SharePoint Portal Server 2001 – Dashboard

Introduction

The Dashboard is to SharePoint Portal Server what Mission Control is to NASA.  From the user’s perspective the dashboard is like a superior home page in their internet explorer.

Here is how the dashboard is constructed, ‘under the bonnet’ is the SharePoint website, on the surface is the Digital Dashboard front end.  There are two other important components, the Dashboard Factory that renders the dashboard and the web components like Search.  These web parts can be customised and created using reusable components like XML or other compatible scripts.

Using the Dashboard Site

• Read and publish documents – Document Library
• Search for content
• Browse through Categories
• Subscribe to services
• Manage the workspace (Administrators only!)

Each function has its own configurable component.

Read and publish documents – Document Library

The document library is the heart of SharePoint’s data management.  This is here where Author’s publish, and users Search and read their documents. The trick is to select the Documents sub folder before you try to Add Document.  Provided you are a Coordinator, you can add sub folders or rename existing document folders.
The best way to read the actual document is to use Office XP.  Word XP prompts you to Check Out the document.  Do remember the Publish check box (see diagram) if your intention is to allow colleagues to see the document.

Search for Content

You have three options for finding document in your SharePoint dashboard:

1. Browsing through the Document Folders

2. Browsing through the Categories

3. Searching with either the simple or advanced settings

For the user to make fruitful searches a coordinator or author need to enter the relevant data in the document’s keywords and category fields.  ‘Best Bets’ is a useful feature, and once again its tricky to setup.  The coordinator must use the Web Folder View, Document Properties, Search and Categories to configure the settings.  I must say that when Search is set up properly, the results are impressive.

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