This is my first question, so forgive me if it has been asked before.
I have a lot of diagrams that I created with Microsoft Visio 2007, and would like to share them with other developers. What would be the easiest way to do that? By sharing I mean being able to view the diagram, ideally without having Visio 2007 installed, and making change requests.
Can I do this with Sharepoint? Can I use the SVG export?
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
There is a visio plugin for internet explorer which users can install, that's probably your best solution. To avoid users having to install it you would have to export the files in some image format. You can then dump the files in a SharePoint repository; in a shared folder on your network or upload them to a website.
Visio has some good export options available...You can create an HTML/Javascript export, though I've traditionally just exported GIF files (which is a nice fast export if you're automating a batch export), and the text stays readable (compared to jpeg) with relatively small file sizes (compared to bmp).
Though if speed/ease of use/automate-ability is not much of an issue I like to just use PDF.
You can also export your visio model as an xmi file and open it with other (free) UML tools as ArgoUML (but first, you need to transform the xmi file, e.g. using this free service http://modeling-languages.com/content/xmi2-tool-exchanging-uml-models-among-case-tools, since the XMI standard is not as standard as it should be)
This way, others cannot only visualize the file but also modify it. Caveat: the graphical layout organization of your model will be lost, only the information about the content is stored in the file
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Sort of a new area for me, but the project I'm working on involves a lot of .xhtml files that include JSF and Javascript (lots of <ui:include>s). I'm hoping to find an eclipse plugin or other piece of software that will allow me to view and navigate through these files in a flowchart/UML-like diagram.
Searches have turned up lots of plugins, but it isn't very clear if they'll do what I'm looking for. So far the ones I've tried have not. Thanks for any information!
You can represent your files in UML using standard UML deployment elements and diagrams. You can define files as artifacts with specific file extension and use deployment relationship to depict to which nodes are your files deployed. Nodes could be executable environments like web server, object container etc. You can create informative network with precise navigation this way. If you also need to define structure of XML or HTML tags, try to find special UML Profile rather than plugin. (for example UML profile for XML, UML Profile for HTML etc.)
I need to make a lot of modifications in MS CRM customization. Some of these customizations could be made in web-interface, dome of them need to be hacked in plain customization XML file.
Even more, I'm not the one who is making changes: so I will be required to merge these changes done by one person in web-interface and by another one in plane XML. But MS CRM automatically produces quite big and fairly readable customization file where it's impossible to understand which changes belongs to what.
Is there any tool to make this editing a bit easier? Maybe someone faced with such an issue already and have their own solution for that? Maybe converting to YAML or JSON, editing and then converting back?
Any best practices?
Actually, there is an answer. Right from Microsoft itself:
Use the SolutionPackager Tool to Compress and Extract a Solution File
This tool provided as part of standard MS Dynamics CRM SDK and enables developer to split customization files on pieces and then combine it back again.
But, frankly speaking, on MS Dynamics CRM 2011 Rollup 10 SDK it's broken: in some cases it is unable to split solutions and is unable to combine them back in all cases.
Well wont everyone be loading their customisations into CRM to test them? In that case you can let CRM merge the changes and you can just take an export.
If they are working in separate environments then use CRM solutions to import the customisations into a single environment.
I would like to use Visio to mockup a few ASP.NET interfaces that I can share with a client. I know I can create these using Visual Studio, but I would rather use a graphics tool if possible.
I have Visio 2007 that came with MS Office and I do not have any software or database templates. Does anyone know where I can find templates/stencils/shapes I can use for this?
If there are any other tools that I can use I'm open to that too. I'm leaning towards Visio because I already have it and know how to use it.
Thanks!
You can pull the parts from this PowerPoint template set: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20071018/powerpoint-prototype-toolkit-01/ and use them in Visio.
Visio 2010 comes with a really nice set of wireframe shapes, but you have to buy the Pro or Premium versions, as Standard doesn't come with them.
Previous versions of Visio had some Windows UI shapes, but I'm not sure which editions included them. They are usually located in the "Software" stencils sub-directory.
I've also got a smattering of downloads on my site that might augment your UI collection. Have a look here:
http://www.visguy.com/category/visio-content/shapes/wireframes-ia/
Is There an easier way to have pictures on the sharepoint site? I only one way to do this but I want to find another way if its faster and easier for users to use.
I suggest looking into Telerik's FREE Radeditor for MOSS.
P.S. Belongs on superuser.
I would not use this in all cases as it depends on user permissions, how much you trust your users, and if your users are internal and have access to your network.
But, with that said...
The fastest, easiest way I know how to load pictures into a Picture Library is to go to the Library, select Actions > Open with Windows Explorer, and drag images into Windows Explorer, which populates the Library.
It depends on where you want to be fast.
If you want to be fast in uploading all the files, upload them using the explorer view into your picture library.
If you want to be fast in editing content, then there really is only one option : use SharePoint 2010 as adding pictures has become as easy as adding pictures in a Word document. Insert picture, specify which file of the filesystem you want and select a picture library in which the picture will be automatically uploaded.
I need to work with several teams and need to be able to share requirements and design documents. Most people won't be too technical, so I want to avoid source code tools. The main requirements are:
Easy sharing via links. I don't want people to have to install multple tools just to see a file or learn anything about svn checkout.
Permissions - I want to allow view only access to most people, with some having add/edit permissions. I don't want anyone to be able to permanently delete anything.
Revision History - I want to see who has added and edited files and be able to revert to previous versions.
I've tried Dropbox and SkyDrive, but they each have faults. Dropbox allows users to permanently delete files, and it will even delete the file from your local machine when it is synced. SkyDrive doesn't allow enough fine grained permissions or revision history. Do I need a CMS system like Drupal]? Would Sharepoint be the proper tool? I don't necessarily need an open source solution. The easier it is to set up and administer, the better.
Just my personal bias, but I hate Sharepoint. (I see this Q is tagged Sharepoint)
I much prefer some sort of Wiki, and have had good experience with TWIKI. It certainly meets the three basic requirements.
AFAIK Dropbox never deletes files "permanently" but you can undo it via the web interface. If I remember correctly you also can restore old versions of files but I cannot try it right now.
Adobe Buzzword might do most of what you are looking for.
If you do not need online document creation, a traditional CMS is not really what you are after. Drupal could serve your purposes, but it would not be straightforward- afterall, file attachments are second class citizens for a web content system.
Alfresco is a system I've heard used as a competitor for Sharepoint and useful for managing documents.