Chris Parkes: A PC is not just for Christmas... : ISV

VS 2008 Extensions for SharePoint - March 2009 CTP Released

chrisp — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:51:46 GMT

The March 2009 CTP Visual Studio 2008 extensions for SharePoint are now available. You can download them directly from here.

Also included in this release are ten new themes for SharePoint built as VSeWSS projects. You can download them from here.

Ciao for now :)

SharePoint and 64 bit (x64) Development

chrisp — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:42:51 GMT

I've been struggling to develop anything on my 64bit Windows Server 2008 box for a while now, mainly due to lack of support for this on 64 bit. The Visual Studio 2008 Extensions for Windows SharePoint Services version 1.3 addresses my needs :)

You can download from here and more details on the content of the package can be found here.

Can be installed on x64 Server OS machines running SharePoint x64. Previously only x86 Server OS could be used
Command line build, package and retract commands are included enabling continuous integration and build servers. Previously command line build of SharePoint projects was very difficult
Refactoring support for renaming of Web Parts. Previously renaming a web part required changes in several files in the project

Enjoy!

Parkesy

Have You Met the Partner Bot?

chrisp — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:20:53 GMT

You really really should if you haven't, Partner Bot is an Instant Messenger contact that can help to quickly signpost to information you need. Simply type in your question and Bot will bring back an instant response. By adding Partner Bot as a buddy in your Windows Live Messenger contacts, it will always be available whenever you're logged in.

You can use Partner Bot to help you get answers quickly, whether you’re in the office or mobile and to find partner resources, like blogs and marketing help, more easily. To add Partner Bot to your contacts, sign in to Windows Live Messenger, click on the 'Add a Contact' icon and add 'partnerbot@hotmail.com' into the Instant Messaging address!

Have You Tried The Microsoft Office Interactive Developer Map..?

chrisp — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:20:05 GMT

How fantastic, this is a must see! A Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application that provides developers with resources for programs, servers, services, and tools that work with the Microsoft Office System. It guides the user through drill down access to each product and technology to aid learning about new features, objects, Web services, namespaces, and schemas required to extend Microsoft Office and build custom Office Business Applications (OBAs).

There is Office Development, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO) content available alongside many others.

You can download and install the Microsoft Office Interactive Map via ClickOnce if you're running Windows Vista. For Windows XP users, you'll need to install the prerequisites and run the application.

The map is a living document that provides links to MSDN Library reference documentation, MSDN portal pages, and RSS feeds that describe how developers can use the 2007 Microsoft Office system and associated tools and technologies to develop solutions that meet their needs.

The map stores resource links in an XML file hosted on MSDN. Once you install it, the map pulls the latest version of the resource file. No need to reinstall!

Ciao for now :)

Sign the Open XML Petition Today

chrisp — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:05:20 GMT

If you only do one other thing today, sign this petition and help safeguard the future of OpenXML.

Many readers of this blog may be aware that Microsoft called for the standardisation of Open XML via ECMA International and this was approved as open standard in December 2006.

Of the 21 members to vote, IBM were the only objection to the approval. Again, this was the case when ECMA agreed to submit Open XML as a standard for ratification by ISO. Ignoring the fact that the vast majority of ISO members chose not to submit comments, during the one-month period for consideration of Open XML in ISO, IBM globally campaigned that Open XML was not even considered. (NB. Notes does not support Open XML.)

If you believe that Open XML provides choice for customers and partners worldwide, and that Microsoft have finally listened to their customers needs by opening up the pre-2003 binary document formats, and you think that this should be standardised, why not sign the petition?

If you would like to understand more about the comparison of OpenDocument and Office Open XML formats prior to signing this partition you could refer to this, balanced Wikipedia article. For more information about developing with Open XML, head on over to http://openxmldeveloper.org/.

Regards,
Chris Parkes

E-Commerce News: Web Services: What Everyone Needs to Know About SOA

chrisp — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Here's an interesting thought...What if a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is not the future of all business applications? There's still much scepticism out there today as to what benefits SOA actually brings for every budget spent. In addition, for each vendor that lays claim to having SOA enabled software, their definitions seem to differ.

Personally, I'm contemplating how Software as a Service (as a whole) and disparate vendor enabled SOA's will all tie together, especially in the context of Web2.0 and particularly user identity.

