What is SharePoint?

SharePoint is more a concept than a singular defined technology.  It is a browser-based collaboration and document management platform from Microsoft that is designed to help facilitate the sharing of information either through document libraries, blogging, wiki-style pages and much more.

What is the difference between WSS 3.0 and MOSS?

Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) 3.0 is the foundation of services that can be downloaded for free.  WSS includes quite a bit of the functionality you might need through the core features it provides.

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) builds on top of WSS and adds greater functionality to your SharePoint Services (for example, Excel Services, Forms Services and so forth).

Hardware and Software Requirements

You want to install SharePoint Services on a server running 2003 SP1 or 2008.  You must have the .NET Framework installed.  Web servers must have IIS installed and database servers must have SQL. 

(Note:  You do not need to install SQL if you plan on running a Basic installation as a Stand-alone server)

Stand-alone or Server Farm Installation

With a Stand-alone installation you can perform a basic install so long as you do not have the need to make any configuration changes (such as the location of the files).  If you need to make adjustments then you can select an Advanced installation but still perform a Stand-alone install.

A Server Farm requires an Advanced installation.  The goal with a Server Farm is to divide the labor between servers that handle the front end (Web servers running IIS) and the database back end (running SQL).

Configuring Server 2008

You can install SharePoint on a server running Server 2003, however, this clip will show you how to configure a Server 2008 system.

You will install the .NET Framework (through the Application Server role) and your IIS role with necessary features.

Performing a Basic Install (Extended Version)

This clip will take you through the steps of performing a Basic installation of SharePoint and will show you all of the features and settings being installed.

Performing a Basic Install

This clip will take you through the steps of performing a Basic installation of SharePoint and will cut the portions or fast forward through portions that are not of key interest when you are in a time crunch and just want to see the steps.

Performing an Advanced Install

In this clip we will walk through the Advanced installation options which include Server Type, File Location and Feedback options.  You can still install as a Stand-alone installation, however, in this case we will walk through the installation as a Server Farm installation where you have to have SQL server installed and connect to it during the final portion of the configuration options.

A Tour of Central Administration

While you may spend most of your time configuring your actual site, it is Central Administration (a web portal unto itself) where you will configure your SharePoint Server.  There are three main tabs which include Home, Operations and Application Management.

Understanding SharePoint Logical Architecture

It's important to grasp the terminology and how it fits to the reality of a SharePoint site.  So, in this clip we will explain the various aspects of SharePoint structure including the server, Web applications, and Site Collections (which are made up of sites and features).

Building the Site Structure

This clip will set the stage for the creation of an entire site structure starting from the beginning, the creation of a web application.

We will outline a bogus Intranet site called Primatech and explain how we will proceed in future clips.

Creating a Web Application

To create a Web application you want to open the Central Administration site and go to the Application Management tab.  Under 'SharePoint Web Application Management' you want to start by selecting the 'Create or extend Web application'.

This clip will walk through the creation of a new Web Application for our imaginary Primatech site.

Creating a Site Collection

To create a site collection you can select that as a link directly from where you create the Web application or you can select it from the Application Management tab under 'SharePoint Site Management' there is a link 'Create site collection'.

One of the items to creating a site collection is the Template Selection portion.  In our clip we will choose Team Site, however, you can choose Document Workspace, Wiki Site, Blog and more.

Creating a Quota Template

To create a quota template you go to the Central Administration site and go to the Application Management tab.  Under 'SharePoint Site Management' there is a link 'Quota templates'.  Use this link to configure the quota template.

Applying Quotas

To apply a quota template you go to the Central Administration site and go to the Application Management tab.  Under 'SharePoint Site Management' there is a link 'Site collection quotas and locks'.

Changing the Site Logo

Changing the site logo may first involve moving the graphic to a common location for site graphics.  That will make it easier when you go to indicate the path to the site logo.

To change the site logo, you begin on the sites primary page and then click the Site Actions down arrow and choose Site Settings.

