Saturday, March 16, 2013

Sandbox solutions support:

  1. Web parts
  2. Event Receivers
  3. Workflows
  4. List definitions

What is Sandbox solutions and its limitations


Sandbox solution is a new feature introduced in SharePoint 2010. It's a secured wrapper around webparts and other elements with limitations. There is no thumb rule that every webpart in SharePoint 2010 belongs to Sandbox Solution. But it's recommended to develop webparts with Sandbox solution. It allows administrators to monitor the solutions and control as required. SharePoint Site Collection administrators can view the resource utilization of each solution and can block if it consumes too much resources. Usually when sites working slow, developers complain the server is slow whereas site/server administrators blame on Develepor code/solutions. Now Microsoft put a Full Stop to that. :)

Technically speaking SharePoint solutions run in seperate worker processes and not in w3wp.exe. So It doesn't require IIS Reset or Application Pool Recycling. Without disturbing the SharePoint site, Sandbox solutions can be deployed. Only thing while deploying new version of Sandbox solution over existing solution, SharePoint will display No Solution found error in Sandbox Webparts on the page. However within seconds sandbox solutions getting deployed and it'll start working. In SharePoint 2007, only farm administrators can install/deploy developer solutions. But Now site collection administrators can deploy solutions with web based interface. This reduces the dependency of Farm Administrator and improves rapid deployment.

Sandbox Processes
Here the processes which required for Sandbox solutions.
  1. SPUCWorkerprocess.exe - Sandbox Worker process service which is a Seperate Service Application which actually executes Sandbox code. It should be started in every farm to use Sandbox solutions.

  2. SPUCWorkerProcessProxy.exe - Sandbox Worker process proxy which is working as a proxy for Worker process and takes care of Sandbox code execution. It can also serve to other farms if configured. Basically it helps site administrator for load balancing.

  3. SPUCHostService.exe - Sandbox User Code Service takes care of user code in Sandbox amd it can be started in the farms where to use Sandbox solutions.
Sandbox Limitations
As I said before, Sandbox is a secured wrapper and it has restrictions on code to run in SharePoint environment. Few Key limitations which developers should know are listed below.
  1. No Security Elevation - RunWithElevatedPrivileges which runs the specified block of code in application pool account(typically System Account) context is not allowed in Sandbox code. SPSecurity class also not allowed to use in Sandbox.

  2. No Email Support - SPUtility.SendMail method has been blocked explicitly in Sandbox, However .Net mail classes can be used to send mails. Additionaly sandbox won't allow to read Farm SMTP address. So developers has to specify the SMTP address in code itself(may be some other workaround).

  3. No Support to WebPartPages Namespace - Sandbox won't allow to use Microsoft.SharePoint.WebPartPages namespace.

  4. No Support to external Webservice - Internet web service calls are not allowed to ensure security in Sandbox solutions. Allow Partially Trusted code also can't be accessed within Sandbox.

  5. No GAC Deployment - Sandbox solutions are not stored in File System(Physical path) and assemblies can't be deployed to Global Assembly Cache(GAC). But it's available on C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\SharePoint\UCCache at runtime. Note the ProgramData is a hidden folder.

  6. No Visual Webparts - Visual Studio 2010 by default won't allow to create Visual Webparts to deploy as sandbox solution. But with Visual Studio PowerTools extensions(downloadable from Microsoft MSDN website) Visual Webparts can be developed and deployed as sandbox Solutions.
SharePoint Online which is SharePoint environment provided by Microsoft to manage SharePoint Sites in internet accepts only Sandbox solutions. Because SharePoint Online sites are Windows Servers at Microsoft Datacenters, Microsoft won't allow GAC deployment or file system access. In future Sandbox solution will give more features for developers.

Deploying Master Pages & Themes via a Feature using Visual Studio 2010

Following this guide you’ll see the process that goes behind creating the feature which commonly be used to deploy branding items such as Master Pages, CSS, JavaScript, & Themes. If you plan to follow along just replace the steps with my name with whatever you wish.

