This document discusses automating site provisioning in SharePoint 2010. It presents three approaches of increasing complexity: 1) A very simple client-side approach to create child sites within a site collection. 2) Using a sandboxed workflow action to create and configure sites across site collections. 3) A farm solution that can create site collections, maintain metadata and directories, and work across farms. The goal is to empower users to create consistent, organized sites while maintaining metadata and directories for site discovery.

1. Turbo-Charge Collaboration
by Automating Site
Provisioning in SharePoint
2010
Bob German
SharePoint Practice Director
BlueMetal Architects

2.  Sites and Site Collections
 The Challenge
 Three recipes for success:
Very simple – Client side
Medium – Sandboxed solution
Full featured – Farm solution
Agenda

3. Independent
Administration Item
Site Top-level
List/Library
Storage Management Collection Site
Item
Authentication and high-level Content
policy settings; Database List/Library Item
Shared Service Connections
Site Top-level
Site List/Library Item
Web Collection Site
Application
Site List/Library Item
Content Site Top-level
List/Library Item
Database Collection Site
Farm
Item
List/Library
Item
Web Content Site Top-level
Item
Application Database Collection Site
List/Library
Item
Site
SharePoint Containers

4. Many things are scoped at the Site Collection
 SharePoint Groups Site
 Root of permission inheritance Content DB 1
Site Collection Top Level Site
Site

Web
Storage and Sandbox Quotas Application
Site
 Navigation Content DB 2
Site Collection Top Level Site
Site
Farm

Site Collection Top Level Site
Rollups with SPQuery or Content DB 3
Web
Application
Content Query Web Part Shared Service
Site Collection Top Level Site
Provider
 Content Types and Site Columns* A site collection cannot span content DB’s, but
A content DB can have many site collections
 Lookup lists
 Galleries (Web parts, Solutions, Master Pages, etc.)
Site Collections

5. The Challenge
How do you empower
end-users to create
SharePoint sites while
making sites consistent,
organized, and
discoverable?
Some of us still miss the site
directory, which was removed in
SharePoint 2010…

6. Out-of-the-Box
Self Service Site Collection
Provisioning

7.  Creates child sites in a site collection
 Runs on the client using the Client Object Model
 Can run in a Content Editor Web Part!
 Can run as a SharePoint 2013 app!
 Lists sites directly – no separate directory
 Users need to have permission to create a site
Simple Site Provisioning

8. Simple Site
Provisioning
Client-side site listing
and creation

9.  Runs in the sandbox and on Office 365
 Custom workflow action creates and configures a child site
 Out of the box workflow actions provide approval and directory
update
 Workflow runs as a privileged user to allow any user to request a
site
Custom Workflow Activity

10. Site Creation Workflow
Custom Action
Works in Office 365 or
on-premises

11.  Create site collections, not just child sites
 Use web templates to provide tailored and consistent sites
 Maintain metadata and directories for multiple site types
 Work robustly across farms
Advanced Scenario

12. User Experience
Lorem ipsum onsectetuer adipiscing
elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod
Site Metadata
Create tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna
an
Application
aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad
minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci
Web Part Site Information Tag this site
Title: Project Alpha
tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl Project Alpha is a joint effort between the ABC and
ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. XYZ departments to automate QC processes
Business Contact: Alan Turing
Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in Contacts: <site collection admins>
hendrerit in vulputate velit esse Department: ABC
Norwood, MA
Start molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu Your site expires in: 140 days Extend
a feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et
Community accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui
blandit praesent luptatum.
Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis Site Directory Search
nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper
suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea Applications Communities Projects
commodo consequat. Duis autem vel
Create a eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in Title Geography Department Keyword
Project vulputate velit esse molestie
Site consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat
nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan
et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit
► SC1 ---------- ---------- ---------
praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue
▼ SC2 ---------- ---------- ---------
duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi.
Nam liber tempor cum soluta Child site Information here
Site Request Page ► SC3 ---------- ---------- ---------
Site Directory

13. Site Collection
Request and Creation
Shared Services Farm
Site Collection Site Collection Site Directory Site Collection
Metadata Metadata Metadata
Workflow Workflow Workflow
Request Request Request
Apps Collab
List List List
Farm Farm

14. Site Collection
Metadata Synchronization
Shared Services Farm
Timer Timer Timer
Job Job Site Directory Job
SharePoint Site Hub
Site Collection Site Collection Site Collection
Apps Metadata Metadata
Collab Metadata
Farm Farm

15. Site Provisioning Solution
Multi-farm solution
Uses any approval workflow
Maintains metadata and directory
Could create sites or
site collections with this
design

16.  Automate site creation to:
Balance user empowerment with governance
Provision sites consistently
Maintain a directory and site metadata
 Choose wisely between sites and site collections
 In sandboxed solutions:
Elevate privileges with workflow “Impersonation Steps”
Beware of calling sandboxed solutions from sandboxed solutions
 In SharePoint 2013 apps:
Elevate privileges via app identities
Summary

17. Recap

18. Thank You