SharePoint 2010 - The search request was unable to connect to the Search Service

I came across this error message when searching my SharePoint Foundation Site. I had already configured the Search and it is working so this message caught me off guard. Luckily I was able to find a quick solution for it before my demo that afternoon. 

To resolve this issue go to Central Admin. Under Application Management, click on Manage Web Applications, then click on Service Connections in the Manage section of the Ribbon. 

 

You may notice that it opens with the [default] settings that are all selected.

 

Click on the list and select the configuration you need to update. In this case it's the [custom] configuration.
Then simply click on the Search Service Application check box and click OK.

That's all there is to it, so hopefully this post will help someone else out there.

Thanks
Dave

Outlook 2003 Calendar Reminder Fix

I had some issues with my Outlook 2003 Calendar at the office and had to create a new Calendar and remove the original one. I then discovered that the Reminders stopped working so this is what I did to correct that issue.

  1. Archive the Calendar using today's data as the 'older than' criteria, using File->Archive
  2. Shutown Outlook via File->Exit.
  3. Run the following Commad via Start->Run. outlook /CleanReminders.
  4. Shutown Outlook via File->Exit.
  5. Run the following Commad via Start->Run. outlook /ResetFolders.
  6. Done! The reminders sprung back to life.

Enjoy! I hope was helpful for someone out there!

Error Crawling SSL Enabled Web Application in SharePoint 2010

While crawling SSL enabled web applications in SharePoint 2010, it may fail giving the following error.

Error message: An unrecognized HTTP status was received. Check that the address can be accessed using Internet Explorer. (WebExceptionStatus TrustFailure The underlying connection was closed: Could not establish trust relationship for the SSL/TLS secure channel.

This happens mostly when we implement self signed certs or certs from untrusted authorities in the web servers. In order to avoid the error message and to successfully crawl contents, make the following changes in farm level search settings in Central Administration.

  1. Go to Application Management > Search Service Application Settings > Farm Search Administration
  2. Change the setting “Ignore SSL warnings” from No to Yes.

Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express

Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express


Microsoft SQL server 2008 Management Studio Express offers management tools for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express, Express with Advanced Services and Compact editions. If your database is hosted on an SQL 2005 Express server, install Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express. SQL server 2008 Management Studio Express runs on Windows 7, Windows Vista service pack 1 and Windows XP service packs 2 and 3, Windows server 2003 service pack 2, Windows server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

This article includes instructions for installing all of the necessary prerequisites. Each installation will be different depending upon the operating system, patch level and previous software installations on the computer. You must log in to the computer with administrative rights to install software.

Install Windows Installer

  1. Download the appropriate installation file for your version of Microsoft Windows from the Microsoft Download Center.
  2. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=8483 is the 4.5 Installer for SQL 2008 Studio!
  3. Open the Windows installer file.
  4. Click “Next” when presented with the “Software Update Installation Wizard.”
  5. Select the option beside “I agree” to answer the licensing agreement query.
  6. Click the “Next” button.
  7. Press “Finish.”

Install the .NET Framework

  1. Download the current version of the .NET Framework for your operating system from the Microsoft Download Center.
  2. Open the .NET Framework installation file.
  3. Select the option button for “I have read and accept the terms of license agreement” to agree to the licensing terms.
  4. Press “Install.”
  5. Click “Exit” when the message that the setup has completed appears.

Install Windows PowerShell

  1. Download Windows PowerShell for Windows XP or for Windows 2003 Server from Microsoft's download center.
  2. Execute the Windows PowerShell setup file.
  3. Click “Next” in the Software Update Installation” window.
  4. Select “I Agree” to accept the licensing agreement. Click “Next.”
  5. Press “Finish” when the installation has completed successfully.

Install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio

  1. Download Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express from the Microsoft Download Center.
  2. Double-click the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express executable file.
  3. Choose “Installation” in the SQL Server Installation Center window.
  4. Click on the link to “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation.”
  5. Check for warnings and errors in the “Setup Support Rules” pane.
  6. Resolve any failures before clicking the “OK” button.
  7. Click “Install.”
  8. Check for warnings and errors in the “Setup Support Rules” pane.
  9. Resolve any failures before clicking the “Next” button.
  10. Select “Perform a new installation of SQL Server 2008.” Click “Next” and “Next.”
  11. Check the box beside “I accept the license terms.” Click “Next.”
  12. Check the box beside “Management Tools – Basic” beneath the shared features.
  13. Click “Next” and “Next.”
  14. Accept the defaults in the “Error and Usage Reporting” screen and click “Next.”
  15. Select the “Next” button and click “Install.”
  16. Click “Next” and “Close” when you see the message that the setup process is complete.