Configure the Project

  1. Open Visual Studio 2010
  2. File -> New -> Project

  1. Select SharePoint -> Empty SharePoint Project
  2. Add Name: TomDaly.SharePoint.Branding (this is my standard structure)
  3. Add Location: C:\Projects\TomDaly

  1. Click OK
  2. Enter your test site for debugging purposes.
  3. Select ‘Deploy as farm solution’

  1. Click Finish

Adding the CSS / Image / JavaScript Files

Add CSS file

  1. Right Click on the Project -> Add -> SharePoint ‘Layouts’ Mapped Folder

  1. This created a folder which is mapped to the layouts

** These files in here are accessible through the web via http://YOURSITE/_layouts/TomDaly.SharePoint.Branding/
  1. Right click on Layouts\TomDaly.SharePoint.Branding folder -> Add -> New Item

  1. Select Web on the left, and Style Sheet on the right, and Name the file at the bottom.
(I typically use base.css or style.css for the foundation of my styles, but this is all up to you)
  1. Click Add

Add Images & JavaScript Folder

This would be the location for any images associated with the site css.
  1. Right Click on the Layouts\TomDaly.SharePoint.Branding folder -> Add -> New Folder

  1. Name the folder ‘images’

OPTIONAL STEP
  1. Repeat Step 1 & 2 for the JavaScript folder. (I typically call this folder ‘js’)

I usually include a JavaScript folder because most of the time I end up using jQuery somewhere on the site, this is where I store those files which I would reference on page or in the Master Page. Depending on how it’s needed.
These files would be accessible: http://YOURSITE /_layouts/TomDaly.SharePoint.Branding/js/JSFILESHERE

Setting up the Feature

  1. In your project Right click on Features -> Add Feature

This will create a feature with some default name of ‘Feature 1′, which we don’t want
  1. Select Feature1, Right Click -> Rename

  1. Rename the Feature to TomDaly.SharePoint.Branding (I typically name it to the same as the project name)

  1. Double Click on your Primary feature, in the main left hand window the properties should appear

  1. Give your feature a normal title name Title and Description, and scope it accordingly. (I usually scope my master pages to (Site) as they are normally used through the site collection

  1. Click Save

Renaming the WSP

This is really annoying to me so I always change it. When a .WSP is generated it will usually come out as Feature_Feature.wsp. I prefer just Feature.wsp.
1. Double Click on the primary Feature, the Properties should appear right below it.
2. Change ‘Deployment Path’
From: $SharePoint.Project.FileNameWithoutExtension$_$SharePoint.Feature.FileNameWithoutExtension$
To: $SharePoint.Project.FileNameWithoutExtension$

Adding the Master Page

1. Right Click on the Project -> Add -> New Item

2. In the left Installed Template column, Select SharePoint 2010
3. On the right select Module
4. At the bottom name the Module, Master Pages

5. Click Add
** You module will be added to your project **
6. Under the Master Pages Module, right click on Sample.txt and Delete It

7. Now Drag & Drag and Drop your Custom Master Page from another folder into the project, In the Master Pages Module

8. Double Click on the Elements.xml in the Master Pages Module

9. In the Elements.xml file, make the following changes to the <Module> line
Change
<Module
Name=MasterPages>


To
<Module
Name=MasterPages
Url=_catalogs/masterpage>


10. In the Elements.xml file, make the following changes to the <File> line
    a. add IgnoreIfAlreadyExists=True

    b. add Type=GhostableInLibrary

    c. remove MasterPages/ from the
Url=MasterPages/TOMDALY.master


So essentially this line
<File
Path=MasterPages\TOMDALY.master
Url=MasterPages/TOMDALY.master />


Changes to

<File
Path=MasterPages\TOMDALY.master
Url=TOMDALY.master
IgnoreIfAlreadyExists=True
Type=GhostableInLibrary />


11. Click Save

Adding Theme

This step will incorporate a theme into your project. How to generate the .thmx is not covered here but a simple way would be to export from PowerPoint or use ThemeBuilder to generate this file.
1. Right Click on the Project -> Add -> New Item

