Angus Logan

MCMS/SPS/.NET/SQL/Microsoft Australia

August 2005 - Posts

Catch up @ TechEd 2005?

YAY - I will be on the Gold Coast from Tuesday evening onwards.

I will be working at the InfoWorker booth on Wednesday (1pm-6pm) and Thursday (9.30am-2pm).

My MCMS presentation will be on Friday morning 9am - first thing (and possibly a repeat session in the afternoon)

If you want to catch up with me drop me an email or a line on 0415 18 777 8

Differencing Disks zip lots!

WOW! I've been using differencing disks recently with Virtual PC/Virtual Server and man those things can zip!

I can get a 2.6gb VHD down to about 250mb - way cool !

New BizTalk Load Generation Tool Now Available
Via BizTalk Performance Blog

Overview

This tool is intended for developers and IT professionals to simulate load on a BizTalk Server. Using this tool, you can simulate load to instrument performance and stress against a BizTalk deployment. In addition, this tool may also be extended by developers to simulate load for custom transports. This tool should be used in a test environment only, and should not be used in a production environment. This tool is provided "as-is" and is not supported.
 
 
Data#3 reports best ever financial results

Awesome! I love this kind of news. Check out our chart too.

Below is a snippet from the Data#3 website.

Contract revenues increase on the back of 30% growth in servicesThe Board of Directors of Data#3 Limited (ASX: DTL) has announced the best ever result for the company and declared a final dividend of 11.5 cents per share to bring total dividends for the year to 19.0 cents per share.Highlights

  • Revenues of $197M up 12%
  • EBITDA of $6.244 million up 17%
  • NPAT of $3.912 million - up 15%
  • Basic earnings per share of 25.7 cents - up 13%
  • Full year dividends of 19.0 cents per share - up 23%
  • Managing Director John Grant indicated that results were strong across all areas of the business. We have maintained our focus along six national areas of specialty, and are delighted with their development over the year. We intend to achieve a leadership position in all these areas by developing the expertise of our people to be second to none, by proactively engaging with our key partners to deliver creative, cost-effective solutions and by ensuring those solutions offer the best value for money to our customers.

    Click here for the full story...
    Virtual Server 2005 R2

    I was wondering why SP1 of Virtual Server wasn't shippingd for ages (even thought the beta has been open for a long time.

    "The latest addition is Virtual Server 2005 R2. Microsoft officials announced at the Intel Developer Forum this week that they had decided to christen the first service pack (SP) update for Microsoft's Virtual Server 2005 product as an R2 release instead of SP1. The renamed product is still due to ship in the fourth quarter of this year."

    Via Wally

    http://www.microsoft-watch.com/article2/0,2180,1852436,00.asp

    It looks like SP1 of Virtual Server 2005 has been renamed to Virtual Server 2005 R2.  It looks like there will be new support for x64 on the host and Linux in the guest.

    SWEET! - MSN Messenger 7.5 Released

    I LOVE messenger - I think it is a seriously mission critical application! - great to see a new version

    Via Brandon LeBlanc
    MSN has released the final version of MSN Messenger 7.5 to the web. You can download MSN Messenger 7.5 here!

    This thing has a couple of new enhancements and features like new animated backgrounds that change during conversations and some audio enhancements. I guess your able to record 15 second audio snippets to send to your buddies. Oh and it has a new log-in screen!

    I haven't played around with it much aside from installing it and logging on so I'll write more when I discover neat things.

    Announcing the SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Discovery Kit
    Via Ryan Rogers

    The SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Discovery kit – a set of 6 hands-on lab documents – just went live on Microsoft.com at the following location:

     

    SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Discovery Kit

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=03607516-cbec-4724-b4a4-aa7f09304ba5&displaylang=en

     

    Please note that there is a lab focusing on how to use the SQL Reporting Pack!  Here’s an excerpt from the download page:

     

    Overview

     

    The SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Discovery Kit includes a series of discovery labs that go beyond learning about a particular component of SharePoint Portal Server 2003 to understanding visional portal site solution, how to deploy Web applications that integrate tightly with the portal site environment, how to use SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services to track and analyze portal site usage, and lastly, how to customize the portal site user interface.

     

    There are 6 labs in the SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Discovery Kit. The lab manuals includes a description of the business scenario that is addressed by the lab, the teaching objectives of the lab, step-by-step instructions, dependencies for each lab and the expected amount of time needed for the lab assuming a basic familiarity with Windows SharePoint Services and limited SharePoint Portal Server 2003 experience.

