Harnessing The Power of Microsoft SharePoint
by: Shannon Margolis
In simple words, Microsoft SharePoint is a product which lets users make their own custom versions of a Website. But in fact, when thoroughly examined the product proves to be very complex, and allows the creation of very sophisticated pages. It can also be integrated in the office 2003 packet.
SharePoint has evolved rapidly and gained many new features from which the most important is that it works on the .net framework.
Now windows SharePoint Services (WSS) comes together with the windows server 2003 license, so the server 2003 version of Windows can host Windows SharePoint Services-based websites.
SharePoint had many important characteristics and features which include but are not limited to useful extensions to the Office suite that include a large number of options, message boards with email and message notifications as well as calendar and event lists, content administration and customization are based on the browser, easy navigation, it can be used in many other purposes except its main one which is to be an intranet portal, users can easily add new text fields in the documents in the library.
Many people prefer SharePoint because, as previously said it can be easily customized and modified to fit web pages. It gives the ability too add or remove content through a series of Web Parts otherwise known as “boxes”. Simple yet brilliant. Other types of customization include the ability to modify the CSS sheets that contain the fonts, colors, and of other tags within the page.
Some users confuse Windows SharePoint Services with the Windows SharePoint Portal server 2003 which is a separate product that needs to be purchased separately from windows server 2003. The two products are not differentiated to well on the market however although the Windows SharePoint Services is much "lighter" version of SharePoint Portal server 2003.
If you plan on learning SharePoint you can find a free trial on the Windows Server 2003 website and also there is a lot of both free and available for purchase documentation on the Internet. After gaining experience with SharePoint Portal server you may discover that you can't live without its useful features.
Overall the SharePoint Products are great and many users are looking forward to the future developments which will bring the release of SharePoint Portal Server 2007 which is expected to be very a 'powerful' intranet tool.
To learn more on Microsoft SharePoint please visit
http://www.unitekconsulting.com/sharepoint_portal_server/.
About The Author
Shannon Margolis
IT Marketing Coordinator
www.unitekconsulting.comView their website at:
http://www.unitekconsulting.com