2. On the left Click SharePoint -> 2010
3. On the Right Select “Module”
4. Add Name: Theme

5. Click Add
6. In the Theme node, Delete Sample.Txt

7. Copy in you custom .thmx file
8. Double Click on the Elements.xml in the Theme Module

9. In the Elements.xml file, make the following changes to the <Module> line
Change
<Module
Name=Theme>


To
<Module
Name=Theme
Url=_catalogs/theme>


10. In the Elements.xml file, make the following changes to the <File> line
    a. add IgnoreIfAlreadyExists=True

    b. add Type=GhostableInLibrary

    c. remove Theme/ from the
Url=Theme/TomDaly.thmx


So essentially this line
<File
Path=Theme\TomDaly.thmx
Url=Theme/TomDaly.thmx
/>


Changes to

<File
Path=Theme\TomDaly.thmx
Url=TomDaly.thmx
IgnoreIfAlreadyExists=True
Type=GhostableInLibrary />


11. Click Save

Adding the Feature Receiver

This whole step is optional. Its sole purpose is to automatically turn on the branding on the sites and subsites, apply a theme, or apply search master pages to your site collection. NOTE: If you changed the scope then there is no guarantee that this code will work.
Please take some time to look through the code as there are different sections you might want to comment out or fill in. Say if you want to configure the Site Logo or an Alternative CSS file. If you not interested and just want a working project jump down to the END and in the summary there is a link to download the project.
1. Right Click your primary Feature, Select Add Event Receiver

** This will get added Right under your feature**
2. Double Click on the new file TomDaly.SharePoint.EventReciever.cs

5. At the very top Add the following using statements
using Microsoft.SharePoint.Utilities;

using System.Collections.ObjectModel;


7. Under the class declaration add these three string constants which contain the names of the masterpages and the theme.

So my master page name is TomDaly.master, my search master page which I don’t have a custom one for yet is minimal.master, and my Custom Theme is called TomDaly
8. Replace the public override void FeatureActivated, with

public override void FeatureActivated(SPFeatureReceiverProperties properties)

{

SPSite site = properties.Feature.Parent as SPSite;


if (site != null)

{

using (SPWeb topLevelSite = site.RootWeb)

{

//Get the relative path

string relativePath = topLevelSite.ServerRelativeUrl;

if (!relativePath.EndsWith(“/”))

{

relativePath += “/”;

}


//Get Theme collection from site and the them we want

ReadOnlyCollection<ThmxTheme> themes = ThmxTheme.GetManagedThemes(site);

ThmxTheme customTheme = null;

foreach (ThmxTheme theme in themes)

{

if (theme.Name == themeName)

{

customTheme = theme;

break;

}

}


//Apply branding to each web in the site collection

foreach (SPWeb web in site.AllWebs)

{

//Apply masterpage and logo

if (web.WebTemplate == “SRCHCENTERLITE” || web.WebTemplate == “SRCHCEN” || web.WebTemplate == “SRCHCENTERFAST”)

{

web.CustomMasterUrl = relativePath + “_catalogs/masterpage/” + searchMasterPage;

}

else

{

web.MasterUrl = relativePath + “_catalogs/masterpage/” + masterPage;

web.CustomMasterUrl = relativePath + “_catalogs/masterpage/” + masterPage;

}


web.AlternateCssUrl = “”;

web.SiteLogoUrl = “”;

web.UIVersion = 4;

web.Update();


//Also apply the theme

if (customTheme != null)

{

customTheme.ApplyTo(web, true);

web.Update();

}

}

}

}

}

9. Replace the public override void FeatureDeactivated, with
public override void FeatureDeactivating(SPFeatureReceiverProperties properties)

{

SPSite site = properties.Feature.Parent as SPSite;


if (site != null)

{

using (SPWeb topLevelSite = site.RootWeb)

{

//Get the relative path

string relativePath = topLevelSite.ServerRelativeUrl;

if (!relativePath.EndsWith(“/”))

{

relativePath += “/”;

}


//Apply branding to each web the wen the site collection

foreach (SPWeb web in site.AllWebs)

{

//Apply default masterpage and logo

if (web.WebTemplate == “SRCHCENTERLITE” || web.WebTemplate == “SRCHCEN” || web.WebTemplate == “SRCHCENTERFAST”)

{

web.CustomMasterUrl = relativePath + “_catalogs/masterpage/minimal.master”;

