Central Administration returns blank page after installation on Windows 7

Installation of SharePoint 2010 on Windows Server seems to be much easier than installing on Windows-7 machine to be loaded with SharePoint 2010 as a developer machine.

Now when i click on central admin blank page is returned.
No Error logs in IIS.
However I checked IIS Web-site & Application Pool everything seems to be running fine & was registried with proper service account.
Also check all SQL & Sharepoint Service which were also properly started.

Overall there was really no way anything was missed.
However after long search and troubleshooting i found windows features are required to be executed Click here to check steps by MSDN

Following command needs to be executed on Command Prompt as administrator:

start /w pkgmgr /iu:IIS-WebServerRole;IIS-WebServer;IIS-CommonHttpFeatures;IIS-StaticContent;IIS-DefaultDocument;IIS-DirectoryBrowsing;IIS-HttpErrors;IIS-ApplicationDevelopment;IIS-ASPNET;IIS-NetFxExtensibility;IIS-ISAPIExtensions;IIS-ISAPIFilter;IIS-HealthAndDiagnostics;IIS-HttpLogging;IIS-LoggingLibraries;IIS-RequestMonitor;IIS-HttpTracing;IIS-CustomLogging;IIS-ManagementScriptingTools;IIS-Security;IIS-BasicAuthentication;IIS-WindowsAuthentication;IIS-DigestAuthentication;IIS-RequestFiltering;IIS-Performance;IIS-HttpCompressionStatic;IIS-HttpCompressionDynamic;IIS-WebServerManagementTools;IIS-ManagementConsole;IIS-IIS6ManagementCompatibility;IIS-Metabase;IIS-WMICompatibility;WAS-WindowsActivationService;WAS-ProcessModel;WAS-NetFxEnvironment;WAS-ConfigurationAPI;WCF-HTTP-Activation;WCF-NonHTTP-Activation

Hope this help you too.
-------------------------------------------

Custom entry for Hyperlink Or Picture column in SharePoint using webpart

SharePoint provides many columns as input one of which is Hyperlink or picture column which has two fields as entry and is a concern how to have the entry to be made possible from custom web part or via custom coding.

Normal out of box form looks like this.


I have created a webpart which has needed input holder to accept values from user.
Currently I’m using 2 columns Title & Hyperlink column : MyURL for URL
Please find the code for the same.

using (SPSite osite = new SPSite(SPContext.Current.Web.Url))
      {
        using (SPWeb oweb = osite.OpenWeb())
           {
                 //listName
                 SPList Samplelist = oweb.Lists["ListName"];
                 SPListItem ListItem= Samplelist.AddItem();
                 oweb.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true;
                 ListItem["Title"] = "Akshaya Blog Title";
                 SPFieldUrlValue HyperlinkURLVal = new SPFieldUrlValue();
                 HyperlinkURLVal.Url ="http://akshaya-m.blogspot.com";
                 HyperlinkURLVal.Description = "Akshaya Blog Click Here";
                 ListItem["MyURL"] = HyperlinkURLVal;
                 //Update List item
                 ListItem.Update();
           }
      }

Outcome as needed--


Thanks please revert your queries/comments

Validate Login User with AD/LDAP authentication(Login Page)

Validating users against Active Directory/ LDAP. Also many organisation have multiple domains and same application needs to validate accross all domain.

This code can be used in SharePoint custom Login form for user Validation for Claim based authentication or Form Based Authentication.




Reference Added :

using System.Runtime.InteropServices; 

COMException : The exception that is thrown when an unrecognized HRESULT is returned from a COM method call for more simplified error response from LDAP Error: Unknown error (0x80005000).

using System.DirectoryServices;

Below is the code sniplet

  using (DirectoryEntry entry = new DirectoryEntry())
        {
            entry.Username = "DOMAIN\\LOGINNAME";
            entry.Password = "PASSWORD";
            DirectorySearcher searcher = new DirectorySearcher(entry);
            searcher.Filter = "(objectclass=user)";
            try
            {
                searcher.FindOne();
                {
                    //Add Your Code if user Found..
                }
            }
            catch (COMException ex)
            {
                if (ex.ErrorCode == -2147023570)
                {
                    ex.Message.ToString();
                    // Login or password is incorrect 
                }
            }
        }

ErrorCode : -2147023570 suggest the Username or password is not correctly entered.

post your questions, comments or suggestion.

