SharePoint 2010 beta first impressions.

Maybe it's my scifi interest, but I think SPF 2010 & SPS 2010 roll off the tongue nicer than WSSv3 & MOSS 2007.

The email Microsoft sent me contained product keys for 2 versions:
1. SharePoint Server for Internet Sites 2010
2. SharePoint Server 2010

My setup is all x64:
1. VMWare Guess with 2.4GB RAM/ 80GB HDD
2. Win2008R2 SE
3. SQL 2008 + SP1
4. SharePoint Server for Internet Sites 2010

After installing Win2008 and SQL2008, I launched the SP installer.
The package extracts and you're presented with an SQL2005 type menu with Prepare/Install/Other Info. I skipped the reading and went directly to "Install SharePoint Server" and it failed because IIS 6 Compatibility Prerequisite was missing.
This time I clicked "Install Software Prerequisites" and it installed quite a few more things.

Back to "Install SharePoint Server" and after a while it failed again:


Google'd KB970315, downloaded and installed the Hotfix.
Away we go again.

A few new things...

• the setup asks for a pass phrase to secure the farm.
• there's now a Wizard option to guide you through the Services configuration.
  

I select all options bar "Lotus Notes Connector"... enter a new account, and after a couple minutes the first error:

Errors occured.

The service application proxy "User Profile Service Application" could not be provisioned because of the following error: Unrecognized attribute 'allowInsecureTransport'. Note that attribute names are case-sensitive. (C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\14\WebClients\Profile\client.config line 56)

Corelation Id: 95684294-0888-46dd-8242-df5860c5188e

Central Administration, its all new and it has pretty icons like a Control Panel.

Let's add some user accounts and start using it... the Shared Service Provider doesn't seem to exist anymore and in its place is the much more logical Service Applications Management screen.


User Profile Service Application is my guess for adding users.

I guess this was the error being reported before... I google'd "95684294-0888-46dd-8242-df5860c5188e", nothing, then tried "allowInsecureTransport" which lead me to MSDN Forum after reading through it I tried replacing the attribute with enableUnsecuredResponse, that didn't work... I noticed other security nodes didn't have this attribute so I commented them all out and it worked after an IISReset. More new things...

• Review problems and solutions
  
  
• JQuery type popups/functions everywhere
  
  
• Ribbon menus everywhere
  
  
• Theme Gallery; Now themes are CAB files with an .thmx extension
  
  
  
• Solution Gallery with upload, woohoo... I guess you'll have to be more vigilant with assigning Site Collection Admins :)... browse Office.com uses Silverlight
  
• SharePoint Designer Settings, now I don't have to blanket disable SPD access!
  

All in all SharePoint 2010 is more logically laid out and has a refreshing dynamic look.
I'll delve in to SP2010 more in the future.

Dalwhinnie 15 YO Single Malt Review

[The reviewer and scores explained.]

Scotch: DALWHINNIE 15 YO Single Malt
Cost: $75
Score: 72 78 (Update after 3 bottles) Scent: Very bland.
Palate: Beautifully sweet, smooth and sweet after taste. Slight smoky honey.
Effect: Up lifting and happy.
Empty glass scent: Slight smoky scent.
Day after: Clean in, clean out after 1/3 bottle.
Bottom line: Great if you like easy going sweet Scotches.

The review:  The 1st thing that caught my attention was the distinct lack of a Scotch scent. No burn, no earth, no spice. It has a scent but it's very subtle. But then you drink it and hmmmm... smooth... warm... sweet... honey... smoke... earth...
I finished my 1st glass and before I knew it, I was back at the bottle sniffing the cork to try and better discern the scent.
Dalwhinnie's pleasure is all in the mouth, and it leaves the nose out in the cold.
I like it and I will be buying another bottle in the future. I was sad to pour Dalwhinnie's last drop.
If it had a stronger scent and more smoke, this would score an 85.
Minor note: The cork didn't quite fit flush against the bottle lip, so if I lay it down it would drip.

(Update after 3 bottles)
This has become my go to Scotch when in doubt. In this price range Dalwhinnie whips the lamas ass ;).

SharePoint List in SQL

In was recently tasked with Exporting a SharePoint list to Excel for users logging in using Forms Authentication.

