New blog location

Hi there, I am in the process of migrating this blog from here at WordPress to my new MSDN blog. I will be transferring all of my previous articles over to this new blog. I will be adjusting the RSS feed to the new location and you will also be able to access the new site via www.codejedi.net. So pretty much you won’t need to do anything.

Old blog:
WordPress
wcornwill.wordpress.com (www.codejedi.net)

New blog:
Community Server (MSDN)
blogs.msdn.com/williamcornwill (www.codejedi.net)

MOSSIG Christmas Party

The MOSSIG End of Year Christmas party is on this Wednesday 12^th December 2007 at 5:30pm at Microsoft Southbank.  To register for the meeting/party please email register@mossig.net by COB Tuesday 11th December 2007.

Agenda

Ben Walters - Will be your MC for the night and will provide an overview of plans for MOSSIG next year and the Melbourne Office Devcon 2008.

Office System 2007 Solution Showcase and Contest – These sessions aim to show what members have been up to in 2007.  The MOSSIG Board have selected five solutions which will be presented by the selected members. These presentations will provide a great look into what’s possible with the Microsoft Office System 2007 and the presenters have been asked to pay special attention to the real world experience their project has to offer and share with the group.

1. Tim Wragg, Professional Advantage – WSS Extranet using forms Authentication and Integration into Dynamics GP and CRM.

2. Elaine Van Bergen, Strategic Data Management – South East Water’s CMS Implementation with Excel Services

3. Eben Illingworth, Professional Advantage – Rolling out the MOSS Enterprise Platform to a scalable, secure infrastructure

4. Kevin Ramsey, The Online Workshop - VSTO and Outlook – the creation of the SmartAsset product.

5. Rai Umar, Uniqueworld - Forms and Workflow using MOSS

After the presentations the audience can ask questions and vote for their favourite solution presenter who will win a copy of Office 2007 Ultimate.

Rai Umair – Rai will be launching the brand new MOSSIG web site.

Plus plenty of networking opportunity, giveaways and bubbles!

DON’T FORGET  – Bring your business cards for prize draws!  Just for showing up you will be eligible for the draw of a copy of Visual Studio Professional, and don’t forget bring your business card to enter.

Microsoft SharePoint Developer Documentation Team Blog

The Microsoft SharePoint Developer Documentation Team have started blogging, if you are a SharePoint developer, then this resource is going to be essential.

Visit their new blog at: http://blogs.msdn.com/sharepointdeveloperdocs/default.aspx

There first couple of blog posts are fantastic;

• Extending Workflow Actions for SharePoint Designer
• SharePoint Resource Center Pages Now Live
• SharePoint SDKs Machine Translation Pilot
• Creating new .ACTIONS files for code-free workflow editors
• Content Migration in SharePoint
• Content Migration in SharePoint (Post 2)
• Customising Alert Notifications and Alert Templates in Windows SharePoint

Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House?

On www.stayathomeserver.com the Windows Home Server Team are posting a series of hilarious videos that both describe the product and help solidify the definition of the category.

They have also commissioned a funny fake children’s book titled “Mommy, Why is there a Server in my House?” which will help parents explain why there is a new member of the family. A teaser of the book is on www.stayathomeserver.com right now; it will soon be available in many other forms…they’ll actually be selling it on Amazon.

Check out the Microsoft Windows Home Server Team blog at http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/archive/2007/11/30/home-computer-home-network-home-server.aspx

Calling all SharePoint developers!

Chris Johnson from the SharePoint product team wants to hear from the SharePoint developers.  This is your chance to give your feedback directly to the product team.

Go to his post and leave your comments.

“Something I take great interest in and spend a bunch of time thinking about are SharePoint Developers.  I was one before I moved up here to Redmond and joined the SharePoint product team.  Of course that means I hold a dear place in my heart for all you pro developers out there who are stuggling with the lack of developer tools targeted at the hard core SharePoint developer.  Dont worry … we hear ya!!!

Something I have been doing recently is quizzing other sharepoint developers out there about their development practices, tools and environments they use in their jobs.  Now i want to take that to anyone (is there anyone?) reading this blog.

So here are my questions for you:

- What does your development environment look like?  Do you develop in a VPC (what products are installed) or on a dedicated machine?  Does your team use a single SQL server? or do you each run your own?  Do you run standalone MOSS/WSS installs? or are they connected to a Farm with other developers machines connected?

