Datasheet

Getting a hunting license
Because every business is different, every SharePoint implementation looks
slightly different. Only you can determine what those gaps are in your infor-
mation systems environment for SharePoint to fill. When it comes time to
decide which SharePoint features, if any, you should implement and in what
order, I suggest you start out by asking for a hunting license. In other words,
look around your business for opportunities to evaluate SharePoint.
I’ve given some suggestions throughout this chapter for ways that you can
use SharePoint in your business. Even if you know very little about
SharePoint, here are a few rules of thumb for how you can bring your existing
information assets into SharePoint:
 Spreadsheets are the easiest candidates for implementing into SharePoint
because SharePoint has so many options. Spreadsheets that have columns
and rows of data are prime candidates to become lists in SharePoint.
Spreadsheets that display schedules, analysis, and charts are often better
displayed as Web content in Excel Services. In both cases, end users can
continue to open the file in Excel and update it.
Another obvious use for spreadsheets is to store them in document
libraries. Although this is better than using a regular file share, it doesn’t
start to unlock the information stored inside the spreadsheet. Instead of
just storing everything as a file in a library, see if the file’s contents are
valuable to the organization as a whole.
 Word documents most often make their way into document libraries.
This makes sense if you need to take advantage of collaboration tools,
such as version control, approval routing, and archival policies. You can
also convert Word documents to Web pages. When documents are used
as forms, consider converting them to InfoPath forms. Tables displayed
inside documents are prime candidates to become SharePoint lists.
Documents that describe tasks or business processes may be the blue-
prints for creating a workflow. Documents intended for consumption by
a large number of people should make their way to the portal’s
Document Center.
 PowerPoint presentations can be stored in document libraries.
Individual slides can be stored in a slide library to create a reusable col-
lection of templates and slides for building presentations.
 Access databases can be replaced with custom lists and workflows in
SharePoint.
 Visio diagrams can be stored in document libraries or saved as Web
pages and displayed in SharePoint sites.
 E-mails can be replaced with announcements, calendars, and tasks lists
in SharePoint. Instead of sending attachments, users can send URLs to
resources stored in SharePoint.
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