}

else

{

web.MasterUrl = relativePath + “_catalogs/masterpage/v4.master”;

web.CustomMasterUrl = relativePath + “_catalogs/masterpage/v4.master”;

}


web.AlternateCssUrl = “”;

web.SiteLogoUrl = “”;

web.Update();


//reset the theme back to default

ThmxTheme.SetThemeUrlForWeb(web, null, true);

web.Update();

}

}

}

}

10. Click Save
11. Hit F6, or Build -> Build Solution … to ensure that everything is correct and ok. You should receive the “Build Succeed” in the bottom left corner



Changing the Site Url for Testing

Sometimes you want to create or re-use this package and you need to change the url of the site to deploy to.
1. Click on the project and in the Properties window you’ll notice the Site URL

2. Change that to your new site destination
3. Click Save

Deployment

If you’re testing on a development box, that visual studio is on then you can simply deploy through visual studio. Otherwise you’ll have to push out your solution with the .wsp file.

Deploy from Visual Studio

1. In the Build Menu, Select Deploy

OR

Getting the .WSP for manual deployment

1. In the Build menu, Select Build to ensure no errors
2. In the Build menu, Select Package to generate the .WSP file

3. The files will be in the project folder, and by default in the BIN\DEBUG
Either way once you deploy your solution should be available in the Site Collection Features Gallery as shown here

Summary

So that’s how you setup a project for deploying branding assets. This is the typical setup I use but can change from client to client depending on their needs.

When to use Allow Unsafe Updates

AllowUnsafeUpdates is set to true when you are trying to update the database as a result of the GET request.
Say you have a list and you want to update something, then you need to set AllowUnsafeUpdates = true for the web and after you have done you need to set it back to false.
AllowUnsafeUpdates = false protects from cross site scripting.
So if you need to allow your code to make some updates, you need to set allow unsafe updates to true and then back to false as soon you update.
SPList list= web.Lists["list name"];

SPListItemCollection items= list.GetItems();

web.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true;
foreach (SPListItem item in items)
{
     item["Field"] = "new val";
     item.Update();
}
web.AllowUnsafeUpdates = false;

Also refer following links for more idea.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.sharepoint.spweb.allowunsafeupdates.aspx
http://blog.animesh.co.in/2010/03/sharepoint-spsiteallowunsafeupdates.html

Difference between SharePoint 2010 and 2013


Very briefly i will tell what are the major changes in SharePoint 2013 on above of 2010

First thing is it 14 hive folder has been moved to 15 hive folder and it is also called as SP15

Shredded storage this is used for storing the version updates in documents and stores locally
Workflow manager for 2013 which is also called as windows azure workflow which can be only used for SharePoint 2013
workflow service manager - this is an integration layer between SharePoint and workflow manager
workflow manager should be installed in separate farm server where SharePoint is not installed

SharePoint is now with HTML 5

content search web part(CSWP) new in SharePoint 2013

Distributed cache service which is a new service located in services on server this is used for cache in SharePoint and also used for rendering of docs more faster than previous versions

Minimal downloaded Strategy(MDS) : when a document is downloaded to SharePoint server it will create a copy locally and keep it in cache when ever changes happens it will only download the changes that are made not the whole document
MDS will not be enabled for publishing site
Enable minimal download= True is the property for enabling MDS and it is a feature in SharePoint 2013

Now using Open XML/Power point/word 2010 we can create themes in SP15 and the extension for this is .thmx

Three new services had been included in SharePoint service application:

  • Machine Translation( only this can be used across farm servers)
  • Work Management
  • App Management


Usage.xslx is an excel file in webanalytics used to see the usage of user and you can see this option in site settings--> site administration--> property trends

In SP15 webapplications are by default claims based authentication
and this calims based authentication supports

  • windows claims
  • SAML- based claims
  • Forms based authentication claims

Hosted name site collection: these site collections should have public IP and DNS examples for these site collections are
http://hr.adventure-works.com
http://it.adventure-works.com
(SP15) this is a new change in SP15

http://intranet.adventure-works.com/sites/hr
http://intranet.adventure-works.com/sites/it
(sharepont 2010) this is a old version


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