1. Make sure the website that calls the application page is available for anonymous access.
If the URL to the application page is http://server01/_layouts/testpage.aspx, then http://server01/ has to be accessible by anonymous user.

2. When you create an application page in Visual Studio 2010, by default when you open the page in view code, you see the class below:

public partial class testpage : LayoutsPageBase
{
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
    }
}

LayoutsPageBase by default fires the login prompt. So just replace it with equivalent class that can be called in an unsecure context. That class is UnsecuredLayoutsPageBase.

So your code should look like this.

public partial class testpage : UnsecuredLayoutsPageBase
{
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
    }
}

3. UnsecuredLayoutsPageBase has a read-only property called AllowAnonymousAccess. This property returns false by default which leaves you with an extra step to override it and make it return true. So your final code will look like this:

public partial class testpage : UnsecuredLayoutsPageBase
{
    protected override bool AllowAnonymousAccess
    {
        get
        {
            return true;
        }
    }
    protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
    }
}

Deploy the page and enjoy opening the page without login prompt.

OK, I have done this but it still prompts me for the login info! Well the only other thing that I can think about now is go to the site settings and make sure the master page as a published and approved version.

Note: All the credit of this post goes to Dr. Zewei Song and Kevin Chen. I have just packaged and formatted their work.  

Cheers
Alireza

Lets review the possible reasons. This error happens when there is a dependency or another object in SharePoint that uses the content type:

1. A list/library that is already using the content type.
2. Items in the list/library that use the content type.

OK, we dropped the items that use that content type and we removed the content type from the list/library but still we see the same darn screen when trying to get rid of the content type!
What else can possibly use this content type?
The answer is simple: the same items or libraries that you deleted are still using that content type in RECYCLE BIN. Clean up both recycle bins (user and administrator) and then happily wipe off the ugly content type.

Cheers
Alireza

Here is the default value

Style="overflow: auto;height: 400px;width: 150px; "

Simply change it to anything you like:

Style="overflow: auto;height: 400px;width: 250px; "

Cheers
Alireza

Your backup is from a different version of Windows SharePoint Services and cannot be restored to a server running the current version. The backup file should be restored to a server with version '12.0.0.6335' or later.

It sounds like an odd error but lets face it. STSADM backups are not service-pack independent. It just reminds me of restoring SQL Server system databases. Remember that you need to have identical service packs on source and destination of the backup. Otherwise your restore shows you this.

Check this little post by Aaron Saikovski to get your exact solution.

Cheers
Alireza

 Now take a look at this course content for a change:
Architecting Web Content Management Solutions with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 

Hey, it seems like Microsoft response to this need. Or look at this one:

Architecting and Planning the Search Capability in Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007

Actually this is not a new course approach, I have delivered database modeling from Microsoft Official Curriculum 6 years ago. I only believe these courses are not marketed well simply because most of the clients see Microsoft as pure technology provider. SharePoint is a new product with new concepts around it. Consider basics before you get into the technology!

 Cheers
Alireza

Now here are the magic C# words to break the spell! Your code should automate this step.

Here are some important considerations.
1. You have 200 sites and there is no guarantee that all sites are following the same role inheritance setting. In better word some sites may inherit the roles and some don't. It is obvious that you cannot and you don't need to create this role in the sites that they inherit.
2. You have to create this role in the root website of the site collection.

Take a look at this code.

    SPWeb myWeb = mySite.AllWebs[i];
    if (myWeb.HasUniqueRoleDefinitions || myWeb.IsRootWeb)
    {
 
        try
        {
            MessageBox.Show(myWeb.Title);
            myWeb.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true;
            SPRoleDefinition rd = new SPRoleDefinition();
            rd.BasePermissions = SPBasePermissions.ManageLists |
            SPBasePermissions.CancelCheckout |

SPBasePermissions.AddListItems
| SPBasePermissions.EditListItems |

SPBasePermissions.DeleteListItems;
      rd.Name = "Custom role 01";
      myWeb.RoleDefinitions.Add(rd);
      myWeb.Update();
  }
  catch (Exception ex)
  {
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, myWeb.Title);
  }
}

 Don't forget to import:
using Microsoft.SharePoint;

Cheers
Alireza

  SPSite mySite = new SPSite("http://sharepoinsiteaddress");
  SPWeb myweb = mySite.OpenWeb();
  SPList myList = myweb.Lists["Announcements"];
  SPListItem myListItem = myList.GetItemById(1);
  foreach (String attachmentname in myListItem.Attachments)
  {
   String attachmentAbsoluteURL =
   myListItem.Attachments.UrlPrefix // gets the containing directory URL
   + attachmentname;

   // To get the SPSile reference to the attachment just use this code
   SPFile attachmentFile = myweb.GetFile(attachmentAbsoluteURL);

   // To read the file content simply use this code
   Stream stream = attachmentFile.OpenBinaryStream();
   StreamReader reader = new StreamReader(stream);
   String fileContent = reader.ReadToEnd();

   // assuming that file is a text attachment
   MessageBox.Show(fileContent);
  }

I think the code is self descriptive. Just some points to remember:

• Attachments collection of SPListItem object is not SPFile. It is string that only represents file name.
• Most of the time just a hyperlink to the attachment serves the purpose for the web UI design.
• I used a windows application to present this code, you may implement it in any project.
• Don't forget the required namespaces.