    CRM (+ other MBS products) vNext to use WSS as its foundation?
    Via Andrew Connell

    [via wssdemo]

    No complaints here.  Previously it was announced that MCMS VNEXT will use WSS as it’s foundation, and we know SPS2003 will too, but now CRM?  Very cool.

    » Next versions of Microsoft CRM and Axapta to leverage SharePoint Services

    Skelta CMS Accelerator - Express Edition

    I will be talking about the Skelta CMS Accelerator in my TechEd Gold Coast presentation on the Friday

    Via Andrew Connell

    [via Mark Harrison]

    As previously announced at TechEd USA in Orlando... and now a tad bit rebranded and delayed...

    Skelta CMS Accelerator - Express Edition

    Skelta CMS Workflow Lite (i.e. the free workflow solution for Microsoft CMS customers) is now being rebranded as the Express version.

    Its going through the final testing and its launch is iminent. In the meantime you can request a preview here .

    More info on Skelta CMS Accelerator - Express Edition .
    Cropper 1.6 Final
    I love this app!!!

    Via Brian Scott

    This release gets 1.6 out of beta

    Changes from the beta release:

    The output directory is now configurable through an Options selection in the right-click menu.

    Cropper now uses completely owner drawn layered windows. All double buffering of the user interface is custom coded and uses the UpdateLayeredWindow API for improved performance. You will see a substantial improvement when resizing the window, especially at larger sizes. This also allowed some further performance tweaks to the UI painting.

    There were a couple bug fixes as well.

    Plug-ins compiled against the beta version will not work with this version. They only need to be recompiled against the new Cropper.Extensibility assembly to work with this version.  All future versions should be compatible.

    More info and download >

    PDC05 is sold out! - See you There!
    Via ActiveWin

    Thank you for the tremendous response.... we're really excited about meeting all of you in LA for this PDC.

    While registration is now closed, we will be maintaining a waitlist. In order to be added to this list please visit this site. For an event of this size there are typically a small number of cancellations and other changes, so some slots do typically become available. Adding yourself to the waitlist does not guarantee that you will be able to register. If space becomes available, the PDC05 Registration Team will contact you with instructions on how to complete your registration. Attendees will be chosen based on the date and time they submit their waitlist request.

    Thanks again for your support! See you in LA!

    Deloitte says no to blogging
    I just saw this article in the Age today.

    Big four accounting firm Deloitte has put corporate blogging on the back-burner following robust internal discussions about the company's online strategies.

    A proposal to start corporate blogging on leadership issues was put forward by the firm's director of digital marketing and communications, Ryf Quail. But senior partners were concerned about legally protecting the firm, which is bound by a partnership structure.

    Bummer for DC.

    Interestingly there is an article titled BLOGS: How organisations can use Blogs to communicate and innovate. up on the Eclipse Group website (The Eclipse Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Deloitte) talking about their use of blogs.

    At Eclipse, we are trialling an intranet Blogging system within the Creative team to help organise our knowledge, centralise topic conversation and encourage cross-pollination between specialised groups. It's a simple Blog called EclipseCreative.

    Portals Webcasts for September
    Via Eleen Brown

    TechNet Webcast: Introduction to Microsoft SharePoint for the Lotus Notes Administrator (Level 100)
    Wednesday, September 14, 2005 - 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Pacific Time
    Amy Blumenfield, Technical Writer, Microsoft Corporation
    Gary Devendorf, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
    Are you dealing with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) and IBM Lotus Notes/Domino, or would you just like to know more about SharePoint? WSS and Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server (SPS) are in many ways similar to Lotus Domino. In this session, you get to know WSS and SPS from a Domino point of view. Join us as we explore the integration points between these technologies. Discover how they are similar, how they are different and how this might matter.
    http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032280065&Culture=en-US

    Momentum Webcast: Introduction to SharePoint for the Domino Administrator (Level 100)
    Monday, September 26, 2005 - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Pacific Time
    Amy Blumenfield, Technical Writer, Microsoft Corporation
    Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) and Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server (SPS) are, in many ways, similar to Lotus Domino. In this webcast, get to know WSS and SPS from a Domino point of view. Explore the integration points between these two technologies, and discover how they are similar, how they are different, and how this might matter. If you are currently working with SharePoint and Lotus Notes/Domino together or if you want to know more about SharePoint, this session is for you.
    http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032280280&Culture=en-US