Hide the extension .aspx in the url of page ...

Now a days customers are more concerned with site URL and its relative path displayed on the browser address.
Many Suggest having interceptor/handler or use the existing global.asax (Application_Begin Request handler) for modifying the URL shown in the browser window, Web Routing is the concept (4.0 framework)

However you can get solution for .Net /sharepoint application there are following ways:

1. MVC
2. HttpModule rewrite URL
3. ISAPIRewrite to enable Extension-less URL Rewriting for IIS5 and IIS6
4. IIS level extension parsing

Step by step approaches refer below links:
URL Rewriting in ASP.NET
URL Rewriting in Asp.net
URL rewrite/Routing (4.0 framework concept) *
IIS Forum for Extension parsing

 Let me know your comments /feedback for the same

ASP .Net Page Life cycle

There are many post related to page life cycle. but the mentioned is really the best provided
Graphical View for Page Life Cycle

Grid with Content Query Webpart

Here I'm sharing link to get Display Content Query Web Part Results in a Grid / Table well explained by Paul.
.Click here to view

Thanks to Paul Galvin.

Sandbox Solution: Overview

What is sandbox solution

Sandbox is a restricted environment where programs are deployed with restrictions. It plays valuable role for developers to test their application by using sandbox solution. Once this is tested it can be later deployed to full use in the farm.

Solution that are deployed into sandbox are called sandbox solutions.

 

Advantages

If farm is load balanced.

Release code which is fully not tested for production release.

Less bottleneck for farm administrator as this can be managed at site collection by administrator to it.

Disadvantages

First decide whether you want this solution? as using this solution does has impact on performance of the servers. As the farm using sandbox does have more process load than a farm without this.

Code Access Security (CAS) limits the operations that the code can perform

How to use

Activate SharePoint 2010 User Code Host service(SPUCHostService.exe,)  on server you want this solution. Should be done by farm administrator

Sandbox Code Services

Sandbox can be applied at the root of site collection level.

Members of the site collection administrators group can deploy sandboxed solutions

Governance for sandbox

Before deploying think of below

When should the solution be blocked or unblocked?

When to release the solution to production?

Who should be given access, deployment rights etc?

Adding / Blocking /Load Balancing for Sandbox

This can be done via CA – System settings

Source - http://technet.microsoft.com/hi-in/library/ee704543(en-us).aspx

Special Thanks :Amarprit Jaspal

List of Content Managment Systems.

In today's world Content Management System is core requirement for a business oriented system more and more companies developing their business standard directly influencing the need for CMS to hand their operation.

For all CMS lovers here is consolidated list fro all the management systems present till dated.
Click Here  By Wiki

WSP Process stuck in "Deploying"

Recently, I deployed my Webpart solution packages created in sharepoint Farm.

After a long waiting i still figured the solution getting "Deploying" as its status..

Initially i Tried

stsadm -o execadmsvcjobs on the server running Central Admin.  No change. 

Since it was a farm deployment i Thought improper deployment was performed.

so I reset the IIS to get a refreshed processes running but still no effect.

Solution: Not Sure if its correct but worked for me.I opened list of timer jobs (Operations > Timer Job Definitions) search the job which point to the WSP solution we are deploying..Killing the Process will do the Trick.

However this does not actually deploy but only status is populated as "Deployed".
To Overcome this solution since you are on Farm Servers you need to Execute stsadm -o execadmsvcjobs on all the servers

SharePoint 2010 Database Naming Standards

Hello,

Database Naming conventions for SharePoint 2010 well defined by John W Powell -Click Here to view!

--------

FBA : Change Password

From my Earlier blog stating Form Based Authentication in SharePoint (MOSS 2007).
 ( Click Here )

Many were interested in password management for the users. A complete package ready to use is uploaded on codeplex.
However here I’m attaching a custom strip down to users change Password code snippet for the same.

