01 June, 2011

Excel Cannot Connect to SharePoint List

As I am working in SharePoint support, I come across so many issues on day 2 day basis and always try to share with all of you as soon as the issue gets resolved.

Today, We have received one support ticket in which the user has created a list which consist of few items. When he selects list Actions--Export to spreadsheet--Excel opens up and Displays 'Security' dialog box by giving the option of 'ENABLE' and 'DISABLE'.

When user selects the Enable button then 'Import Data' dialog comes up, and then user clicks OK. As soon as the OK action performs then suddenly it throws an error message: Excel Cannot Connect to SharePoint List

Resolution: 
Generally we start our troubleshooting from the SharePoint side as what is wrong with my SharePoint site, Is there any problem in the SharePoint list,
Does the Office which is installed on the machine is causing the problem?
Is there any site collection feature turned off?
Is there any problem in the SP-Database?
Problem with the IIS?

so things are there by which we can think off but don't waste your time in doing all these things as I have done all these things and the resolution is quite simple which you can implement without any help.

1)   Open the Internet Explorer
2)   Tools
3)   Internet Options
4)   Advanced Settings
5)   Scroll downwards and reach towards the section named as "Security"
6)   CHECK FOR SERVER CERTIFICATE REVOCATION--which is by default checked
7)   Unchecked it
8)   Apply and Ok
9)   Close all the internet explorers (IE) and open your SharePoint site in a new IE i.e. Browser/Explorer

You should be able to export the spreadsheet without any problems/issues.

Please let me know in case of any further queries/questions.

I would be more than HAPPY to help you as well as RESOLVES your issues, Thank you. 

27 May, 2011

How can I change the name of an existing Document Library?

As i already published some useful content in my previous post that covers basics of document library:

I remembered two things which i have not mentioned in the above post are:
1. How can I change the name of an existing Document Library?
2. How to Change the Logo on Your SharePoint Site?

So let’s start with the first one:
1. How can I change the name of an existing Document Library?
1)   From the Library, use Settings menu, then Document Library Settings
2)   From the General Settings section select Title, description and navigation.
3)   From this screen you can change the title of the library.
4)   Click the OK button-that’s it-Done

2. How to Change the Logo on Your SharePoint Site?
1)   Log in to your SharePoint Site
2)   On the right, click Site Actions >> Site Settings
3)   Under Look and Feel click Title, Description, and Icon
4)   Skip down to the Logo URL and Description section.
5)   In the URL field, enter the full URL for the logo image you want at the top of your SharePoint site.
6)   Click OK and You are done!!

Please let me know in case of any queries/questions regarding the above mentioned information. I would be more than HAPPY to resolve your issues, Thanks!!

Change the document library URL


Sometimes, an easy task takes some time to resolve and becomes a headache. The Document Library is the most usable part in SharePoint and serves as document repository. In this post, i am going to highlight basic points which are related to document library but effective ones.

This post will cover:
1. How do you change the address of a document library?
2. How to upload multiple documents into a document library?
3. How do I change the properties on a document or item in a list?
4. How do I setup alerts on a document?
5. How do I send a link to a document to others?

Let’s start one by one. One request to everybody-Please let me know in case of any questions/queries regarding the below mentioned steps

I would be more than happy to help you as well as resolves your issues :-)

1. How do you change the address of a document library?
-Open your site in SharePoint Designer.
-It will display all the doc libs in the Folder List view (quick launch)
-Right Click the doc lib for which you want to change the URL
- Rename the doc lib. thats it-Done

2. How to upload multiple documents into a document library?
Well for this-several options are available by which you can achive the results:

Windows Explorer Option
-Click on the View Drop down
-Click on Explorer View

Explorer View Option
-Click on Actions
-Click on Open with Windows Explorer
-You can now drop files in here or paste file

Upload Multiple Documents Page option
-Click on Add New Document link
-Click on Upload Multiple Files...
-Select the Files you wish to upload

3. How do I change the properties on a document or item in a list?
-Hover over the document you wish to edit the properties or metadata for
-Click on on the down arrow to pull the menu
-Click on Edit
-Change the properties on this page

4. How do I setup alerts on a document?
-Hover over the document you wish to set an alert on
-Click on on the down arrow to pull the menu
-Click on Alert Me
-Specify the Alert settings you wish
-Click on OK

5. How do I send a link to a document to others?
-Right click exactly on the document you wish to send a link to
-Click on Copy Shortcut

18 May, 2011

Getting User Profile Data into InfoPath


InfoPath is based on Extensible Markup Language (XML). When you design a form template, InfoPath creates an .xsn file, which is a cabinet (.cab) file that contains the files necessary for the form to function, such as XML Schema (XSD) and XSL Transformation (XSLT) files. When a user fills out a form in InfoPath, the data in that form is saved or submitted as industry-standard XML
                  MOSS has a great new feature that allows the publication of InfoPath forms to the server and thus enabling users that do not have InfoPath installed to fill in forms without having to distribute or purchase InfoPath for each client.


I needed to get the display name for the logged in user from active directory to populate a text box in an InfoPath form and went searching Google for an answer and finally I found some really complex resolutions that I didn't even want to attempt to deploy.


1. code approach
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb952744(v=office.12).aspx


2.Without code approach
http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/itaysk/archive/2007/04/05/InfoPath-_2D00_-Get-the-current-user-without-writing-code.aspx
 I can suggest you to go for 'without code' approach as it is very properly defined and easy to implement as i had used it many times without any issues...
Please check and let me know in case of any questions/queries... 
I would be more than happy to resolves your issues regarding the same.... Thanks 

15 May, 2011

How to open a list in Edit Mode



To open a List in edit mode and add the new Web Parts you usually need a SharePoint Desinger. 


But there is a trick, how to open a List in Edit Mode and have the “Add Web parts” window is displayed. 


Everything you need to do is to add  "&ToolPaneView=2" parameter to the List URL.


By means of this, you have the ability to add web parts and edit a List’s Form pages in the browser. It will look like:


http://SharePoint2007/Lists/ListName/ListFormView.aspx?&toolpaneview=2


Where ListFormView.aspx is either AllItems.aspx, NewForm.aspx, DispForm.aspx, or EditForm.aspx using the default names.


There is no SharePoint Designer used and no customisations to the page that require unghosting from the site definition.
Note:
ToolPaneView=2 -Shows the "Add Web Parts" toolpane, allowing you to drag and drop web parts onto a "Web Part Page".
ToolPaneView=3 -Shows the "Search" toolpane, letting you search through the web part galleries before adding a web part to the page.


Some useful info regarding the same:
1. Add “?contents=1″ behind the URL and you can delete any webpart from your page.


2. Find List Guid or view Guid:
In the list view – right click and view source. Then search for “ctx.Listname”.
The Guid looks like this:
{DEF643C7-CF80-4DF8-866F-C16DC017DFC0}.


The view Guid is found by searching for “ctx.view” and looks similar to the list Guid above.


If you have any information that you find valuable regarding the same then please share it by means of comments so that it will be useful for everybody.

Your Feedbacks/Suggestions/Comments are very important for me...If you have any Doubts/Queries/Confusion then please let me know...

I would be more than HAPPY to help you as well as RESOLVES your issues, Thanks