  • using System.IO;

  • using Microsoft.SharePoint;

Enjoy!
Alireza

 My new choice is CamStudio. It doesn't give you a fancy movie editing studio, but it happily works on Windows 2003 server loaded with MOSS 2007 and BizTalk 2006. It doesn't slow down any process and it is FREEEEEE!!! Ok, for the editing studio go for Microsoft Movie Maker and you are all set.

Cheers
Alireza

  public string RemoveTags(String originalMessage)

  {

      Regex rgx = new Regex("<[^>]*>");

      return rgx.Replace(originalMessage, "");

  }

This function simply gets an HTML/XML String and returns pure text. Don’t forget to add
using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
to your file header.
Enjoy
Alireza
 

But how this is related to SharePoint?
Remember that when you create MOSS or WSS Site collections it gives you the chance to pick a database name? Now remember when you uninstall SharePoint it doesn’t delete the databases?
Ok, here is what happens. You uninstall MOSS or delete Site Collection. Then you may think that, I may use these data in the future or for any reason database is in use and you cannot delete it so you take it off-line and then you delete and forget it while the files are still there. When you want to create another site collection or a new installation the existing files will not let you create the new database.
But why do you want to take the database off-line?
Taking the database off-line means that we don’t want anybody connect to the database anymore but we are polite enough to let the current users to the database finish their work. It doesn’t kill the existing connections and it takes some time for all the live users to finish their work and disconnect and in the meanwhile no new connection is made to the database. Usually when junior database administrators want to delete a database that there is live connection to that and they come up to related errors they try to take the database off-line, which is a good move, but do you really want to keep the current users when you want to delete what ever the data that they enter? So to drop a database simply go to SQL Server 2005 management studio and Management -> Activity Monitor. If you just double click on the activity monitor you can see a list of all the databases and existing connections to them. Simply right click on the database and kill the connection. Then you will be good to delete the database.
Cheers
Alireza

Have you seen this error before? Hah, you just noticed it? Cool! Let's see where the error is coming from.

I created two tables as Products and Sales. There is a foreign key that forces the sales table to use only valid values for ProductAbbreviation in Products table. To create a foreign key constraint I can simply run this script:

ALTER TABLE [dbo].[Sales]  WITH CHECK ADD  CONSTRAINT [FK_Sales_Products] FOREIGN KEY([ProductAbbreviation])

REFERENCES [dbo].[Products] ([Abbreviation])

GO

Here is the point. This foreign key refers to a field called Abbreviation. There is just one simple rule on this game. You cannot make a reference to a field that is not unique. In better word your foreign key can only refer to a field that has a unique constraint like Primary Key or Unique Index. Now read the error again and you can simply understand what is going on.

To have this script work you need to create a unique index on Abbreviation field in Products table or make it a primary key that guarantees uniqueness. So simply go to index management and create a unique index on that field or run this script to create it like old fashioned developers:

CREATE UNIQUE NONCLUSTERED INDEX unq_abbr ON dbo. Products

Then you can create your foreign key happily ever after.
Enjoy
Alireza

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.SharePoint;

namespace StopActiveTaskDelete
{
    //Inhertit your class from SPItemEventReceiver
    public class CActiveTasksDelete: SPItemEventReceiver
    {
        // Override the ItemDeleting function. You will find also ItemDeleted
        // function that fires when the item is deleted. For your scenario we
        // need ItemDeleting to stop the delete process before it is complete.
        public override void ItemDeleting(SPItemEventProperties properties)
        {
            //Built in call to the initial definition
            base.ItemDeleting(properties);
            // Get reference to the current item being deleted
            SPListItem myItem = properties.ListItem;
            // Read the status field of the item being deleted
            String taskStatus = myItem["Status"].ToString();
           

            // Is the task status is Complete it is not active task any more
            // Otherwise we cancel the deletion
            if (taskStatus != "Completed")
            {
                // This is the message that we'd like to show to the user
                // if he/she tries to delete an active task
                properties.ErrorMessage = "This task is still in progress and cannot be deleted";
                // This line actually cancels the delete
                properties.Cancel = true;
            }
        }
    }

Sign the assembly with a strong name key and deploy it to the global assembly cache. Now all you need to do is to introduce the this assembly to a task list in SharePoint. There are different ways of doing it, but the simplest way is using a simple consol application to do so.

