| In our series of tutorials, getting started with | | | | noticed the Templates section. Before you object, |
| SharePoint, we are going through quick tutorials on | | | | check it out; you will find it empty. |
| dealing exclusively with Windows SharePoint Services | | | | The templates in the General section are blank basic |
| 3.0. The pinch, however, is that you are limited to the | | | | sites. SharePoint's dynamic content capabilities are not |
| templates and design options that are available with | | | | built into these sites, but can be added later. This is a |
| SharePoint. | | | | good option if you want to build a site from scratch. |
| For those that wish to adventure into designing their | | | | On the other hand, the SharePoint templates are |
| own SharePoint site, there is SharePoint Designer, | | | | based on ASP.NET technology. This can be leveraged |
| which is available as a free download at Microsoft's | | | | to deliver powerful, dynamic, two-way applications |
| main SharePoint page. SharePoint designer works with | | | | that truly involve the users. You also have the option |
| your SharePoint site to provide virtually unlimited | | | | of using the Import Site Wizard, which lets you |
| design options. Before we can do that, however, we | | | | create new sites by importing files from a folder on |
| have to get things set up. We are going to walk | | | | your P.C. or from an existing website. You can't use |
| through setting up SharePoint Designer with your | | | | this to move dynamic SharePoint components, |
| hosted SharePoint site and get into designing your | | | | though, so you can't import an existing SharePoint |
| dream. | | | | site. |
| The first thing we need to do is download SharePoint | | | | For this exercise, we are going to create a site from |
| Designer from here. You will have to register for the | | | | a template provided by SharePoint. |
| free download, and if you have a LiveID or Hotmail | | | | At the bottom of the dialog window, you will see a |
| account, you can use that for your registration. After | | | | place to specify the location of the site. All we have |
| we have the program, the next step is to install it. | | | | to do to interact with our hosted SharePoint site |
| You will find that this part is extremely easy. Even on | | | | with SharePoint Designer is put our new site's URL in |
| my Vista laptop, it was about a 3-click install using the | | | | that spot. Let's go ahead and do that, then make |
| default settings. | | | | sure that "SharePoint templates" is highlighted and |
| The first time you run SharePoint Designer you will | | | | click "OK". |
| be presented with options for online Help, system | | | | New Site Dialog Box |
| maintenance, and the Customer Experience | | | | Another dialog box will require your SharePoint login |
| Improvement program. Again, I chose the defaults, | | | | information. Enter your username and password and |
| leaving a checkmark in just "online Help." | | | | click "OK". The dialog box will populate with |
| Install Options | | | | SharePoint templates. The templates run from a blog |
| Then you get to choose if you want to use | | | | site to inventory tracking or knowledge base, but |
| Windows Update for this product. I highly | | | | today we are going to choose "Blank Site" and click |
| recommend that you keep your software up to | | | | "OK". |
| date. | | | | SharePoint designer will create all the basic files and |
| To get started with a new site and to hook up to | | | | folders for a basic ASP.NET site, and give you the |
| our hosted SharePoint, we are going to go to "File" | | | | directory. You have now created a blank ASP.NET |
| and select "new", and then "Web Site". On the dialog | | | | ready web site. Feel free to navigate to your new |
| that pops up, we have a choice of General or | | | | site in your favorite browser to check out your |
| SharePoint Templates to choose from. No doubt, you | | | | handiwork! |