There are two options while password management
1. Just to change Password
2. to provide Question & Answer along with Password change
Note : for Option (2) please add/updated web.Config file within Membership provider
------------------------------------------------------------------

///save button functionlity 
void btnChangePassword_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) 
{ 
if (Validate(true)) 
{ 
try 
{ 
string AppName = Membership.ApplicationName; 
if (.Text.Trim().ToString() != .Text.Trim().ToString()) 
{ .Text = " New and Confirm password Mismatch ! " ; } 
else 
{ 
if (Membership.Provider.ChangePassword(.Text, .Text, .Text)) 
{ //membership provider has Change Password checked in Web.Config
if (Membership.Provider.ChangePasswordQuestionAndAnswer(.Text, .Text, .Text, .Text)) 
{ 
//Message: " Your Password Has Been Sucessfully Changed.." 
return; 
} 
} 
catch (MembershipPasswordException ee) 
{//Exception Message} 
            }
} 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Let me know your comments/ exceptions etc.
Will be glad to get back to you.

Active Directory: Password Management using SharePoint Webpart.

For Active Directory member the password management is one of the vital functionality which developer needs to add in his efforts to provide a appropriate solution.
Here below is the code snipplet to achieve this functionality.

I have implemented using SharePoint Webpart.

please specify you validation accordingly.
-:Core Code:-
------------------------------------------------------------------

SPSecurity.RunWithElevatedPrivileges( 
delegate()  
{  
try  
{  
WindowsImpersonationContext aspContext = null; 
WindowsIdentity identity = WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent(); 
aspContext = identity.Impersonate();  
ContextOptions o = ContextOptions.Negotiate; 
PrincipalContext ctx = new PrincipalContext(ContextType.Domain, this._DomainName, this._DomainName Path);


UserPrincipal UPrinci = new UserPrincipal(ctx);
UPrinci  = UserPrincipal.FindByIdentity(ctx, SPContext.Current.Web.CurrentUser.LoginName);
UPrinci.ChangePassword(_oldpassword.Text, _newpassword.Text);  
_labelmsg.Text = "Password changed successfully!" ;  
} //Try
catch (PasswordException ex)  
{ //ex.Message; Catch exception.}
} //Delegate  

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Let me know your comments/ exceptions etc.
Will be glad to get back to you.

SharePoint WebPart & ASP.Net Coding workarounds

As a SharePoint Developer there are couple of the changes in coding as compared to ASP.net application.
Few important note I would like add for my developer Friends

---

For Output : http://akshaya-m.blogspot.com?k=akshaya

Asp .Net Code
Response.Redirect("http://akshaya-m.blogspot.com?k=akshaya");
SharePoint Webpart Code Needs:
HttpContext.Current.Response.Redirect("http://akshaya-m.blogspot.com?k=akshaya");

---

Get akshaya from the browser URL (http://akshaya-m.blogspot.com?k=akshaya)

Asp .Net Code
Request.SubString["k"]
SharePoint Webpart Code Needs:
Context.Request["k"].ToString();

SharePoint Excel Error: Unable to Load WorkBook

When trying to open a excel file many come across this exception stating :

"The workbook that you selected cannot be loaded because it contains the following features are not supported by Excel Services"

Many blog suggested for Excel Services Trusted Site Entry for the excel file referring.

However the solution that worked for me:

Give "Read permissions" to the users and they will be able to open the file using excel client.
Steps :
For more info on how to see permissions you have for users and groups in your site go to: Site Actions > Site Settings > Advanced Permissions.
Edit User Permissions to Read

Also make sure the permission are inherited to the Document Library permissions.

Revert with your Comments on the same.

Warning: Super user account!

When Working on a farm environment couple of time we come across some warning stating:
"The super user account utilized by the cache is not configured...."

Temporary Solution :: execute- 'stsadm -o setproperty -propertyname portalsuperuseraccount -propertyvalue account -url webappurl'.

Furthermore, there is the caveat:
The account should be any account that has Full Control access to the SharePoint databases but is not an application pool account. What have people done - create a special account?

After doing an extensive research i found solution as stated by Mirjam van Olst

http://sharepointchick.com/archive/2010/10/06/resolving-the-super-user-account-utilized-by-the-cache-is.aspx

SharePoint Installation steps

For installing Sharepoint on your local system please refer this blog

Over view on Installing Sharepoint 2007by dataSprings

Over view on Installing Sharepoint 2010by SharePoint Knowledge

Custom Welcome Control

For providing enriched contents on the masterpage sharepoint has UserControls placed.

