Determining the version of SPS 2001 / WSS / SPS 2003

To determine the version of SharePoint Portal Server that is installed on the server, compare the version of the Mssrch.dll file on each server. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start Microsoft Windows Explorer, and then use one of the following methods:
   
   •If you are running SharePoint Portal Server 2001, locate the following folder:
   Drive:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSSearch\Bin
   •If you are running SharePoint Portal Server 2003, locate the following folder:
   Drive:\Program Files\SharePoint Portal Server\Bin
   
   
2. Right-click the Mssrch.dll file, and then click Properties.
   
   
3. Click the Version tab, and then click File Version under Item name.Make a note of the version number of the Mssrch.dll file. The version numbers of the Mssrch.dll file and the corresponding versions and service pack levels of SharePoint Portal Server are listed as follows.
   
   SharePoint Portal Server 2001
   
   •If the version of the Mssrch.dll file is 10.145.3914.3, the original release version of SharePoint Portal Server 2001 is installed on the server.
   •If the version of the Mssrch.dll file is 10.145.4629, SharePoint Portal Server 2001 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is installed on the server.
   •If the version of the Mssrch.dll file is 10.0145.6011.0, SharePoint Portal Server 2001 Service Pack 2 (SP2) is installed on the server.
   •If the version of the Mssrch.dll file is 10.0145.6011.5, SharePoint Portal Server 2001 Service Pack 2a (SP2a) is installed on the server.
   •If the version of the Mssrch.dll file is 10.0145.7329, SharePoint Portal Server 2001 Service Pack 3 (SP3) is installed on the server.
   
   SharePoint Portal Server 2003
   
   •If the version of the Mssrch.dll file is 11.0.5704.0, the original release version of SharePoint Portal Server 2003 is installed on the server.
   •If the version of the Mssrch.dll file is 11.0.6715.0, SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is installed on the server.

Alternatively for Windows Sharepoint Services 2.0...

1. On the server, go to 'Add or Remove Programs'
   
   
2. For WSS, click Click Here for Support Information. Note the version numbers below
   
   11.0.5608.0 (Unserviced Pack)
   11.0.6361.0 (Service Pack 1)
   11.0.7969.0 (Service Pack 2)

EPM Best Practices

Excellent article. Worth the read!

http://www.clsassociates.com/EPMBestPracs.pdf

Document Concerns

Some of the concerns organizations might have regarding their document. Probably some key areas to focus on and analyse. How, when and by whom your documents are accessed?

Confidentiality - Control who has access to the document.

Authorization - Control what someone can do with the document.

Accountability - Track what someone does with the document.

Integrity - Show whether a document has been altered.

Authenticity - Verify the source of the document.

Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 SP1 (full version software) is Free

I've used the Microsoft VPC 2004 through all my presentations, demos and simulations. It's an absolute piece of software that saves you time and it gives you the liberty to learn from trial and errors while deploying or testing a particular software / product.

Click here to download.

Xerox DocuShare 5.0

Interested in DocuShare 5.0 ? There hasn't been much of an upgrade from 4.0 to 5.0. I did install v5.0 and just noticed the change in the UI. In terms of functionality it's the same. If I'm not mistaken another plus point is that it supports SQL 2005 for the storage of metadata.

Just head on down to DocuShare User Group (DOUG), create an account there (it's free). Download the executable files, install and get the license string from Xerox and you'll be able to use it for 30 days.

Click here to access the DocuShare 5.0 download at the DOUG site.

Microsoft E-Learning: Microsoft SharePoint Services 3.0 (Beta)

Microsoft E-Learning is offering a free online course for 90 days to get to know Microsoft SharePoint Services 3.0 (Beta).

Click here to get it! A good introductory to SharePoint Services 3.0 (Beta). There's also a Hands On Lab to further enhance the learning experience.

I've gone through it. Gives a good overall understanding of Sharepoint Services 3.0 (Beta) and you can easily see the difference with v2.0.

Keys to a Successful ECM Solution

An ECM solution could be the answer to your organizational needs in terms of archiving, auditing and collaborating but there are challenges that hinder a successful ECM solution rollout.

User acceptance is very important as the ECM solution is for the end user. They need to buy into the idea, therefore the ECM needs to be something simple for them. The ECM is to improve the way they work and to help with their daily tasks and shouldn't burden them even further. The learning curve and training should also be very minimal. User acceptance will be fastest if users actually recognize the ECM solution as making their personal work life more efficient and streamlined.

Unified solution will tip the scale on the success of the ECM solution. The ECM solution should provide for many of the functionalities that are required within the requirement. Most of the time multiple applications which are not standardized put the users off. The organization will definately have diversified needs as each departments / individuals focus could be different but working towards a common goal. Therefore the ECM solution needs to be able to meet these needs with robust and customizable ECM solution.

Users should have the power to manage their own solutions. Therefore this will minimize the involvement and burden of IT on the ECM. This is essential to involve the IT administrators as little as possible as they already have much at hand. The ECM solution needs to cater for different users to be able to manage their own areas. The only involvement of IT is to manage the ECM solution in a centralized manner and the granular details can be handled by users.

Questions for Document Management Analysis

Sometimes I find it hard to actually get a conversation started with clients. So I remember 5 simple and easy questions to help myself gage some of the problems customers face with document management.

1. What are the hardcopy / manual process that are currently in place?
2. In these processes, what are the top 3/4/5 pain issues that you face?
3. How many people are involved and how do they communicate with one another?
4. How are the documents distributed and are there remote locations, what is the cost incurred?
5. Once the process has been completed, what are the plans on storing or preserving the document?

Some questions to get the conversation started and to build a foundation for further analysis.

Components of ECM

Gartner defines 6 core components for an Enterprise Content Management system.

1. Document Management
2. Web Content Management
3. Records Management
4. Document Capture
5. Document Imaging
6. Document Centric Collaboration & Workflow

Ubiquitous Computing

"... many enterprise employees are disconnected from the company information systems for long periods of time. They cannot communicate business-critical information promptly, or react to changing business priorities quickly"

reference: Gartner, 2002

Microsoft Office 2007 suite of products, especially with Groove and SharePoint 2007 we'll see more collaboration and communication between information / knowledge workers.

VMware Free Download

I'm a firm supporter of virtual machines. I've been using Microsoft's Virtual PC. It's been working well for me.

Apparently VMware, who has a similar product to the Microsoft one offers a free download. Below is the link. Honestly, I haven't tested it yet.

http://www.vmware.com/download/server/

Solving the ECM Puzzle

Recently I've dived into the world of documents/content which led me to an interest in Enterprise Content Management (ECM) solutions. Through my findings and discovery, a little insight into ECM and if ECM is for you and your organization. five key components of the ECM.

1. Capture - How would you move documents (hardcopy/softcopy) into the repository for reuse, distribution and storage?
2. Manage - What are the tools and techniques for moving content around an organization and monitoring this tools' performance?
3. Store - Where do you put the content and how'd you find it again?
4. Deliver - How do you get the right content to the right audience on the right device?
5. Preserve - What are the options for long term archival and storage of your company's essential content?

references: AIIM