Under Site Settings, under the Look and Feel column select 'Title, description, and icon'.

Changing the Site Theme

To change the site theme, you begin on the sites primary page and then click the Site Actions down arrow and choose Site Settings.

Under Site Settings, under the Look and Feel column select 'Site Theme'.  There are a variety of different color themes to choose from.

Configuring the Top Link Bar

The top level links only include Home by default.  But you can include additional ones if you like.

To change the top link bar, you begin on the sites primary page and then click the Site Actions down arrow and choose Site Settings.

Under Site Settings, under the Look and Feel column select 'Top link bar'

Changing Top Link Bar Order

To change the top link bar order, you begin on the sites primary page and then click the Site Actions down arrow and choose Site Settings.

Under Site Settings, under the Look and Feel column select 'Top link bar'.  Click the 'Change Order' option to alter the order of the top link bar.

Preparing a Template Site

Part of preparing a template site may be removing some of the web parts located on the template.  So, in this clip we are going to remove parts that we do not want to carry over to the template.

To accomplish this we begin on the primary page and then click the Site Actions down arrow and choose Edit Page.  Then we can make adjustments to the page.

Working with the Quick Launch Bar

The Quick Launch Bar is located on the left side of the site and varies from the Top Links Bar in that each site can contain different links.

To configure the Quick Launch bar you begin on the sites primary page and then click the Site Actions down arrow and choose Site Settings.

Under Site Settings, under the Look and Feel column select 'Quick Launch'.

Save Site As Template

Once you have your site prepared to use as a template (if you choose to work with a template approach to creating new sites) you can save the site as a template.

To save a site as a template you begin on the sites primary page and then click the Site Actions down arrow and choose Site Settings.

Under Site Settings, under the Look and Feel column select 'Save site as template'.

Configure Firewall Settings for Client Access

Before you continue making changes to the site you may want to ensure that other systems can connect to your SharePoint site and make changes to it.  This may require some firewall configuration changes.

To make firewall changes on the server you open Control Panel and go to the Firewall applet.  Set as an exception the port of the SharePoint site.

Using a Template to Create a Sub-Site

Being that we created a template in an earlier clip, we are going to now fill in our Top Links bar with real site by using that template.

To use an already created template you begin on the sites primary page and then click the Site Actions down arrow and choose Site Settings.

Under Site Settings, under Site Administration you want to choose 'Sites and workspaces'.  From here you will Create a new site based upon the template you already created.

Review of Creating a Sub-Site with Template

Turning On Self-Service Site Management

To allow users to create their own sites you want to turn on self-service site management.  Now, this is not recommended for every environment... so use this sparingly.

To configure this you go back to the Central Administration site and select the Application Management tab.  From here you need to choose, under Application Security, the 'Self-service site management' link.

Site Use Confirmation and Deletion

In the event you have sites that aren't really being used you can establish limits to the lifetime of those sites.

To configure this feature you go to the Central Administration site and select the Application Management tab.  From here you need to choose, under SharePoint Site Management, the 'Site use confirmation and deletion' link.

Make Adjustments to the Announcements Web Part

All web parts have configuration options available to adjust.  To see the ones for Announcements you have to have the right permissions (logically) and click the little arrow next to the web part.  Then you will select 'Modify Shared Web Part' to see a list of options you can change.

Adding a New Announcement with Attachment

Although this may appear as more of a user oriented item, Administrators should know how to perform tasks that users perform.  So, this clip will teach you how to create an announcement and even add an attachment to that announcement.

Adding Additional Category Columns to Announcements

There are times when you may want to customize a web part.  In this case, the Announcement web part we will add a new category as an example to show you what you can do with SharePoint.  You will see in this lesson that you have quite a bit of flexibility to adjust items with the click of a button.

Access 2007 and Announcements

Adding the Calendar Web Part

Working with the Calendar Web Part

Connecting the SharePoint Calendar to Outlook