Krichie - That SharePoint Guy

My Digital Music Collection

Keith Richie — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:06:43 +0000

I was discussing with someone yesterday who had a like minded wide range of musical likes. And that got me curious as to exactly how varied my digital music collection was. After searching for a bit on how to export my media library with Windows Media Player 12, I found this sample source at the code project: Export Windows Media Player Music Metadata to XML File.

With a little filtering in Excel, to get distinct Artists and Albums, here ya go.

My Digital Music Collection as of 08-30-2010

Artist	Album
[500] Days Of Summer – Music From The Motion Picture	[500] Days Of Summer – Music From The Motion Picture
2002	Land of Forever
4 Strings	Believe
4 Strings	Mainline
4 Strings	Turn It Around
A Flock of Seagulls	Listen
A Flock of Seagulls	Telecommunications
A Flock of Seagulls	The Best of A Flock of Seagulls [Music Club]
AC/DC	Back in Black
Adaleen and Roman Grant	A Juniper Creek Christmas
Adaleen Grant	A Juniper Creek Christmas
Adaleen Grant, Jodean Marquart and Cara Lynn Walker	A Juniper Creek Christmas
Adam & The Ants/Adam Ant	Antics in the Forbidden Zone
a-ha	Hunting High and Low
a-ha	Minor Earth Major Sky
a-ha	Scoundrel Days
a-ha	Stay on These Roads
Akira Yamaoka	Silent Hill 3 (Original Game Soundtracks)
Akira Yamaoka	Silent Hill 4 – The Room (Original Game Soundtracks)
Alabama	For The Record
Alan Jackson	When Somebody Loves You
Aldo Nova	The Best of Aldo Nova
Andrea Parker	Kiss My Arp
Andy Williams	Moon River: The Very Best Of Andy Williams
Annie Lennox	Little Bird [Single]
Aqua	Aquarium
Armin van Buuren	10 Years Disc 1
Armin van Buuren	10 Years Disc 2
Armin van Buuren	Burned With Desire
Art Garfunkel	Across America
Asia	Best Of
Barbra Streisand	Back to Broadway
Barry Manilow	Ultimate Manilow [Arista]
Bassic	Artificiality
Bassic	Audiology
Bassic	Audiology IV
Bassic	Audiology ll
Bassic	Audiology lll
Bassic	Audiology V
Bassic	The Best of Bassic, Volume 2
BENTFRAME	BENTFRAME MISC
Berlin	The Best of Berlin 1979-1988
Billie Myers	Growing, Pains
Billy Gilman	One Voice
Black Eyed Peas	Monkey Business
Blaine Larsen	Off to Join the World
Blondie	Parallel Lines
Blondie	The Best of Blondie
BlueTonicWorld	BlueTonicWorld – Misc
BlueTonicWorld	Enter the Light
BlueTonicWorld	The Bluest Tonic Album
BlueTonicWorld	The Deepest Blue Album
BlueTonicWorld	The Rainbow Machine
Bob Carlisle	Butterfly Kisses
Bob Carlisle	Stories from the Heart
Bond	Born
Bonrud	Bonrud
Book of Love	Book of Love
Book of Love	Candy Carol
Book of Love	Lovebubble
Book of Love	Lullaby
Brian McKnight	From There to Here: 1989-2002
Brilanders	Misc
Bruce Hornsby	Here Come the Noise Makers Disc 1
Bruce Hornsby	Here Come the Noise Makers Disc 2
Bryan Ferry	Bête Noire
Buckner & Garcia	Pac-Man Fever
Bud Light	Real Men of Genius
Bud Light	Real Men of Genius – Volume 2
Bud Light	Real Men Of Genius – Volume 3 Disc 3
Cara Lynn Walker and Jodean Marquart	A Juniper Creek Christmas
Carbon Based Lifeforms	Hydroponic Garden
Carbon Based Lifeforms	Interloper
Carbon Based Lifeforms	World Of Sleepers
Carpenters	Yesterday Once More
Charlotte Church	Dream a Dream
Chegwidden and Gallagher	Weave
Chris Cagle	Play It Loud
Chris de Burgh	Lady in Red: The Very Best of Chris de Burgh
Christopher Cross	Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross	Greatest Hits Live
Christopher Franke	Celestine Prophecy
Christopher Franke	Klemania
Christopher Franke	Pacific Coast Highway
Christopher Franke	The London Concert
