Exploring Web Parts

A Web Part is a component-based application that serves as a modular building block for creating and maintaining SharePoint Web Part pages. Web Part applications can range from a simple view of static HTML to complex Web applications integrated with multiple back-end systems. Web Parts empower developers and information workers to manage their own SharePoint-enabled Web pages through the use of drag-and-drop functionality from a Web browser.

Web Parts are also the tools users employ to personalize SharePoint pages. Users can add Web Parts to Web Part pages and share them with other users. Like creating a mosaic by arranging colored tiles, you assemble a complete Web site using out-of-the-box SharePoint Web Parts. These tiles of information can show content local to the site, data from another system, and also content from other Web sites applied in the context of a project or organizational team.

You can develop your own custom Web Parts by using the Web Part framework in SharePoint. For more information, see the Microsoft Developer Network Web site at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms379628(vs.80).aspx.

Web Parts can connect to each other, send requests to other Web Parts, and share data. For example, one Web Part might provide filter criteria to another on the page to change the view of rendered data depending on the list item selected.

MOSS 2007 provides out-of-the-box (OOB) Web Parts in several categories that address common business scenarios.

The following are the OOB Web Part categories:

• Lists and Libraries: Provides views of lists and various types of content libraries

• Business Data: Provides views of information from the business data catalog

• Content Rollup: Aggregates multiple lists and libraries into one view

• Dashboard: Provides views of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Default: Provides integration points for other systems such as RSS

• Filters: Allows users to connect and filter data in other Web Parts

• Miscellaneous: A set of Web Parts that are generally used in many locations

• Outlook Web Access: Allows users to view their Outlook tasks, inbox, and calendar

• Search: Provides integration with SharePoint Search

• Site Directory: Provides a way to arrange sites in a site directory

Web Parts are designed for developer flexibility. The following components are the building blocks of a Web Part. These components are well documented and standardized so developers can optimize their work towards features instead of having to be concerned about deployments and server configurations.

Web Parts have four major building blocks.

• ASP.net Server control: Server Controls are compiled components that perform application logic on the server and then render HTML and script to the browser.

• Tool Pane (viewable in edit mode on the rendered Web Part page): Manages the Web Part’s properties and settings.

• DWP.dwp file (Web Part Definition file): .DWP files are XML files that contain metadata about a Web Part. A Web Part can be exported as a DWP file, imported to another site or portal, and then placed within a Web Part zone.

• Web Part file: A Web Part file is an XML file that describes the Web Part. The Web Part file also makes your Web Part appear in the Web Part Gallery.