Implementing workflows using MOSS 2007, Nintex Workflow 2007 and InfoPath Forms 2007

Overview

Lately I been busy building workflows using the Nintex Workflows 2007 on MOSS 2007 with InfoPath 2007 forms over Forms server. I have gone through my own share of learning and building some nice integrations. I have also come across several issues as they exist, some have answers some don’t. In the next several days I will be blogging on each of several of my thoughts over design, implementation and runtime related topics as below.  I will enable links as I get chance to post on each of these topics.

Topics

• Design
  • Implementing Multiple Documents Approval Workflow
  • Integrating SharePoint, Nintex and InfoPath
• Nintex
  • Best Practices for Nintex
  • Limitation of Nintex
  • What do I like about Nintex?
  • Integrating Nintex with InfoPath
  • Thinks that you will need to watch out while in Nintex Workflow Development.
  • Custom My Workflows web part for Nintex
  • Custom My Workflow Tasks web part for Nintex
  • Links in Nintex Workflow
  • Generating Custom Workflow ID
  • Updating InfoPath data from Nintex
  • Extracting File attachments from InfoPath submissions
  • Implementing Item security for other assets lists/libraries
  • Email links to InfoPath tries to open the form in Rich InfoPath Client as supposed to Browser based form.
• InfoPath
  • How to exceed InfoPath 5 expression barrier from Rules?
  • How to show InfoPath data for debugging with a trick?
  • How to improve Custom People picker speed?
  • Custom InfoPath footer with version/build information.
  • The quirks in InfoPath over Forms Server.
  • What not to do?
• SharePoint
  • Workflow timer frequency
  • Save conflict issue
  • How to secure Forms library
  • How to Assets List/Library
• Implementation
  • Deploying InfoPath Forms
  • Deploying Nintex Workflows
• Development
  • My Build Process
  • My Build Scripts
  • How to debug?

If you are interested in any of these topics please leave comment and I will blog on them.

Length of Server name in Windows Server and K2 BlackPoint Configuration

Overview

I had installed one my VM with Win 2008, gave a long name, bumped up with DC and added DNS,Web roles. Dropped SQL 2008 and MOSS 2007 all went well. When I tried to Install K2 BlackPerl, the Configuration Manager kept on failing to successfully configure.

Issue

Then I noticed that the error message that K2 BlackPerl Configuration Manager log that the server could not be found!!!!!

The log complained this against the SQL Server and Web Server .

Solution

Here is the name of my server from Machine Properties:

 

Here is the name of my Server:

The Name of SQL Server:

Notice that the Win2008DevBoxx64 (4 is missing from the Server name  in the Server Manager and SQL Server above)

Then I went back to K2 BlackPerl Configuration Manager, correct the name  (Win2008DevBoxx6) and deleted the extra character(s) at the end as seen in the SQL Server/Web Server, everything went well.

Reference

Then my research lead to this reference on TechNet:

Active Directory Maximum Limits – Scalability (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc756101(WS.10).aspx)

Under the section “Additional Name Length Limitations"

NetBIOS computer and domain names are limited to 15 characters.

Installing SPS 2010 Tips

Here I wanted to capture all issues or trick dealing with installation of SPS 2010. I will keep this updating as I find new issues/answers…

1. Single Server Install/Farm Mode install

Issue

For Single Server installation, you may choose Farm Install just to avoid SQL Express being installed. But the Farm Install mode restricts to having a domain account when you run Configuration wizard.

Solution

Once installation is complete, run SPS Powershell, run SP-NewConfigurationDatabase. This will accept the local account and create config db, and connected the server to Farm.

Next run the configuration wizard which will confirm that the server is connected to  a farm, now complete the creation of CA.

2. Single Server Install/SQL or SPS2010 first.

Issue

For stand alone (such as development) servers installations where you want to have SQL Server and SPS 2010 running on the same box, you may encounter following issue if you first install SPS 2010 and then try install SQL Server 2008.

An attempt was made to install (or update) SQL Server Native Client on a computer where SQL Server Native Client is already installed, and where the existing installation was from an MSI file that was not named sqlncli.msi.

Solution

Option 1: Simply uninstall “SQL Server Native Client” from the Uninstall Program option from Control Panel

Option 2: Given the choice or for your next single server installation try installing SQL Server 2008 first before SPS 2010.

3. An error occurred creating the configuration section handler for microsoft.identityModel:

Issue

You may receive an error while trying to first time install or create a new configuration database that is described as below:

Exception: System.Configuration.ConfigurationErrorsException: An error occurred creating the configuration section handler for microsoft.identityModel: Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.IdentityModel, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified. (C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\14\WebServices\Root\web.config line 4) ---> System.IO.FileNotFoundException: Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.IdentityModel, Version=1.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

Solution

There are two aspects to this issue:

1. Ensure proper install of Windows Identity Foundation:  Make sure you have uninstalled Microsoft “Geneva” Framework.  This code is now renamed as “Microsoft Identify Foundation”. Find appropriate download for your platform from (Give attention to Instructions above the Files in the Download) "http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=eb9c345f-e830-40b8-a5fe-ae7a864c4d76&displaylang=en#filelist.

