Thursday, April 9, 2009

Configuring incoming/outgoing email for SharePoint/MOSS 2007

SharePoint 2007 allows for emails to be accepted into discussions, document libraries and lists. To enable this functionality, a few steps will need to be followed. One thing to note: integrating SharePoint with Exchange is NOT needed for this functionality, but if you do choose Exchange, you will get some added benefits.

-SMTP Service
You will need to install the SMTP Server Service on the SharePoint server. This is done via add/remove programs, and within the IIS component listing.

-Enable Incoming Email
Now, enable Incoming Email from the Central Administration website. It is found by following: Central Administration > Operations > Incoming Email Settings

-SMTP Connector
You will finally need to configure an SMTP connector within your email server so it knows where to send emails you designate for SharePoint.

Pre Requisites
· SMTP service to be installed

Enabling incoming/outgoing email for SharePoint/MOSS 2007 is done thru SharePoint Central Administration under Operations Section.

How-to configure incoming or outgoing e-mail in sharepoint video is available here

Pre-requisites are available here

Introduction to Excel Services in SharePoint and Components

Components of Excel Services in MOSS
Excel Services is a Microsoft Office SharePoint technology that makes it simple to use, share, secure, and manage Microsoft Office Excel 2007 workbooks as interactive reports in a consistent way throughout the enterprise.

We can also create custom connectable web parts to Excel OOB web parts for having custom functionality.

1. Excel Web Access
This allows the to display excel sheets on the web page. The Excel can be shown in sharePoint page as a web part.

2. Excel Web Services
Use SharePoint Excel API to manipulate excel sheet data. But these APIs are not used create an excel sheet dynamically.

3. Excel Calculation Services
Allows you to load excel sheets on the web page (as HTML) and render calculated data fro the User defined functions.

Limitations of Excel Services
  • Will not load excel files with VBA Low fidelity.
  • Charts in excel will have low fidelity.
  • Users cannot add or rearrange fields in pivot reports using web access.
  • No authoring support

To learn more about configuring excel services in Sharepoint Click here