Your script should look like this:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.SharePoint; 

namespace RegsiterEventReceiver
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            // Get reference to the the site that containd your task list
            SPSite mySite = new SPSite("http://sharepointSiteURL");
            SPWeb myWeb = mySite.OpenWeb();
            // Get the reference to your task list
            SPList myList = myWeb.Lists["Tasks"];
            myList.EventReceivers.Add(SPEventReceiverType.ItemDeleting,
                "StopActiveTaskDelete, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral" +
                //Replace this key with your own assembly publick key token
                ", PublicKeyToken=8a1a592e4ca85c4c",
                "StopActiveTaskDelete.CActiveTasksDelete");
            // Don't forget to update the list
            myList.Update();
            // Make sure you add this life to feel good after your
            // Solution is deployed successfully
            Console.WriteLine("Haha, done!");

        }
    }
}

Now go to the SharePoint Site and try to delete an incomplete task. You will get this error page.

And this code will protect active tasks from deletion happily ever after.
Cheers
Alireza

            SPListItem myItem = properties.ListItem;
//This line detaches the item security from the list
            myItem.BreakRoleInheritance(false);
            myItem.Update();
            SPWeb myWeb = properties.OpenWeb();
// Creates an object of type SPMember to represent a group
            SPMember member = myWeb.SiteGroups["TestGroup"];
// We can simply cast a SPMember object into a SPPrincipal variable
            SPPrincipal principal = (SPPrincipal)member;
// A role definition is required to represent a permission level in SharePoint site
            SPRoleDefinition roledefinition =
                myWeb.RoleDefinitions.GetByType(SPRoleType.Contributor );
            SPRoleAssignment myRoleAssignment = new SPRoleAssignment(principal);
            myRoleAssignment.RoleDefinitionBindings.Add(roledefinition);
            myItem.RoleAssignments.Add(myRoleAssignment);
            myItem.Update();

 Enjoy the code.
Alireza

• How can I learn InfoPath tricks?
  Learning InfoPath is pretty simple. Just go to this link on msdn website. This is the best resource to let you know all the tricks about InfoPath.

• How can I learn SharePoint development?
  Don't waste time with the classes. The best resource for learning SharePoint is Microsoft e-Learning. See this lovely collections:

  • Collection 6071: Developing Solutions with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Visual Studio 2005

  • Collection 5404: Implementing Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007

  • Collection 5403: Implementing Microsoft® Windows® SharePoint® Services 3.0

  • Collection 5392: Developing and Extending Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 with Visual Studio 2005

  • Collection 5385: Developing Solutions with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Visual Studio 2005

  • Collection 5266: Core Training for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

  • Collection 3376: Implementing Enterprise Search Using Sharepoint Technologies
    To be honest I have learned more than 80% of what ever that I know about MOSS 2007 from these collections.

• How can I find resources for XML development?
   - Learn XML and XPath from www.w3schools.com for FREE
   - XPathNavigator and XMLDocument objects in .NET Framework satisfy more that 80% of your MOSS related XML programming needs and you can find good starting samples here.

• As I promised in the conference here you can download the source code for WordML access.

• The most valuable resource for anything in SharePoint is "Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies Team Blog" and it's worth visiting this website everyday.

• For using XML Web Services in InfoPath you can check this video that I have recorded myself. You don't need to be a developer to use this video. The sample web service is already deployed on my website. Just watch and do it yourself.

Enjoy
Alireza

• Using Excel Services to build BI solutions: I personally believe this title is not well articulated. I guess Excel Services is something that everybody should explore it personally so I am not going to completely cover features and capabilities of excel services. I will do my best to deliver the presentation so that the audience can repeat the experience themselves. This lecture will include:
  • Excel services from scratch (how to have it running from a clean installation)
  • Excel services architectural design (Data sources, trusted locations, security structure)
  • Using Excel Services to bring data from SQL Server to MOSS interface with data graphs
  • Using Excel Services to bring Analysis Services Cube data and graphs to MOSS Server
  • Excel Services and BI components (Introducing MOSS out of box and how excel services interacts with MOSS BI lists and BI Dashboard)
  • Q&A
• Building applications using MOSS 2007 web services: Don't get me wrong, this presentation is not for developers. I am targeting IT-Professionals and I am trying to keep it at 200 level. Here is my presentation outlines:
  • What is XML Web Service?
  • How can we call XML Web Services without code (I am targeting InfoPath)?
  • Introducing built-in XML Web Services in MOSS 2007.
  • Connecting XML Web Services and MOSS 2007 document libraries using InfoPath 2007 glue (Hay InfoPath 2007 glue is NOT a product name - lol).
  • How to deploy these XML Web Service containing InfoPath forms to the MOSS 2007 forms server
  • How can developers build custom Web Services to expose more MOSS features
• Office Automation using Microsoft Word 2007 and MOSS 2007: This is basically a case study around using Microsoft Word 2007 XML file that is also called WordML. This presentation is basically an open discussion around using WordML files instead of normal word files. I am just trying to explain how easy it is to utilize your basic XML Programming skills to manipulate sections of the WordML files.

I really appreciate if you spare a minute or two and give me your feedback.
Alireza