Monday 4 February 2008

Manage Solution Development Easier and Faster

When you develop a Solution in Visual Studio 2005 for WSS 3.0 / MOSS 2007, you need to build everything into a Solution package using MakeCab.exe
This is done by manually updating two files, Manifest.xml and the .ddf file. So whenever I need to add a new file to a feature, or a new assembly, or anything new I want deployed with the solution i need to manually edit and update the Manifest.xml and the .ddf file.
This can be time consuming !
Then I came across this on Code Plex - WSP Builder
http://www.codeplex.com/wspbuilder built by the Carsten Keutman
If you setup your Visual Studio Solution folder structure to match the '12 hive' then this baby will generate a new solution ID, the Manifest.xml for you as well as the .wsp !
No more manually creating the manifest.xml file.No more manually specifying the DDF file.No more using the makecab.exe application.
Therefore you do not need the knowledge of how to create a solution manifest.xml and wsp file any more.
http://www.keutmann.dk/sharepointblog/wspbuilder/wspdemo.jpg
http://www.keutmann.dk/sharepointblog/wspbuilder/wspbuilderconsole.jpg
http://www.keutmann.dk/sharepointblog/wspbuilder/buildresult.jpg

AND ....
Head over to ACs blog! He has just started a new 5-part series about saving even MORE time when working with features and solutions.
Part 1: Announcing AC's VS CodeRush/Refactor Tools for SharePoint Devs
Although you need to purchase CodeRush/Refactor first, but if it will save me time, and make MOSS 2007 Custom Development easier, then it's worth considering purchasing the awesome tools.

Save Time => Increase Productivity => Get More Work Done => =o)

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