    TechNet Webcast: Securing Collaboration Beyond E-Mail (Level 200)
    Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
    Neha Sharma, Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation
    Is your implementation of Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services safe? SharePoint benefits your organization because you can share information and documentation, and can reduce messaging overhead. But SharePoint can also allow users to bypass traditional antivirus and content scanning, and could provide an exploitable network security vulnerability. To ensure comprehensive network protection, your organization must adopt a layered defense strategy that encompasses communication policy, user training, and consistent application of security technology. Attend this webcast to understand existing and potential threats to corporate networks, and how to deploy practical protection for Windows SharePoint Services and Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server.
    http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032279973&Culture=en-US

    TechNet Webcast: Integrate Live Meeting 2005 Web Parts with SharePoint Portal Server (Level 200)
    Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
    Jay Vernon, Lead Program Manager, Microsoft
    Your organization uses Microsoft Office Live Meeting, and Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server, but do you have them working with each other? Join Jay Vernon, lead program manager with the Microsoft Office Live Meeting development team, as he discusses and demonstrates linkages between Live Meeting schedules and customized SharePoint team Web sites. This webcast covers the new Live Meeting Web Parts for SharePoint, and is rich with best practices on installation, configuration and management.
    http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032279168&Culture=en-US

    Microsoft Office System Webcast: Top 10 Tips to Save Time in SharePoint (Level 100)
    Thursday, September 22, 2005 - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Pacific Time
    Evan Archilla, Senior Training Specialist, Projectline Services
    When Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services technology in Windows Server is partnered with Microsoft Office 2003 the result is a productive, connected computing environment. With Microsoft Office 2003, users can take advantage of Windows SharePoint Services to create documents, organize team activity, and to access and analyze data from SharePoint sites. Join us for this informative webcast to learn some of our favorite tips and tricks for working with Windows SharePoint Services and Office 2003 together.
    http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032279825&Culture=en-US
     
    Microsoft Business Solutions Webcast: Unlock the Possibilities for Your Business with Microsoft Portal-Based Solutions (Level 200)
    Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Pacific Time
    Mary Madrigal, Business Systems Advisor, Microsoft Corporation
    Learn how to boost your business potential and enhance productivity by providing user-specific access to information and processes from a single Web-based portal. Microsoft Business Solutions Business Portal version 2.5 provides capabilities such as online data querying, report access, and project management, all integrated with Microsoft Business Solutions-Solomon. This webcast shows how the Project Controller module for Solomon can improve your project profitability by providing project managers with the accurate, meaningful information they need to control project revenue and expenses. You will also find out how the enhanced portal-based Microsoft Project Self Service Suite can open up additional module possibilities.
    http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032277864&Culture=en-US

    CruiseControl.NET 1.0 RC1 Released

    Via Loren Halvorson

    CruiseControl.NET 1.0 RC1 just released. It's exciting to see them working toward a 1.0 release which they hope will be in the next few weeks.

    http://mikeroberts.thoughtworks.net/blog/archive/Tech/dotNet/CruiseControl.NET1.0RC1Released.html

     

    IBF and Sharepoint a ''perfect fit'
    Via Kit Kai

    I've attended a webcast on IBF today. Its te first of four parts series. Well, I'm working overtime in office, so I couldn't give full attention. Asked the presenter (so sorry, forgot your name) whether it makes any sense to learn IBF when I'm dealing with SharePoint. He said its a perfect fit!. So here are the resources for me to find out more...

    Download the framework: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=D7FA9F2F-3512-4163-A4AB-A36EEA3B6163&displaylang=en

    The resource kit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3ac05dc0-ae2b-4d76-aa91-ae6a2a896d93&DisplayLang=en

     

    Site Manager and MCMS Manager
    Via Chester

    I've listed the features of Site Manager and MCMS Manager - to have a better understanding of MCMS Manager's features. Now MCMS Manager seems to fill most of the gaps between Site Manager and MCMS Sites!

    Site ManagerMCMS Manager
    Channels & Posting
    Create, Copy, Delete, Move ChannelsGet the Guid of the Channels / Postings / Template Guid of the Posting
    Copy, Move, Delete PostingsSearch inside a Channel (Search has many features)
    Import/Export ChannelsGenerate Statistics for Channels
    Import/Export PostingsEdit Posting / Posting Properties / Custom Properties
    Work with Properties of ChannelsOpen the posting in Published / Unpublished / Update mode
    Kill lock on Channel/PostingsKill lock on Postings
    Rename ChannelsSubmit/ Approve/Decline a Posting
    Clear Revision historiesGet the posting State
    Preview postings
    Get all the connected postings
    Resource Galleries & Resources
    Create, Copy, Delete, Move Resource GalleriesGet the Guid of the Resource Galleries / Resources
    Copy, Move, Delete ResourcesPreview /Browse Resources
    Import/Export Resource GalleriesSave the Resources
    Import/Export ResourcesGet the postings which uses a Resource
    Rename Resource Galleries
    Edit Properties of Resource Galleries
    Template Galleries & Templates
    Create, Copy, Delete, Move Template GalleriesGet the Guid of Template Galleries / Templates
    Copy, Move, Delete TemplatesPreview Templates
    Import/Export Template GalleriesGet the postings depend on the Template
    Import/Export TemplatesView the connected Templates
    Rename Template GalleriesGet the state of Templates
    Edit Properties of Template GalleriesSubmit Templates
    Generate Dependent Report for Templates
    Approve Templates
    User Groups & User
    Add / Remove / Modify Rights groups-
    Add / Remove / Modify Users