I scratched my head for a minute and I came up with creating a Reporting Services report that queries the SP DB directly.

Issues: I wanted the query to be dynamic and use the exact same SP columns. So if a user adds a field or changes a column name I don't need to amend the SSRS report.

Solution: I created a Stored Proc, that takes 1 parameter (ListID). The proc gets the fields for the list then builds a query and executes it. The Stored Proc needs to reside on the same Content DB.

Code:

CREATE procedure [dbo].[usp_PrintList] (@ListId uniqueidentifier)
AS
BEGIN
  DECLARE @XMLFields TABLE (Row INT IDENTITY, Field XML);
  DECLARE @xFields XML; 
  SELECT @xFields = (SELECT cast(
      replace(cast(tp_Fields as varchar(max)),'<FieldRef','<Field') 
      as XML) as Fields
      FROM Lists 
      WHERE (tp_ID = @ListId))
 
  INSERT INTO  @XMLFields
    SELECT Tbl.xFlds.query('.') from @xFields.nodes('/Field') as Tbl(xFlds)
 
  DECLARE @sql VARCHAR(8000), @field XML, 
    @colname VARCHAR(30), @Type VARCHAR(30), @dispname VARCHAR(255);
  
  SET @sql = 'SELECT '
 
  DECLARE tmpCursor CURSOR FOR
    SELECT Field, 't1.'+ Field.value('(/Field/@ColName)[1]', 'varchar(max)') , 
      Field.value('(/Field/@Type)[1]', 'varchar(max)'), 
      ' as ['+ isnull(Field.value('(/Field/@DisplayName)[1]', 'varchar(max)'), 
      Field.value('(/Field/@Name)[1]', 'varchar(max)')) +'], '
    FROM @XMLFields
 
  OPEN tmpCursor
  FETCH NEXT FROM tmpCursor INTO @field, @colname, @Type, @dispname
    WHILE @@FETCH_STATUS = 0
    BEGIN
      IF(@colname IS NOT NULL)
      BEGIN  
 
        SET @sql = (CASE @Type
          WHEN 'Lookup' THEN 
            @sql + '(SELECT nvarchar1 FROM UserData WHERE tp_ListId = '''+ 
            (@field.value('(/Field/@List)[1]', 'varchar(max)')) +
            ''' AND tp_ID = '+ @colname +')' + @dispname    
          
          WHEN 'User' THEN 
            @sql + '(SELECT tp_Title FROM 
            UserInfo WHERE tp_ID = '+ @colname +')' + @dispname            
          
          ELSE @sql + @colname + @dispname
          END)
  
      END
      FETCH NEXT FROM tmpCursor INTO @field, @colname, @Type, @dispname
    END
  CLOSE tmpCursor
  DEALLOCATE tmpCursor  
   
  --strip off last comma
  SET @sql = SUBSTRING( RTRIM(@sql), 1, LEN(@sql) - 1 )
  SET @sql = @sql + ' FROM UserData t1 WHERE t1.tp_ListId = '''+ 
      CAST(@ListId AS VARCHAR(50)) +''' AND t1.tp_RowOrdinal = 0'
 
  PRINT @sql
  EXEC(@sql)
END

Limitations:

1. It doesn't get the Display Name for field references (ie not customized field)
2. It only looks at the Title of the lookup list/user, and then only on custom look up.

Example:

MS SQL Management Studio View

SharePoint View

Keywords: Export to spreadsheet, SQL field view, AllUserData

File link

Talisker 10 YO Single Malt Review

[The reviewer and scores explained.]

Scotch: Talisker 10 YO Single Malt
Cost: $75
Score: 65
Scent: BAM in ya face ya wee fanny, have a smoke now.
Palate: Sour peat chemical;like some kind of paint thinner got mixed in.
Finish: Shit that's strong.
Effect: Clear head but not inviting.
Empty glass scent: Strong peaty smoke.
Day after: All good.
Bottom line: Chemical taste.

The review:  I was recommeded this after trying Highland Park last month. I wanted an even strong smokey taste, so I had high hopes this would be build on the Highland Park.
My initial reactions was this taste like some kind of chemical compound. The scent is good, but the taste is just a little brutish. I tried mixing it with water, but the chemical undertone remained.
I didn't find it sweet or spicy. It was just strong in your face peaty smoke. The bottle lasted longer than most other bottles. It's not bad, but I can't drink too much of it.

