcast capabilities with Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, amongst a host of other features.
Microsoft Office 2010 RTM was announced on Friday, 16th April, for more details of this announcement please click here.
Microsoft Open Value Subscription Expanded Up-to-Date Discount Promotion – Encourage your partners to leverage the current 50% discount on Open Value Subscription to drive business customers to refresh their desktop by upgrading to Windows 7 and Office 2010. For more detail, see here.
Office 2010 Technology Guarantee
Microsoft is offering the Office 2010 Technology Guarantee so retailers and partners can offer end customers who purchase and activate Office 2007 a few months before GA, an update to Office 2010. The upgrade will be fulfilled online by Microsoft. Microsoft will verify customers’ eligibility online and then allow eligible customers to download their Office 2010 upgrade immediately at no additional costs. Customers who prefer physical media will have the option to purchase a DVD at a minimal customer. For full detail of the Office 2010 Technology Guarantee, see here.
Interesting Office 2010 Articles
Microsoft Office 2010 Partner Data Sheet - Read this data sheet to learn how the Microsoft Office 2010 suites can help drive your business, and learn about the new features behind the software. You will need your Live ID to access this resource.
Microsoft Office 2010 Top FAQ and Objection Handling - Learn the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the Microsoft Office 2010 suites and how to handle common customer objections.
Wave 2010 Virtual Launch
Earlier this year we announced that we will officially launch Office 2010 to our business customers on May 12 with Stephen Elop, President of Microsoft’s Business Division, delivering a keynote as part of our virtual launch. Our virtual launch will allow people from around the globe to participate in our launch by going to http://www.the2010event.com. The virtual launch site will showcase product demos, customer and partner testimonials, and interviews with product managers and executives, and we hope this will give you another great way to explore, learn, and get excited about the 2010 releases. We will also be linked into Facebook and Twitter to offer real-time customer feedback, comments and questions throughout the day of launch, and beyond.
Volume License (VL) Launch: 12th May 2010
Office 2010 sales and technical training – Make sure you are aware of and take advantage of a wide range of essential technical and sales training modules that include online and instructor-led courses. Check out all what is available here.
Microsoft Office 2010 beta availability and internal-use software deployment: Until made available via the internal-use software benefits, betas of Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft Project 2010, Microsoft Visio 2010 and Microsoft SharePoint 2010 software can still be used to ensure that partners can familiarise themselves with some of the great new enhancements of these products. Partners should also watch this deployment video this video to ensure they start to use and benefit from these products within their own businesses as soon as possible.
K2 Studio has passed Windows® 7 Logo Certification
The recently shipped K2 Studio for K2 blackpearl 4.5 and K2 blackpoint 4.5 has passed Windows 7 Logo Certification.
Haha – Does that mean I am defined as Media-savvy? – ohhhh I have a new demographic profile it would seem!!! :o)
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-twitter-microsoft-tops-social-media-use-1949980.html
Twitter and Facebook are the bane of many bosses, but a new survey has found that employees at Microsoft are the most social media-savvy in the world.
The survey, the first by sales and marketing contact database NetProspex, ranked the top 50 companies based on their social network membership, frequency of social media posts on Twitter and other blogs, and the friendliness or connectedness of a sample of employees for each organization.
SharePoint 2010 Developer Evaluation Guide Available
Available here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=CFFB14E8-88A9-43BD-87AA-4792AB60D320&displaylang=en