    Also MCMS Manager includes few tools. They are,

    • IIS Log Converter & MCMS Log Viewer
    • Health Checker
    • Incremental Export Script Generator
    • Incremental Import Script Generator
    • UserGroup Backup-Restore Script Generator

    NB: MCMS Manager 4.0 can be used from remote machines.

    PDC Scheduling has some major Ajax action

    If you are registered to the PDC event go to http://commnet.microsoftpdc.com  and check out the Ajax action on the scheduling page.

     

    Very cool!

    SharePoint Portal Server Discovery Kit
    Via Arpan Shah
    One of the pieces of feedback that I have received from partners and customers is that they don't immediately understand the value that SharePoint Portal Server provides over Windows SharePoint Services.

    We have several whitepapers that address this topic but we always received feedback that it still wasn't crystal clear. To address this, we are releasing the SharePoint Portal Server Discovery Kit very shortly that is targetted at IT Pros.

    It contains a:
    1) very detailed build book to walk you through building a SPS server,
    2) a whitepaper and
    3) 6 self-paced labs with detailed explanation.

    This allows you to "discover" SPS, if you will, in a short amount of time. The other benefit is that you don't have to build a separate server. If you already have SPS installed, you can use that. Based on the initial feedback we received, people really liked it... so if you're looking for something like this for yourself or for a customer, you'll see it very shortly.
    Announcing The SharePoint Template Project
    Via Greg Hughes

    Bil Simser has taken the lead in creating a place for the community to create and share SharePoint templates. This is terrific - one of the more difficult things about getting people using SharePoint has always been the lack of templates and general resources available to get people started building the custom apps people dream of (but can't necessarily create themselves).

    Link: The SharePoint Template Project on SourceForge

    Now that we have the place to do this, all we need are participants. Microsoft recently released a set of 30 great site templates, and there are a few others out there as well, but this has the potential to be much bigger.

    Bil's own words describe the SharePoint Template Project perfectly:

    Not having custom solutions has been one of the larger gaps in SharePoint but demonstrates that you can accomplish a lot with just a little configuration and some creative thought. On numerous occasions I find myself in the newsgroups seeing people asking if they can build a Help Desk with SharePoint, or an Expense Tracking System, or a Call Board. The answer is of course yes. Always has been and always will. The problem however is that you don't get a lot of business solutions delivered without some work. Enter the SharePoint Template Project.

    I created a new project site on SourceForge (yes, I'm not a big fan of GotDotNet and we haven't created my utopia of SharePointForge just yet) to accomodate this. The project provides an outlet for the SharePoint community to contribute and share list and site templates for the products under the Microsoft SharePoint technology banner (SharePoint Portal Server and Windows SharePoint Services).

    These templates come in the form of binary .stp files or plain text xml schema files (along with any additional files like images, etc.). Users create the templates either using SharePoint itself (saving them in .stp format) or with whatever xml/text editor they prefer. The templates are uploaded to a SharePoint server and used as a boilerplate by SharePoint during site creation.

    Templates in this project will be created by the community and packaged in a common installer format (MSI) so that end-users need only download the MSI and run it on their SharePoint server. A template MSI will be provided for contributors to the project which includes the template installer, full or custom selections for installation (users will be able to choose what templates they want to install), graphical preview for each template (if the developer includes them) and option to create sample sites based on the templates chosen.



    greghughes.net weblog - copyright 2005 - licensed under a Creative Commons License.
    Nice Podcast VC - US$8.85 million

    Thats a whole lot of recording time in a garage!

    Wonder if The PodCast Network was in with a shot?

    Via Mark Jones

    PodShow, a company started by the so-called "podfather" Adam Curry, has scored an impressive US$8.85 million from some big US VC industry types who also funded little companies like Google. News reported by PE Week and CBS.

    It's obviously early days in terms of understanding exactly how the podcast business model will evolve. But in case you've missed the significance, this is the first major VC funding of a podcasting company. Here's to the innovators.

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