The no-code development story for Power Users in Office 365 and
SharePoint 2013
Asif Rehmani
SharePoint MVP and MCT
VisualSP.com
Download my presentations at:http://bit.ly/asifconference
Agenda
2 minutes intro about me and our company
The importance of going no-code
Examples of a few no-code solutions
Lessons learned
Please Help me understand who You are
About me - Asif Rehmani
TrainerFounder and CEOVisualSPChicago, USA
Contact
Author
Trainer and ConsultantSharePoint MVP, MCTConference Speaker
About our company - VisualSPTwo Solutions
Help System Training Center
Help users when They need it most
Help items for current page and context
List of in-context Help ItemsHelp Tab
VisualSP Help SystemIn-context support through Help tab
SharePoint topics covered
End User SharePoint Site Administration
InfoPath SharePoint Designer
Workflows Branding
Project management Metadata Management
Access and Access Services Records Management
Business Connectivity Services Search
Reporting JavaScript customizations
• Hundreds of SharePoint video tutorials
• Fully narrated by SharePoint experts
VisualSP Training Center
Come visit us at our booth
Giveaways for today’s session
1 Year access to
* Retail value: $199.50
Target audience for this session:
Intranet/Web Content ManagerPortal Solutions ManagerSharePoint Guy/GalSharePoint Guru
Session level:
250 – Intermediate
Session focus
Powerful no-code solutions on the SharePoint platform
What can SharePoint do?
Collaboration
Document management
Internal Social Network
Forms
Process Automation (Workflows)
Business Intelligence
Reporting
Search
Metadata Management
…
Super secret
The next version will even make coffee!
Creating Solutions
Recommended sequence when creating your solutions:
1. Browser based only
2. Use no-code tools
3. Use code tools
OR
3rd party products
“Let’s not write code until we have to write code.”
Power User’s motto:
Let’s look at an example…
Search based solutions
Demo: Search Web Parts
Show pre-configured data on pages using Search web parts
Live pre-defined search results on web pages
Ability for users to refine the results as needed
How do we define ‘no-code’ ?
YesBrowser
Office applications
Desktop application built for SharePoint and related technologies
Scripting technologies (*debatable…)
NoVisual Studio
Managed code
Why go ‘no-code’?
Possibilities of what you can do are Enormous!
Quick learning curve
Easier ongoing management of solution
Delegate responsibility easily
Guess who’s making a comeback..?
Microsoft Access
Access Web Apps
Using Access 2013 to simplify web developmentAccess 2013 –
Used to create the interface of the app
SharePoint 2013 / Office 365 –
Used to host the front end of the app
SQL Server 2012 –
Used as the backend data storage technology for the app
Time for another demo
Demo: Access Web App
Create web applications using Access
Build Access web apps and launch to SharePoint Online
In case you need it..Ability to disable Access apps at the tenant level
SharePoint admin center Settings
Implement Quick Wins
Identify real pain points and focus in on them
CustomizeSharePoint
Out-of-the-Box(sites, docs, lists, social)
SharePointComposites
(Access App, BI,Workflow, BCS)
DeclarativeCapabilities
(Doc Sets, Records, Search)
Managed Code(Apps, CSOM,
Reusable components)
The customization continuum
Process Automation
No-code Workflows
32
Workflow tools
Browser
SharePoint Designer 2013
Visio 2013
Visual Studio 2012/2013
33
SharePoint 2013 - Workflow Manager 1.0
SharePoint 2013 workflow processing moved to Workflow Manager (WM)
Workflow no longer runs in the SharePoint content farm / servers
SharePoint farm & Workflow Manager farm can be on same / different servers
The ‘New Stuff’Stages• New base level concept of
stages
Visual Designer• Direct Visio incorporation• Stage-Level Diagrams
New Task Actions• Quick and easy to create
tasks and approval processes
Web Services• Able to call into Rest/HTTP
web services
Loops!• Able now to loop indirectly
with stages or directly with the new Loop actions
Copy/Cut and Paste• Core copy/cut and paste
abilities now introduced
35
2010 and 2013 style workflowsSharePoint Designer
2010
2013
Are there any differences..?
New Workflow Activities & Actions
New Actions & ActivitiesMicrosoft Project Specific
Actions
Assign a Task Get Property from [Dictionary/DynamicValue]
Create a Project from Current Item
Start a Task Process Count Items in [Dictionary/DynamicValue]
Set the current project stage status to this value
Go to This Stage Trim String Set the status field in the idea list item to this value
Call HTTP Web Service Find Substring in String Wait for Project Event
Start a List Workflow Replace Substring in String Set this field in the project to this value
Start a Site Workflow Translate Document
Build [Dictionary/DynamicValue] Set Workflow Status
Demo: SharePoint Designer 2013 Workflows
Examples of no-code solutions
Human Resource portals
Self-service reporting, financial dashboards
Expense reporting
Review and approve document workflows
New-hire orientation sites
Ideation, feedback, & “suggestion boxes”
Structured documents: contracts, RFPs, & invoices
And now.. The story of InfoPath
Library form Custom SharePoint list form
InfoPath 2010 & 2013
Forms update (from Microsoft)FoSLCanceled / DelayedIndefinitely
FoSL – Forms on SharePoint Lists Canceled / DelayedIndefinitely
Even more ideas for no-code solutions…
Location Mapping
Use Geolocation column for live mapping
Show maps directly within lists and libraries
Dynamic Dashboards
PowerView to visualize data
© DEVintersection. All rights reserved.http://www.DEVintersection.com 48
More DashboardsPerformancePoint Dashboard Designer
© DEVintersection. All rights reserved.http://www.DEVintersection.com 49
And more Dashboards
SQL Server PowerPivot
Project ManagementUtilize Project Server to
manage projects
SharePoint Composites Showcasecreated by Mark Gillis from Microsoft
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dn594430
How do I practice my ideas and concepts?
Watch free videos at:
http://visualsp.com/video-categories/all-free-videos/
Get a sandbox environment for practicing:
Build your own dev VM
Or
Try the templates available at CloudShare –http://www.cloudshare.com
Or
Office 365 Trial 52
Call to Action
Download my presentations at:
http://bit.ly/asifconference
Watch video tutorials at:
VisualSP.com
Thank You!
@asifrehmani