2. Microsoft.IdentityModel Version in coded in the web.config is incorrect:  Lets look at the Version Number in the Error message:  “Microsoft.IdentityModel, Version=1.0.0.0”.  Next lets follow the Class name space as registerd under the GAC:

As you can see the actual Version number for the Microsoft.IdentiyModel is 3.5.0.0

Now lets follow the web.config entry as pointed by the Error Message.

Lets update this version number in the web.config pointed by the Error message to 3.5.0.0, save the web.config.

Now continue your configuration, this step has successfully worked for me, I hope this helps others battling thus error.

Bootable VHD in Windows 7 for Win 2008 R2 x64, SQL 2008, SPS 2010, VS2010, WF4

You can refer to my other post on this effort. Finally I was able to get a bootable VHD under Windows 7. I wanted to share what finally worked for me.

• With my base bootable image Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, only the Fixed VHD seems to work.
• The Fixed VHD must be on the local drive, meaning no external connected drives through USB, ESATA (Yes this is possible see my other post).
• So the above restriction put limit on my maximum size I could apply for my VHD (20GB)
• Here are some of my recordings of space requirements:

Software	Space Required
Windows 2008 R2 x64+IIS	6.7GB
VS.Net 2010 (C#,Web Dev, SPS Dev) Including all pre-requisites	3.3GB
SQL Server 2008	2GB
SPS 2010	2.3GB

• After all the components installed and ready to go with SPS CA created, I had only about 3.3 GB left.
• So I think if you are planning for this task, plan for your storage well in advance, I would say at least 25-40GB for the VHD if you can afford the space.
• When I created the VHD as fixed disk, the install and booting went well. Finally when everything started working, I felt that I been missing my productivity tools where were on my base Windows 7 install.
• So finally I am ended up going back to my VMware Workstation option, and here are couple of reasons.
• Microsoft VPC 2007 did not support x64 bit OS.
• VMWare Workstation 7 supported Windows 2008 x64 bit.

Bootable VHD in Windows 7 using Pre-Built Hyper-V VHD file

Overview

On my lap top currently I run Windows 7 x64  and MOSS 2007 and I am very happy with it (no more VPC, VMWare  or carry that heavy external Hard Drive). See Current Specs below.

I tried to install SPS 2010 on the same base install where I had MOSS 2007 already installed( see my other post before you try…)

This time I am trying to create new multi bootable  partition from a VHD that is attached on my base Windows 7 install.  While there are many good references to get started, I wanted to share my experience of how I got my build done.

My goal is to load create a new VHD where I can load all the next generation Beta products. This to include SPS 2010 Beta, VS2010 and all other supporting/necessary components.

Current Specs

Dell Latitude D630  (x64)
4GB RAM
Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
SQL Server 2008 SP1
VS.net 2008 SP1
MOSS 2007 SP2 Oct CU
Office 2010 Beta
SPD 2007

References

1. http://www.hanselman.com/blog/LessVirtualMoreMachineWindows7AndTheMagicOfBootToVHD.aspx
2. VHD-Extender toolkit
   1. http://vmtoolkit.com/blogs/announcements/archive/2007/01/17/vhd-expander-available.aspx

Solution

To start with I am repurposing Microsoft provided Windows 2008 R2 VHD pre built Hyper-V Virtual machine but has 180 day evaluation license, which is good enough at the movement  as SPS2010 and VS2010 are still in beta for at least next few months (3-6months).

• So I downloaded the image, extracted and repurposed only the base VHD file.
• The base VHD is only about 6.7GB.
• Next attached the VHD in Windows 7 and I was able to see the content of the drive.
• Following the bcdedit scripts I finished the dual bootable configuration.
• Upon booting, the boot failed with the green screen error message says that the size of the drive is too small.
• So next I utilized the VHD-Extender tool to extend the file, the version of the VHDExtender game an option extend only to minimum of 127GB. Which I did and this will be extended to a new file.

Steps

1. Download the Windows 2008 VHD (Reference link 2)
   1.  
2. Run the xxx-part01.exe and let the extract complete.
   1.  
   2. 

3. The extract process will create a folder structure, which is a pre configured Hyper-V virtual machine.

   1. 

4. From all of this all I am interested is the VHD file. So navigate to the following folder to find VHD file.

   1. 

   2. 

