Monday, August 31, 2009

Redirect SharePoint Site to New Location/URL

If you have requirement to redirect SharePoint users to new URL. Here is the step by step approach on creating a site redirect using Content Editor Web Part (CWEP) and JavaScript:

Here is the approach:

Create a subsite or new site collection in the same server or in other server. Once your subsite or new site collection is ready, make the page simple by removing all existing web parts and follow the below mentioned steps.

1. Click on “Site Actions” > “Edit Page”

2. Add Content Editor Web Part (CEWP) to a zone of your choice by clicking on “Add a Web Part”

3. This will bring up “Add Web Parts – Webpage Dialog” windows

4. If you don’t see “Content Editor Web Part” expand “All Web Parts” and it’s usually under “Miscellaneous” section

5. Tick “Content Editor Web Part” and click on “Add” button

6. Add content to CEWP either by clicking “open the tool pane” link or edit > Modify Shared Web Part

7. The previous step will open the Web Part properties in the right pane of the page. Click on “Source Editor” button

8. “Text Entry – Webpage Dialog” Window will open with blank page

9. Add the following JavaScript to “Text Entry – Webpage Dialog” window and click “Save” button.

<Html>
<head>
<script language="JavaScript">
</script>
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="10;url=http://servername:3333/.../[subusite]">
</head>
<body>
"Provide the Information you want to read the users"<a href=http://servername:3333/.../[subusite]>Click here to Continue>/a>
</body>
</html>

10. Users will be directed to the new URL in 10 seconds (in the above script it’s 10 seconds. This value can be modified by changing content="10 value based on the content to be read on the page.)

Saturday, August 29, 2009

SharePoint Approval Workflow Vs Outlook Voting

Approval and Routing of Documents via Outlook Voting:

SharePoint workflows are being recommended for the Business process and under the assumption that such a recommendation will not be timely in its implementation, a contingency method for routing and approval of documents has been developed. This method involves the use of Outlook as a means to transport the document with the addition of “voting buttons” to indicate the approval of different parties involved in the transaction.

Pros:

  • Easy to configure and retrieve the results
  • Request a delivery receipt for the message
  • Request a Read receipt for the message
  • Set an expiration date for the message

Cons:

  • Outlook voting involves manual process for each and every document approval configuration
  • The voting results are only available in Outlook of a specific user
  • User has to verify the results manually and take a decision to Approve or Reject the document
  • Not possible to set remainder or due date for response.

SharePoint Approval Workflow:

A SharePoint workflow is the automated movement of documents or items through a sequence of actions or tasks that are related to a business process. I would define a workflow as a business process, a chain of steps that need to be performed in order to accomplish a goal. Out of the box SharePoint has the below mentioned workflow availability.

MOSS 2007 Workflow Availability:

  • Approval (Serial\Parallel)
  • Collect Feedback
  • Collect Signatures (Serial\Parallel)
  • Disposition Approval

Approval Workflow:

The Approval workflow routes a document or item that is saved to a list or library to a group of people for approval. By default, the Serial Approval workflow is associated with Document Content Types.

Pros:

  • Possible to configure the workflow to a Content Types, Lists or Document Libraries
  • Reuse the same workflow configuration for all documents or list items
  • Start an Approval workflow directly from a document or item in a list or library
  • Have an option to Stat an Approval workflow when a new item is created or changed in the list or document library
  • The server assigns tasks to all individual participants or a group.
  • Easy to track the task status and available on the server
  • The server sends e-mail alerts to all participants and remainders after the due date
  • Participants can click a link in the e-mail task alert to open the document or item to be approved
  • Participants can choose to approve, reject, or reassign their approval tasks
  • While the workflow is in progress, the workflow owner or the workflow participants can view the Workflow Status page to see which participants have completed their workflow tasks
  • When the workflow participants complete their workflow tasks, the workflow ends, and the workflow owner is automatically notified that the workflow is complete

Cons:

  • Not possible to request a delivery receipt for the message
  • Not possible to request a Read receipt for the message