6 Best Out of the Box SharePoint Features

The following are the six best out of the box SharePoint features:

Alerts - allow one to set up notifications when changes are made to a document or list.

Checkouts - allow one to check out a document so that no one else can edit it while it's being worked on.

Views - allow one to create custom views of documents and lists in order to help one find the information needed more easily.

Full-text indexing - offers full-text indexing of any Office based documents, allowing one to search for content within documents.

People Search - allows one to find people within the organization.

Indexing outside of SharePoint - ability to index information outside of SharePoint, such as file shares or other application-based content sources.

SharePoint Testing

SharePoint testing is an invaluable way to ensure quality as far as content, taxonomy, navigation, workflows, and the right level of security.

Key and core aspects to define are:

• the purpose of the testing 
• who is doing the testing
• where they are testing
• what they are testing as far as

1. relevant sites
2. pages
3. links 
4. application links
5. documents
6. permissions
7. policies and data protection requirements

Testing should include creating, reading, updating and deleting (CRUD) each aspect as desired.

Finally, using a simple SharePoint list to track issues found in testing is helpful and a good use of the technology.

SharePoint - Content Editor Web Part

The following is a SharePoint dictionary word of the day:

Content editor web part

The basic common area in SharePoint where textual content can be entered and edited.

SharePoint - Common Data Service

The following is a SharePoint word of the day:

Common data service

Now called Dataverse. Data service and app platform which lets users store and manage data from multiple sources and integrate that data in business applications using a common data model.

6 Best Programming Traits for a Technical SharePoint Architect

The following are six core and key programming traits for a SharePoint architect: 

PowerShell – script automations as well as ad-hoc aspects based on SharePoint logical architecture elements.

JavaScript – script aspect in order to use XML and JavaScript to render dynamic content.

SQL Server – know SQL queries as well as database architecture needed for SharePoint based support.

Web Services – knowledge of web services both from a fundamental and core connection-based standpoint is an important trait for a SharePoint architect.

CSS – knowledge of CSS is an important trait in order to display customized content experiences.

Infrastructure – knowledge of infrastructure is important in order to know what from a technical architecture standpoint is needed.

6 Best Traits for a Technical SharePoint Architect

The following are six core and key traits for a technical SharePoint architect:

Excellent communication skills – have good listening skills as well as understanding and explaining key concepts to both managers and technical resources.

Good anticipation and problem-solving skills – be able to anticipate where problems might be and find solutions before the system is changed or deployed to.

Adaptability – be flexible as the requirements may seem clear at first but will change often.

Passion – has the long hours, stress, uncertainty. This is the toll for being an architect.

Creativity – have the ability for creative solutions via subtle and careful listening to meet the clients' needs.

Teamwork – to produce the best, one needs input from many subject matter experts.

SharePoint - Collaborative Application Markup Language (CAML)

The following is a SharePoint dictionary word of the day:

Collaborative Application Markup Language (CAML)

An XML-based language that is utilized to describe various elements, such as queries and views, in sites that are based on the Microsoft SharePoint technology base.