I like this article as a primer and agree wholeheartedly with the fact that, "SOA should allow you to build dashboards of active Web services components and create applications on the fly that behave your way -- the way you want them to behave" but I feel it stops some way short of defining where any ROI comes from...

Link to E-Commerce News: Web Services: What Everyone Needs to Know About SOA

OBA Reference Application Pack for Supply Chain Management

chrisp — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:15:36 GMT

Globalization, specialization and outsourcing are changing the way we work. Global information workers need to collaborate in a way that is seamless, synchronized and secure. Microsoft’s 2007 Office System provides a platform for building composite solutions, called Office Business Applications (OBAs), designed to support cross-functional processes and allow information workers to collaborate. Assembled from a company’s current collection of information assets, OBAs allow global information workers to gain insight, collaborate, make decisions, and take action. As we move from a transactional world to a collaborative one, our tools must also change.

Office Business Applications: Reference Application Pack for Supply Chain Management
Developers can now download the reference application for supply chain management. The pack covers various collaboration scenarios across organizational boundaries. It also provides details on architecture, development models, and the end-user experience.

Microsoft Office for Architects

chrisp — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 20:15:02 GMT

With the 2007 Office System, Microsoft Office has evolved beyond a productivity suite into a unified solutions platform that makes enterprise data and processes more accessible and relevant to users. Composed of clients, servers, services, and tools, it provides a single infrastructure for communication and collaboration, business intelligence, and content management solutions. This site brings together relevant ideas, concepts, and best practices to aid architects in designing and building applications using the Microsoft Office System.

Take a look here for more information regarding Microsoft Office System for Architects

2 Day BPIO UK Partner Workshop!!!

chrisp — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 20:15:30 GMT

Microsoft UK are running a 2-day in-depth, instructor-led sales readiness workshop for partners. Partners will be introduced to the concepts of the Business Productivity Infrastructure Optimisation (BPIO) campaign to help understand the:

Current market and the opportunities in the market
Maturity model and how to identify a customer’s place in the lifecycle (Basic, Standardized, Rationalized, Dynamic)
Customer Engagement Solutions (CES) framework and how to leverage the CES tools (Strategy Briefing, Architectural Design Session, and Proof of Concept) to move the sales process forward in a predictable and structured fashion

Targeted at System Integrator/Independent Software Vendor partners and sales and technical pre-sales support personnel, this sales training will help partners to understand Microsoft marketing strategies, field priorities, and technology capabilities as well as how to execute their own BPIO customer campaigns and selling activities independently.

Content includes Business Intelligence (BI), Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Unified Communication & Collaboration (UCC). The full running agenda is:

The BI/ECM/UCC Opportunity
What’s new in 2007
Scenario Based Demo and Business Case
BPIO Model in BI/ECM/UCC
Partner Opportunities

Head here for details on how to register and for course date listings...

Ciao for now :)

Microsoft European SharePoint Conference 2007

chrisp — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:24:00 GMT

Nice to see Microsoft using it's own InfoPath Forms Services Technology to power the registration site for the Microsoft European SharePoint Conference 2007.

The first ever Microsoft European SharePoint Conference will be held in Berlin, February 12—14, 2007. At the event, Microsoft executives and Partners will deliver technical and strategic insights targeted at developer, IT professional and technical decision maker audiences. Fancy being there? Be quick to register, this is the only dedicated European SharePoint event planned for this calendar year so it is sure to be very popular!

Microsoft Partners and Offshore Development

chrisp — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 16:32:08 GMT

This evening session on the 24th January, London, UK, will provide an overview of the opportunity for ISV’s to outsource development to the Philippines and Vietnam. The presentations will cover various aspects of offshore software development and introduce general concepts whilst also aiming to raise potential issue awareness. Microsoft Partners will have the opportunity to meet individually with overseas partners from the Microsoft community and also with senior Microsoft UK Executives.

The event is being held in association with Harvey Nash with whom, many of our ISV Partners have already taken advantage of this approach to help with adoption of the latest Microsoft platforms, migration of legacy applications and service enablement of their latest applications. Places are very limited and this is sure to be a very fascinating evening...

You can register for the event here.