Here I'm providing couple of best link for the same.

• Having fun with the SharePoint Welcome ascx control by Wictor Wilén
• customize welcome username control by Avinash
• fba and user display names by Sridhara
• Automatically logging into and out of FBA SharePoint site

Create WebPart Properties with Drop Down Items.

 
Dealare field

protected WeekDays _daysWeek = WeekDays.Sun;

/// Days of the Week to be appended in the Dropdown List

public enum WeekDays
{
Mon,
Tue, Web, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun
};
/// Properties
[Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.Shared)]

[WebBrowsable(true)] [System.ComponentModel.Category("My Zone")]
[WebDisplayName("My DropDown Property")] [WebDescription("Get webpart properties
with DropDown")]
public WeekDays SelectedDay
{
get 
{ return _daysWeek; }

set 

{ _daysWeek = value; }
}

Print WebPart Content Area :Sharepoint

After developing a business specific front end there is always a request for Print functionality for specific WebParts /content.

Here is a script added at SharePoint Forum (Click Here)

PARENT-CHILD RELATION USING J-SCRIPT

1. List Creation:
Create two list in the web application which needs this functionality to be implemented.

1. Category: create list named “CATEGORY “ with default Title field in it.
2. Sub-Category: Create list named “SUB-CATEGORY” with Title & a lookup from the Category List (Title Column).

Script for Content Editor WP.
Note: For adding script get the List GUID and Default View GUID of the Sub Category List

<script type="text/javascript"> _spBodyOnLoadFunctionNames.push("PageOnLoad");
function PageOnLoad()
{ // This function will add onchange event to the Country DropDown field and call
OnChanged function. var lookupElement = GetElementByTypeAndTitle('SELECT','Category');
if ( lookupElement != null)
{
lookupElement.onchange = function()
{
OnChanged(lookupElement.options[lookupElement.selectedIndex].text)
};
} }
function OnChanged(FilterValue)
{ // siteName - the root / and possibly sub site you are working on
// lookupListName - the guid for the list you want to use as lookup
// lookupViewName - the guid for the view filtering the content of the list
// NOTE: TO DERIVE THE GUID FOR THE LIST NAME AND VIEW NAME
// Open the List -> Settings -> List Settings -> Click on "All Items" view,
// From the URL you can get the ListName GUID and ListView GUID.
// textField - the field you want to show to the user
// valueField - this is most of the time the internal ID field
// FilterField - the field you want to be a filter
// FilterValue - the filter's value var
siteName="";
var lookupListName="{90533341-04F8-4353-BBEB-D6D9A0BAAC1F}";
var lookupViewName="{C6C467A6-C04D-448D-8015-D4A622784745}";
var FilterField ="Category";
var textField ="ows_LinkTitle";
var valueField ="ows_ID";
var filterElement = GetElementByTypeAndTitle('SELECT','Sub-Category');


filterElement.innerHTML = ""; var reqstring = siteName + "/_vti_bin/owssvr.dll?CS=109&XMLDATA=1&RowLimit=0&List=" + lookupListName +"&View=" + lookupViewName;


if (FilterValue != "") reqstring= reqstring +
"&FilterField1=" + escape(FilterField) + "&FilterValue1=" + escape(FilterValue);


var req = new ActiveXObject("MSXML2.XMLHTTP"); req.open("GET",reqstring,false);
req.send();
// -- loading response in XML Document
var doc = new ActiveXObject("MSXML2.DOMDocument"); doc.loadXML(req.responseText); var data = doc.documentElement.childNodes(1);
for (i=0;i<data.childNodes.length;i++)
{
var optionText = data.childNodes(i).attributes.getNamedItem(textField).value;
var optionValue = data.childNodes(i).attributes.getNamedItem(valueField).value;
var opt = document.createElement("OPTION");


filterElement.options.add(opt);
opt.innerText = optionText;
opt.value = optionValue;
} }
function GetElementByTypeAndTitle(elementType, elementTitle)
{
//get the Element by tag name.
var allElements = document.getElementsByTagName(elementType);
for (var i = 0; i < allElements.length; i++)
{
//compare the Title.
if (allElements[i].title == elementTitle) return allElements[i];
}
return null;
}
</script>