Highland Park 12 YO Single Malt Review

[The reviewer and scores explained]

Scotch: Highland Park 12 YO Single Malt
Cost: $68
Score: 73
Scent: SMOKEEEY.
Palate: Farely smooth smoky peat subtle oak. Let's go with smoky wood.
Finish: Smooth, with lingering smoke (I wish there was more smoke).
Effect: Welcoming and happy.
Empty glass scent: Smoky oaky peaty sherry.
Day after: Fantastic.
Bottom line: Very well balanced, recommended for those that like smoky.

The review:  I was a little hesitant to pick the bottle up because it looked a little a cheap bourbon called Cougar Bourbon.
The scent was fantastic, well at least better than I expected. The palate didn't disappoint either, smooth, warm and inviting... a excellent balance of smoke, peat, heather, oak and sherry... with a refreshing spark for a finish.
The scent is fantastic. The taste is great. The bottle looks cheap. Go buy a bottle now.
It could be a little smoother and a little smokier. While I have characterized it as smoky, it's a smoky that doesn't quite give you a smoke fix. I think age would bring this to the table, so maybe the 18 YO would be stupendous.

A salute to Michael J. Jackson

Thank you for the tunes and the moves.

Dr. W. Edward Deming's 14 points for management and transforming business effectiveness

Today we live in a post "credit boom" era... we've spent the last 2 decades inebriated with cheap or even free credit. And like an "all you can eat" banquet, we've had little respect for the credit we used. Now change has been forced on us and we must adapt.


After a recent company memo about improving the business and compulsory annual reviews; I decided to do some research in to ways of improving my effectiveness as a manager and the best way is usually to look at what the best of the best have done in the past.
In my quest for the best of the best I came across William Edwards Deming (you can google his name for more info).

In one of his books Out of the Crisis he describes 14 points for management and transforming business effectiveness, none of them are catchy phrases, but any GM/COO interested in more than short term share holders could do worse...

1. Create constancy of purpose toward improvement of product and service, with the aim to become competitive and stay in business, and to provide jobs.
2. Adopt the new philosophy. We are in a new economic age. Western management must awaken to the challenge, must learn their responsibilities, and take on leadership for change.
3. Cease dependence on inspection to achieve quality. Eliminate the need for inspection on a mass basis by building quality into the product in the first place.
4. End the practice of awarding business on the basis of price tag. Instead, minimize total cost. Move towards a single supplier for any one item, on a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust.
5. Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service, to improve quality and productivity, and thus constantly decrease costs.
6. Institute training on the job.
7. Institute leadership. The aim of supervision should be to help people and machines and gadgets to do a better job. Supervision of management is in need of overhaul, as well as supervision of production workers.
8. Drive out fear, so that everyone may work effectively for the company.
9. Break down barriers between departments. People in research, design, sales, and production must work as a team, to foresee problems of production and in use that may be encountered with the product or service.
10. Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and targets for the work force asking for zero defects and new levels of productivity. Such exhortations only create adversarial relationships, as the bulk of the causes of low quality and low productivity belong to the system and thus lie beyond the power of the work force.
11. a. Eliminate work standards on the factory floor. Substitute leadership.
    b. Eliminate management by objective. Eliminate management by numbers, numerical goals. Substitute workmanship.
12. a. Remove barriers that rob the hourly worker of his right to pride of workmanship. The responsibility of supervisors must be changed from sheer numbers to quality.
    b. Remove barriers that rob people in management and in engineering of their right to pride of workmanship. This means, inter alia," abolishment of the annual or merit rating and of management by objective.
13. Institute a vigorous program of education and self-improvement.
14. Put everybody in the company to work to accomplish the transformation. The transformation is everybody's job.

Another set of management principals is The Deming System of Profound Knowledge which advocates:

1. Appreciation of a system: understanding the overall processes involving suppliers, producers, and customers (or recipients) of goods and services (explained below);
2. Knowledge of variation: the range and causes of variation in quality, and use of statistical sampling in measurements;
3. Theory of knowledge: the concepts explaining knowledge and the limits of what can be known (see also: epistemology);
4. Knowledge of psychology: concepts of human nature.

I thought I would share this tid-bit.