- What are the tools you use and how do you use them?  Do you only use Visual Studio?  or do you use a mix of VS and SharePoint Designer?  Do you have a bunch of scripts or batches for things yout cant do in Visual Studio … like package up your Features into Solution files etc… Do you use any third party tools?

- If you use source control what do you store in it?  Do you just store your Feature files & code? or do you store scripts to automate a build and upload content to it etc…?  Is this all integrated with Source Control?

- Do you use any tools to help you build Feature & Solution files etc…? or do you manually write them?

- Have you looked at the Visual Studio Extensions for Windows SharePoint Services?  if so .. 1.1? or just 1.0?  What do you think is missing from that tool that you have to do using manual steps or scripts you built etc… (for more info see: http://blogs.msdn.com/sharepointdesigner/archive/2007/08/21/announcing-the-ctp-for-vsewss-version-1-1.aspx)

- What sort of applications are you building?  one off sites? or templates etc… for many sites?

- Do you sell the things you build many times?  or are they usually one offs?

So many questions I know   I want to make sure we stay focussed on delivering the tools that make the most sense to you the developers.  That is why I think it is important that you get to have your say about what direction we are should head in.  So go ahead … make my day … and add your comments below. (your comments might take a while to show up as i have comment moderation on to stop all the spam … but i will approve when i can). Also …I am totally happy for people to reply anonomously if they like.”, Chris Johnson (Microsoft).

Accessibility Kit for SharePoint (AKS) released

Just caught wind that Microsoft and HiSoftware have announced the official release of the Accessibility Kit for SharePoint (AKS) Version 1.0.

Download

MOSSIG Christmas Party

MOSSIG Christmas Party
5.30pm on the 12th December @ Microsoft
Level 5, 4 Freshwater Place
Melbourne, Australia.

MOSSIG will be having drinks and nibbles over the night for a casual end to the year topped off with some great presentations of the work done by our MOSSIG members over the year.

For more information check our website at www.mossig.net or register for our monthly newsletter at register@mossig.net

Also 2 Prizes (Office 2007 Ultimate – worth $1000) will be awarded on the night for the best solution and the most informative. This will be judged by the audience.

Microsoft Search Server (MSS) 2008 Express VHD

Just read a post by Mark Harrison about a Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express VHD available for download.  The download also comes with a walkthough guide.

The guide gives a hands-on tour of the product, along with useful information for administrators and other IT professionals. You can use the guide and VHD to demonstrate many of the key features of Microsoft Search Server 2008. The VHD includes all of the files and software you need in order to complete the walkthrough. They will provide you with a basic understanding of the configuration, administration, and end-user search capabilities in Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express edition.

Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express VHD

Microsoft Best Practices Analyzer for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007

Have you implemented a WSS v3 or MOSS 2007 environment? Are you an administrator of a WSS v3 or MOSS 2207 environment? or are you the Security Consultant for an organisation that has deployed a WSS v3 or MOSS 2007 environment? If so, then this tool will be invaluable for you.

The Microsoft Best Practices Analyzer for WSS v3 and MOSS 2007 collects information about the topology in relation to ‘best practices’ and provides administrators with a detailed report of recommendations that can be applied to obtain greater performance, scalability and reliability.

Ice Cube Promotes Silverlight

Just read a post by Michael Scherotter about http://uvntv.com – basically this is a new video for the web site that has been co-founded by Ice Cube.  Check out Micheal’s post for a short video taken at Ice Cube’s Cube Vision offices.  This site is pretty cool and shows the power of Silverlight.

“…uses Silverlight technology, it is going to be incredible. Flash is out of here…”, Ice Cube

Unfortunately I cannot paste iFrames into WordPress posts – doh!, another reason why I am trying to shift to my MSDN blog.

Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 RTM

Today Microsoft have released Visual Studio 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 to RTM.  These development tools provide a consistent, integrated experience for developers who wish to create secure and reliable solutions and applications for the latest platforms: the Web, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, the 2007 Office System, and beyond.

There are over 250 new features in this release.  One of the coolest features would be the inclusion of LINQ and another would be the ability to select the framework version to compile to (so there is no reason to delay using this version).

The release of these products is a major milestone towards the Global Launch of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 which will be known as ‘The 2008 Wave Launch” – Get you surf boards ready and jump on the Wave! Cowabunga Dude!

Movember – please sponsor my MO!

If you sponsor me I will provide updates of what my mo looks like!

