How to pass Guid variable to ObjectDataSource ?

I Spent one day to find out how to pass guid variable to objectDataSource, the error encoutered is

"Object must implement IConvertible"

The solution for this is to use


"< name="myGuid">" instead of

"< name="myGuid" type="String">"

Find out more from here

ashx

Just discover what is ashx in asp.net, it is nothing but the httphandler that we used in MOSS.

Creating a new ashx, is actually creating a class that inherit from IHttpHandler. Instead of loading xml from page load event in typical asp.net web form, ashx could be the best option for you to do the same tasks.

Example,


public void ProcessRequest (HttpContext context)
{
context.Response.ContentType = "text/xml";
context.Response.ContentEncoding = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8;

string sXml = BuildXMLString(); //not showing this function,
//but it creates the XML string

context.Response.Cache.SetExpires(DateTime.Now.AddSeconds(600));
context.Response.Cache.SetCacheability(HttpCacheability.Public);
context.Response.Write( sXml );
}

jquery + VS 2008 SP1

Ever wonder how to enable jquery intelliSense in VS 2008 ? very simple.

0. VS SP1 is installed
1. Download the KB946581 from here
2. Download jquery from here and documentation from here
3. Install the KB

This is it, very simple. The next question is why jquery, checkout this post on how to call .net webservice using jquery


Useful resources

Download for Visual Studio 2008 SP1

Download for .net 3.5 SP1

How to perform autoComplete

Enable Anonymous Access

How to enable anonymous access in SharePoint.

SharePoint workflow

Using sharepoint designer to build workflow can be the faster way to achieve yr workflow objective.

However, the drawback is that you cant deploy it into multiple list / document library

This link will give u a better overview on how to leverage on sharepoint designer to create workflow.

how to enable debugging mode

lIf you did customization on SharePoint before, you will encounter the case where you have no clue on how to debug your application.

You can turn on the debug mode by changing the below setting in web.config

1. CallStack="true"
2. customerrors mode="Off"
3. compilation debug="true" batch="false"

How to change theme when new site is created

Some of you have this requirement to create a new theme for your customer. And obviously this theme will be used automatically if a new site is created.

One of the stupid way is to include the step to change the theme as part of the operating mannual, but let me show you the tricks.

If you understand the concept of branding on how to change the .master page, you will find this theme changer feature is very similar.

What you need to do is to :
1. Create a new theme (i.e. NewTheme) and put it in 12hive\ Themese folder
2. Create a new .vb file which inherit SPFeatureReceiver and override FeatureActivated method to include the below coding.

Dim objWeb As SPWeb
objWeb = properties.Feature.Parent
objWeb.ApplyTheme ( " NewTheme " )
objWeb.Update()

3. The above is to ensure that newtheme is being switched when the code is feature is activated.
4. Compile it with strong name and deploy to GAC.
5. Package this .dll as feature
6. Locate the onet.xml for site template that you have 12hive\template\sitetemplates\SITE NAME\xml
7. locate to include the feature ID which you have created earlier.

The idea of this theme changer is very similar to branding.