16 July, 2013

Unexpected error while creating a Business Intelligence Center site - SharePoint 2010

Hello Guys,

Today I am going to share one more interesting issue and troubleshooting steps so that it would be helpful to all of you.

Present environment entities:
-SharePoint server 2010
-SQL Server 2008 R2
-Windows 7 Operating system
-Internet Explorer 7



Problem description: We are trying to use the performance point in SharePoint so one of the basic need is to create a site with BI template i.e. business intelligence

-We opened our site collection
-site actions
-site settings
-site administration
-sites and workspaces
-provided site name, entered the appropriate URL, selected the required template i.e. business intelligence template and clicked OK
-as soon as we clicked OK then we got the following error message

Error Message:
An Unexpected error has occurred
Correlation ID
Date and time

Troubleshooting Done:
-Tried creating different site using different template under the same site collection- it works
-so one thing is sure that problem is with creating a BI template site.
-checked numerous site collection features
-activated performance point services at the site collection level
-checked the SharePoint logs and found the following:

Publishing Feature activation failed. Exception: System.InvalidOperationException: The SharePoint Server Publishing Infrastructure feature must be activated at the site collection level before the Publishing feature can be activated.    

From the above, it’s very clear that what needs to be done to make it working.

Resolution:
Activated Publishing infrastructure at the site collection level

-site actions
-site settings
-site collection administration
-site collection features
-activated Publishing infrastructure feature


Please let me know in case of any queries/questions so that we can discuss and proceed towards the resolution, Thank you.

08 July, 2013

There was an error retrieving data from a datasource + An entry has been added to the Windows event log of the server + Event ID-7893

Problem Description:
I have a browser enabled InfoPath form loading in a Form web Part in a webpart page with another connecting web part. When users try to open the form they get:
"An error occurred querying a data source"

Sympton-1: Occasional error when opening an InfoPath form

Sympton-2: InfoPath timeout random error first time form is loaded

Sympton-3: An error occurred querying a data source

Sympton-4: There was an error retrieving data from a datasource.
Click OK if you want to resume filling in the form.  Possibly you might want to check the form for errors.

Sympton-5: There was an error retrieving data from a datasource. An entry has been added to the Windows event log of the server.
Log ID: 7893

Troubleshooting:
Best suggestion / recommended one is check the SharePoint ULS logs and find out the exact root cause behind this error message. I also did the same and found out that it is happening because of data connection time outs.

Resolution:
The Maximum data connection timeout value you modified is used to override all data connection time out values that specified within form template code. If you are not specified the time out value within form template code, please increase the default data connection timeout in Central Administration.

-Central Administration
-General Application Settings
-Configure InfoPath Forms Services
-Increase the time out value and try again.

If you have any queries/questions based on the above mentioned information then please let me know. I would be more than happy to help you as well as resolves your issues, thank you.

Product Applies To:
-SharePoint Server 2010
-SharePoint foundation 2010

References:

Cannot connect to PerformancePoint Services in SharePoint 2010




Today I am going share some troubleshooting that we have performed with respect to Performance Point Service. In this article, I will try to explain on
-Performance point Service (PPS) service application (SA)
-their associations, proxy SA
-services required
-dependent services

What is Performance point Service (PPS)?
Dashboards are a fundamental component of any performance management solution, and SharePoint 2010 Performance Point Services provides a rich set of tools and services for building highly interactive dashboard experiences that can help organizations of all sizes monitor and analyze their performance.

Problem Description:
After dashboard designer is opened, I try to define a new data source by right clicking on data connections. After I chose excel services, the error message is displayed.

Error Message:
Cannot connect to PerformancePoint Services. Contact the administrator for more details.

Recommended:
I am definitely going to share my troubleshooting steps, but what i can suggest is- if you face the same error message then please check the SharePoint ULS logs for better clarity.

Troubleshooting steps:
-use firebug to analyse the traffic
-check sharepoint logs to target the exact root cause
-check the service applications and their associations i.e. proxy Sa
-make sure that the PerformancePoint Service is turned on
-make sure that the secure store service is turned on
-make sure that secure store service has been properly configured in your farm.

Resolution steps:
1-When I checked the secure store service in my farm then i came to know that it was not 100% configured. Next question definitely comes into picture as what is meant by not configured.

Please follow these steps and make sure it is properly configured:
-Central Administration
-Application management
-service applications
-secure store service
-manage
-generate a new key
-enter the passphrase
-make sure the secure store service is turned on
-unattended service account is an optional step, if you wanna configure it then you can proceed ahead.

2-make sure the performance service is turned on.
Note: make sure that performance service application is already created and in started mode.
Please follow these steps:
-Central Administration
-Application management
-manage services on server
-performance point service
-status should be in STARTED mode.

Reference:  if you want to configure performance point service application in your farm then please refer the following link for detail description:

3-make sure that performance point service application is properly associated with the web application.

Please follow these steps if it’s not there:
Go to Central Admin > Application Management > Configure service application associations > click default.

You should see that PerformancePoint Services will be unchecked. Check that box and you should be good to go.

You can cross check whether the PerformancePoint service application is properly configured by accessing PPS sites, Dashboard designer and other PPS first class objects in Business Intelligence Center Site. Before that, ensure to activate the PPS feature in Site Settings > Site collection features.


If you have any queries/questions with respect to the above mentioned information then please let me know. I would be more than happy to help you as well as resolves your issues. Thank you. 

04 July, 2013

SharePoint master page css styles not showing for users other than site administrator- SharePoint 2010

Today I face one tricky problem in SharePoint 2010.
When I login through site administrator then CSS which I apply on master page work fine,
But when I login through other users CSS effects are not visible on master page.


Error Message:

SharePoint master page css styles not showing for users other than site administrator.


Problem Description:

        This usually happens when the CSS file or master page is not published or approved yet or it may be Check-In.

  •  After system administrator login, Menu Bar from Master page look like this.





  •  After normal user login, Menu Bar from Master page look like this.
  •  Here CSS is not apply.



Resolution:

To Approve Master page Follow below steps:

1.             Open the SharePoint Designer using System Administrator Account.



2.             From Site Object select Master Page

3.             Select your default Master page. (E.g. V4.master)



4.             On “Site Page Gallery”, see “View” section and that click on “Approve/reject. Items” view.



5.             You will see the view is “Group By” by “Approval Status. (E.g. Draft, Approved) 
        Basically Approval Status is divided into 4 different status like Draft, Pending, Approved,Reject


6.             Then Search your default Master page in Draft section select it and send for Approval.




7.             Refresh your page, your default Master page will shown in Pending status section, Select and Approve it.




8.             Finally default master page get approved by System Administrator,
          means it get publish for all user on site.




Product Applies To:         SharePoint Server 2010
Feel free to revert in-case of any query... 

02 July, 2013

Awarded Microsoft MVP for the 4th year in a row!

For the past three years, July 1st has a special meaning to me, and it’s always a day that starts full of expectations and anxiety, which lasts until the moment of receiving the so expected e-mail from Microsoft.

Fortunately, today I was once again awarded by Microsoft with the “Most Valuable Professional” award, now for the fourth time in a row in the SHAREPOINT SERVER category.

Below is an excerpt of the well known message I received a few hours ago, together with more details about the MVP award:

"Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2013 Microsoft MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in SharePoint Server technical communities during the past year"

I’m truly humbled by this award; grateful to Microsoft and to everyone that have been supporting me in my professional and personal growth. THANK YOU!