Microsoft SQL 2008 Server Management Studio Express simplifies management of SQL 2008 Server Express and Compact editions. Authorized users and administrators can run scripts, create tables, assign rights, schedule backups, replicate, shrink and restore databases from the Object Explorer window. While a long process, installation of the prerequisites and the software will save you time and effort when administering your SQL databases.


Copyright from Maria Montoya’s suite 101 site: Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express | Suite101.com

MSAccess (2003) SQL Trace (TraceSQLMode)

If you want to switch on the Trace log for MSAccess linked tables to SQL Server then set the following registry key to 1. If you can't see the key then create a new REG_DWORD key and set the value to 1. The log file will be called sqlout.txt and it will be produced in the Default database folder as indicated in MSAccess Tools->Options->General->Default database folder.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\Engines\ODBC] TraceSQLMode

Hope this helps! Also don't forget to switch it off when you don't need it.

Install-SPSolution: Admin SVC must be running in order to create deployment timer job

When I was trying to deploy the SharePoint 2010 Web Part on a server using PowerShell, I got this error when I tried to run the Install -SPSolution command saying that:

Install-SPSolution: Admin SVC must be running in order to create deployment timer job

So all I needed to do was to go to the Services and look for the service called SharePoint 2010 Administration. It woill not be running so I switched it to Automatic and then started it. Then I was able to re-run my Installation script!

Access ADP Tables and Fields

This is how to list all Tables and Fields in an Access Database Project (ADP).

Option Compare Database
Option Explicit

Public Sub ListTablesAndFieldsADP()
    '---------------------------------------------------------------------
    'Reference is needed for: Microsoft ADO Ext. 2.x for DDL and Security
    '---------------------------------------------------------------------
    Dim cat As New ADOX.Catalog 
    Dim tbl As ADOX.Table       
    Dim col As ADOX.Column       
    Dim fs As Object
    Dim output As Object

    Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
    Set output = fs.CreateTextFile("c:\Tables_Views_And_Fields.txt", True)
    
    Set cat.ActiveConnection = CurrentProject.Connection
    
    For Each tbl In cat.Tables
        If Left(tbl.Type, 6) <> "SYSTEM" Then
            output.WriteLine tbl.Name & " (" & tbl.Type & ")"
            For Each col In tbl.Columns
                output.WriteLine "  " & col.Name
            Next
            output.WriteLine
        End If
    Next
    
    Set col = Nothing
    Set tbl = Nothing
    Set cat = Nothing
End Sub

MS Access Database Tables and Fields

This is how to list all LINKED Tables and Fields in an MS Access Database.
To list Local Tables, remove Len(tdfCurrent.Connect) > 0

Public Sub ListTablesAndFields()
    Dim fld As DAO.Field
    Dim tdfCurrent As DAO.TableDef
    Dim dbCurrent As DAO.Database
    
    Set dbCurrent = CurrentDb
    
    Dim fs As Object
    Dim output As Object
    Set fs = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
    Set output = fs.CreateTextFile("c:\Tables_Views_And_Fields.txt", True)
    
    For Each tdfCurrent In dbCurrent.TableDefs
        If Len(tdfCurrent.Connect) > 0 And Left(tdfCurrent.Name, 4) <> "~TMP" Then
            output.WriteLine tdfCurrent.Name
            For Each fld In tdfCurrent.Fields
                output.WriteLine "   " & fld.Name
            Next
            output.WriteLine
        End If
    Next
End Sub

IIS 7.x Timeout when Debugging in Visual Studio

If you are annoyed at the IIS timeouts when running .NET code via Visual Studio then you'll want you know how to fix that problem!

You can do 1 of 2 things.
* Go to the Application Pool for the Web Application you are working with. Select the Advanced Settings. Set the Ping Enabled property to False. This will allow you debugging to run forever.
* If you prefer to allow IIS to continue the monitoring process then change the Ping Maximum Response Timeout value to something larger than 90 seconds (default value).

 

FatalError: Backup failed for Object WSS4_Content failed in event OnBackup.

If you're getting this error when running backups via Central Admin in SharePoint 2010 then the most likely cause is that the SQL Server, where your Site Collections are, does not have access to the folder you are backing up to. Meaning, your Farm configuration is on multiple machines. Mine is on 2 machines. A Web Front End (where I run the backups from) and a SQL Server machine.

You probably configured the back-up to write to a lettered drive on the Web Front End. Don't worry, I did this too then I realized that it would be best to make a Shared Folder that has the correct permission so thet BOTH machines have access to write to the same location. Then it worked.