SBS - SharePoint v3 Application Templates and more

We are in the process of preparing a new client site with an SBS install that will have Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) v3 installed beside the default SBS WSS v2 installation.

We will be following these guidelines: SBS - Installing SharePoint Services 3 on SBS (previous blog post).

Also, there are 40 new application templates available for WSS v3 that give us the ability to customize WSS v3 sites for our clients. They are available here: Application Templates for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

For a quick description of the new templates and their features: Descriptions of Application Templates for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

The primary goal for the WSS v3 site in this case is to replace a huge part of the clunky binder system that is being used for company process manuals with a Wiki site. The binders are very much out of date, and in many instances the contents are no longer applicable.

We will facilitate the user's understanding of the wiki site and its use with a couple of half day training sessions. One to train them in the use of the site, and the second to follow up and run through some of the finer aspects of updating and maintaining the site.

The goal is to get everyone involved in the upkeep of the wiki based manual, especially the people who do the tasks described therein.

In the long run, this will facilitate the accuracy of the contents and provide a simpler employee transition process as knowledge will no longer be lost when an employee leaves.

For us, Windows SharePoint Services provides an excellent avenue for providing value added services. When clients see the various possibilities to improve their business processes with WSS based Web sites, they see the long term value of having them setup.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

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