MOSSIG’s new site is live and has PodCasts

The guys at MOSSIG have launched their new website.  The new site is powered by the Community Kit for SharePoint (User Group Edition)

If you are a regular to MOSSIG, only been to an event once or twice or have never heard of it before, you should check out this site.  It has information about previous meetings including Slide decks and Podcasts, it also has Newsletters, Discussion threads, event schedule, announcements, RSS feeds.

Microsoft Search Server 2008

Today at the Enterprise Search Summit in San Jose, California, US, Microsoft announced the release of Microsoft Search Server (MSS) 2008 and Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express (MSS Express).  These products will replace the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 for Search (MOSSFS) product.

The huge news is that MSS Express will be a FREE product download through which Microsoft will bring “Enterprise-class search to the masses”

o Customers can download an RC version of MSS Express from www.microsoft.com/EnterpriseSearch

Windows Home Server available

Easily protect, connect and share digital media and documents.

“The line between the office and the home blurred a little more today as Microsoft unveiled its new Windows Home Server, a streamlined and much simplified version of the server the software giant has been making for businesses.”, JACK KAPICA, Globe and Mail Update

Microsoft have unveiled its new Windows Home Server, this will allow home users to obtain the benefits that many business users have had for years.  The server will allow you to automatically create backups of your Windows XP or Windows Vista computers and will provide a centralized location for documents, movies, MP3 files etc… to be stored and can even be used to stream media to other devices such as your Xbox 360.

You know, I might just have to get me one of these.

Movember 2007 – I’m growin’ a mo!

 

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) I’ll be growin a Mo. That’s right I’m bringing the Mo back because I’m passionate about changing men’s health and the fight against male depression and prostate cancer once again. Why…

• Depression affects 1 in 6 men…Most don’t seek help. Untreated depression is a leading risk factor for suicide.
• Last year in Australia 18,700 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 2,900 died of prostate cancer – equivalent to the number of women who die from breast cancer annually.
• Men are far less healthy than women. The average life expectancy of males is 5 years less than females.

To sponsor my Mo please go to http://www.movember.com/au/donate, enter my registration number which is 152674 and your credit card details. Or you can sponsor me by cheque made payable to the “Movember Foundation” clearly marking the donation as being for my Registration Number: 152674. Please mail cheques to: PO Box 292, Prahran VIC 3181. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

The money raised by Movember is donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue – the national depression initiative, which will use the funds to create awareness, fund research and increase support networks for those men who suffer from prostate cancer and male depression.

For those that have supported Movember in previous years you can be very proud of the impact it has had and can check out the detail at: Fundraising Outcomes.

Movember culminates at the end of the month at the Gala Partés. These glamorous and groomed events will see Tom Selleck and Borat look-a-likes battle it out for their chance to take home the prestigious Man of Movember title. If you would like to be part of this great night you’ll need to purchase a Gala Parté ticket .

Windows Server 2008 and WSSv3 Update

The Window Server team have announced on their blog that WSSv3 will again be provided as a separate download for Windows Server 2008.  This is how the product was prior to Windows 2003 R2.  Since Windows Server 2003 R2 was released, the WSSv3 product has been rolled into the OS, however, from Windows Server 2008 RC1 it will be segmented again, giving greater flexibility to server deployments.

Happy Halloween

www.itsnotcheating.com.au

If you are an Australian University or TAFE student then you could grab a bargin.  Microsoft are offering all eligible Australian Uni and TAFE students the opportunity to purchase the latest Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate edition for only $75 for life (or $25 for 1 year) which normally retails for around $1000.  So check out the It’s not cheating website for more details grab yourself a bargin.

Facebook and Microsoft Expand Strategic Alliance

In case you didn’t see this, this is excellent news for Microsoft and Facebook.

Facebook and Microsoft Corp. today announced that the two companies would expand their advertising partnership and that Microsoft will take a $240 million equity stake in Facebook’s next round of financing at a $15 billion valuation. Under the expanded strategic alliance, Microsoft will be the exclusive third-party advertising platform partner for Facebook, and will begin to sell advertising for Facebook internationally in addition to the United States.

“We are pleased to take our Microsoft partnership to the next level,” said Owen Van Natta, Chief Revenue Officer, Facebook. “We think this expanded relationship will allow Facebook to continue to innovate and grow as a technology leader and major player in social computing, as well as bring relevant advertising to nearly 50 million active users of Facebook.”

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