SharePoint Gets Its First Service Pack!

Probably the most talked about Service Pack in history is on the horizon, maybe as soon as this week: SP1 for WSS 3.0 and SharePoint (MOSS) Server 2007.

It's what SharePoint Server 2007 and SharePoint Services 3.0 administrators, architects and developers have been anxiously anticipating. And it's jam-packed with goodies.

Well okay, not jam-packed…

HotFixes Galore!

“Jam-packed” may not quite be the term for the contents of this inaugural SharePoint service pack. Unless you're referring to the over 60 hotfixes included, covering issues related to workflows, alerts, and list views. They don't list them all, but the official SharePoint blog provides a preview of SP1, along with a list of about 14 most popular requested or support related fixes.

These include fixes for the following (among others):

• timer job delays resulting from DST
• inherit permissions causing permission losses
• inability to open WSS alerts in Outlook 2007 in cache mode
• edit document crashes with multiple versions of office installed

What service pack of Microsoft's doesn't come with a mountain of hotfixes? The day this ceases to happen may be the day I stop working with their technologies because they won't be as painfully fun to work with.

Support for Windows Server 2008

With the addition of this service pack, SharePoint will now be able to run on Windows Server 2008 (from RC1 and up). And the new slipstream download version of WSS3.0 will already have SP1 included stock.

Great news for developer junkies who want to try out the newest version of Windows Server. But personally, just seeing that newfangled login screen made me nervous. Is the game changing on me?

ASP.Net for AJAX Compatibility

To satisfy the trials and tribulations of those who want to develop AJAX web parts, fear not — your day is fast approaching.

Developers will be able to use the AJAX 1.0 Control kit for ASP.Net or the AJAZ 1.0 Extensions for ASP.Net to create Webparts for asynchronous post back. Finally you can build custom webparts with AJAX.

New STSAdm Commands

Last but not least, for the SharePoint Administrator in you (the one that thrives on the command line), a few new STSAdm commands:

• mergecontentdbs - not a brand new command, but now easily available in SP1 for merging and partitioning content databases.
• renamesite - don't like the name you gave the host for your site collection? Well now you can rename it.
• a whole bunch oh People Picker commands - for managing permissions to scope to an AD

What's Not in this SP?

Is everyone really excited about this Service Pack? The answer is yes, at least if you consider the amount of blogging revolving around one post on the official SharePoint Products blog.

SharePoint Gets Its First Service Pack!

\n\nProbably the most talked about Service Pack in history is on the horizon, maybe as soon as this week: SP1 for WSS 3.0 and SharePoint (MOSS) Server 2007. \n\nIt's what SharePoint Server 2007 and SharePoint Services 3.0 administrators, architects and developers have been anxiously anticipating. And it's jam-packed with goodies. \n\nWell okay, not jam-packed...

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