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Part I: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007
If you do not have access to a MOSS site, you can request that your system administrator create one for
you, or, as you will see later, you can use your own personal MOSS 2007 site for training purposes.
Many books on MOSS talk about creating your own web sites for testing purposes, using management
tools available with MOSS. In the real world of business, it ’ s highly unlikely that you will have access to
such high - level areas of the server, and your personal space on the server is where you will have most
privileges. There is an alternative for the technically minded reader. You can download a fully
functioning MOSS 2007 virtual machine from Microsoft. Install the virtual machine using Windows
Virtual PC (free software) and use that to practice with. To download the virtual machine, do a search at
www.microsoft.com for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 VHD. Because of the technical
requirements involved in running a full SharePoint environment on Virtual Disc, it is worthwhile to
check with your in - house systems people before installing this on a company computer.
Before looking at the SharePoint in more detail, one concept you will need to become comfortable with is
Web Parts. MOSS is composed of Web Parts, and there is really no escaping them.
Web Parts
A Web Part can be equated to a small application embedded into the web page. It provides some
functionality required by you, the end user. For example, if you wanted to see a list of all the staff
authorized to use your SharePoint site, you would add a Web Part that, once configured, would display
this information. Note the word “ configured ” ; in many cases, you need to set the Web Part up to return
the information required. In many other cases, the Web Part will simply perform the required function.
Web Parts can be added to almost any page within a SharePoint site, and several Web Parts are provided
for you. Web Parts are really at the core of SharePoint, and in addition to those supplied, developers can
create Web Parts that reflect their own organization ’ s business processes and information. In general,
once you can program Web Parts, your ability to present applications and information to end users is
endless. This is where the power of SharePoint lies — in the ability of an organization to take the huge
number of out - of - the - box features and extend them and add additional features specific to their needs.
Web Parts do not need to stand alone; they can be connected. You can filter Web Parts by passing
information from one Web Part to another. Take the standard customer and order situation. A Web Part
can be used to display customer details, and once a customer name is clicked, a related order Web Part can
display the associated orders. Once the Web Parts have been configured to supply the correct data, they
are a powerful tool within SharePoint sites. They can also be reused within other areas of the same site.
One common use for Web Parts with SharePoint is an internal phone directory. Using information from
the system, custom - built Web Parts can display staff contact details directly on a web page. This
information is usually pulled directly from an organization ’ s HR system or security infrastructure and is
generally more up to date than paper - based systems, which must be continually updated.
Every web page within a SharePoint site is composed of Web Parts contained within Web Part Zones.
Web Parts and Web Part Zones can be viewed once the page is put into design mode. Other Web Parts
available within SharePoint allow you to query information held within databases and present it to you
on a web page. If you have the required permissions, you can add and remove Web Parts from almost
any page within your SharePoint site. Chapter 4 looks at SharePoint Web Parts in more detail.
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