5. Extending the original 6.7GB VHD to 127GB file using the VHDExtender

   1. 

   2. 

6. Now from the Windows 7, from the Computer Manager, navigate to Storage>Disk Management, right click and choose Attach VHD
   1. 
   2. 
   3. 
   4. 
   5. 
   6. 
   7. 
7. Using BCDEdit, create new Boot entry
   1. 
8. Copy the new GUID  from above command
   1. 
9. Now follow next steps of BCDedit commands as below
   1. 
      
10. Validate the registration
    1. 
11. Reboot and choose the new Windows 2008 partition to boot.
    1. 

12. After choosing to boot from the new partition, I got below error with status code ”0xc000000e”
    1. 
13. Reboot with Windows 2008 R2 DVD
14. Choose Repair Windows
    1. 
15. Now notice that on the Windows 2008 partition, the drive size seems to be displayed as 0MB and the location is unknown.
    1. 
16. When I rebooted with the base Windows 7,  I noticed that the Attached VHD drive is no more in the list of drive under my storage management (Computer Management console).
17. Now I tried attaching the drive and trying to reboot, it seems that the VHD from the Hyper-V is not quite recognizable under this Windows 7 VHD attach process.
18. Further search led me to confirm that there might be an issue with this process with some one who had tried similar approach (http://blog.frankovic.net/2009/05/boot-win-2008-r2-rc-from-vhd/)
19. After further through I realized why the System Recovery Option was not displaying the partition size and the location.
    1. The drive where I stored the VHD is on an external drive that is connected to my lap top via ESATA connection.
    2. When the lap top was rebooted, the BIOS does not know or have the ESATA drivers and hence the VHD was not at all identified.
20. Next Steps
1. So my next steps are to really create a new VHD from scratch, install OS and go from there.
1. OR
2. Try with the base prebuilt Win 2008 R2 VHD which is 6.7GB by copying the VHD to my local lap top drive.
1. This option just did not work at all. When rebooted the windows never came up, always received BDOS.
21. See my next post for my results.
22. To clean up current configure simply ran bcdedit /delete as below:
    1.  

Final Update

When I created the VHD as fixed disk, the install and booting went well. Finally when everything started working, I felt that I been missing my productivity tools where were on my base Windows 7 install.

So finally I am ended up going back to my VMware Workstation option, and here are couple of reasons.

Microsoft VPC 2007 did not support x64 bit OS.

VMWare Workstation 7 supported Windows 2008 x64 bit.

Installing SPS 2010 side by side MOSS 2007

Overview

I have gone local with my Windows 7 install running MOSS 2007 (No more VPC/VMWare) on my lap top and I am really happy with it. I wanted to try and see what happens if I tried installing SPS 2010 Beta along side of MOSS 2007 install. I know Microsoft said it is not supported. But just for the kick…

Test results

I followed all the referenced as listed under the References section below to get through the Pre-Requisites which really went with no issues. (I will post my install experience when I finally get successful in another post). To save time of you all reading this post, finally when I got to the point when I ran the SPS 2010 install, this is what I saw…

I am not sure why Microsoft made this restriction but that's where I am being forced to try other option.

Next Steps

There is lot of buzz around the new Windows 7 support to load the VHDs as another bootable mount drive. So I am trying that option next to run the SPS 2010 as separate install and still make use of my Lap Top full potential. Will post my results in my next post….

Reference

1. MSDN:
1. Setting Up the Development Environment for SharePoint Server
2. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee554869(office.14).aspx
2. MSDN Blog
1. SharePoint 2010 Pre-Requisites Download Links
2. http://blogs.msdn.com/opal/archive/2009/10/25/sharepoint-2010-pre-requisites-download-links.aspx

Installing SPD 2007 along with Office 2010 Beta

Issue

On my lap top I have Windows 7 x64 installed  and I run MOSS 2007+SQL 2008 (refer my other blog on how I got MOSS 2007 installed and running on my local Windows 7).  Next I went ahead to install Office 2010 x64 Beta as the bits became available. I got in to trouble with Office 2010 install complaining that previous version of Office programs were installed and that I must first uninstall in order to install Office 2010 and pointed to Office SharePoint Designer 2007.  This is documented and discussed issued with Office 2010. Well I still need SPD 2007 in order to work with MOSS 2007.

Solution

So I first took chance by first uninstalling SPD 2007  and continued with Office 2010 beta x64 install which worked pretty well.

Now I tried installing the SPD 2007 once again (there is only x86 version of SPD 2007), and it installed well and SPD 2007 is working as expected.

Follow up

On the above success next I am venturing in to installing SharePoint 2010 along side of my MOSS 2007 on my Windows 7 ( I know Microsoft says it is not supported, well MOSS 2007 install did the same until someone figured out why not?) , look for my next blog….