Chromeo	Don’t Turn The Lights On
Clannad	The Best Of
Coldplay	Parachutes
Curve	Doppelgänger
Cyndi Lauper	Twelve Deadly Cyns… And Then Some
Dan Zanes & Friends	Catch That Train!
David Arkenstone	WoW BC
David Bowie	Best of Bowie
David Bowie	Changesbowie
David Bowie	Labyrinth
David Bowie	Scary Monsters
David Bowie	Singles Collection, Vol. 2 [EMI]
David Sanborn	Pearls
Dead or Alive	Rip It Up
Deep Brasil – Various Artists	Deep Brasil
Deep Forest	Boheme
Deep Forest	Comparsa
Deep Forest	Deep Forest
Deep Forest	Made In Japan
Deep Forest	Pacifique
Def Leppard	Adrenalize
Def Leppard	Hysteria
Def Leppard	Pyromania
Delerium	Chimera Disc 1
Delerium	Euphoric EP
Delerium	Karma [UK Enhanced] Disc 1
Delerium	Nuages du Monde
Delerium	Poem [Limited Edition Bonus CD] Disc 1
Delerium	Poem [Limited Edition Bonus CD] Disc 2
Delerium	Remixed: The Definitive Collection (Digital Version)
Delerium	Semantic Spaces
Delhi 2 Dublin	Delhi 2 Dublin
Delhi 2 Dublin	Planet Electric
Depeche Mode	A Broken Frame
Depeche Mode	Black Celebration
Depeche Mode	Construction Time Again
Depeche Mode	Everything Counts and Live Tracks
Depeche Mode	Exciter [Rhino US CD/DVD] Disc 1
Depeche Mode	Exciter [Rhino US CD/DVD] Disc 2
Depeche Mode	Get the Balance Right [#1]
Depeche Mode	Love in Itself [#1]
Depeche Mode	Music for the Masses [Bonus Tracks]
Depeche Mode	People Are People
Depeche Mode	Playing the Angel
Depeche Mode	Some Great Reward [Rhino US CD/DVD] Disc 1
Depeche Mode	Songs of Faith and Devotion
Depeche Mode	Sounds Of The Universe
Depeche Mode	Speak & Spell
Depeche Mode	Stripped [From Singles Box #3]
Depeche Mode	The Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1
Depeche Mode	Ultra (Remastered)
Depeche Mode	Violator
Devo	Freedom of Choice
Devo	The Greatest Misses
Diana Krall	Christmas Songs
Diana Krall	From This Moment On [Best Buy Exclusive]
Diana Krall	Love Scenes
Diana Krall	Quiet Nights
Diana Krall	The Girl in the Other Room
Diana Krall	The Look of Love
Diana Krall/Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra	Christmas Songs
Dr. Demento	Demento
Dr. Demento	Demonto
Duran Duran	Greatest
Duran Duran	Misc
Duran Duran	Rio
Duran Duran	Seven and the Ragged Tiger
Edgar Froese	Macula Transfer
Elton John	The Greatest Hits 1970-2002
Enigma	A Posteriori
Enigma	Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi
Enigma	MCMXC A.D.
Enigma	The Cross of Changes
Enigma	The Screen Behind the Mirror
Enigma	Voyageur
Enya	A Day Without Rain
Enya	Amarantine
Enya	Oiche Chiun (Silent Night) [US Maxi-Single]
Enya	Paint the Sky with Stars: The Best of Enya
Enya	The Memory of Trees
Eric Clapton	Change The World
Eric Clapton	Reptile
Eric Johnson	Ah Via Musicom
Eric Johnson	Tones
Eric Serra	The Fifth Element [Virgin]
Essencia	Tenthu
Etta James	Her Best – The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection
Everything But The Girl	Adapt Or Die: 10 Years Of Remixes (Alternate Version)
Fall Out Boy	Infinity On High
Fantasy	Dreams of Another World
Fantasy	Evolutions
Fantasy	Fantasies of ’99
Fantasy	Fantasy
Fantasy	Fantasy Vibes
Fantasy	Liquid Light
Fantasy	Zion
Foreigner	4 [Expanded]
Foreigner	Agent Provocateur
Foreigner	Head Games
Gary Allan	Misc
Gary Portnoy	Keeper
George Harrison	Cloud Nine
George Strait	The Very Best of Strait, Vol. 2: 1988-1993
Gibson & Antonopoulos	Santorini Splendor
Godley & Creme	History Mix Volume 1
Govinda	O Earthly Gods
Green Day	Misc
Gregg Karukas	Nightshift
Habib Koite & Bamada	Muso Ko
Hampton The Hampster	The Official Hampster Dance Song
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus	Best of Both Worlds Concert Disc 1
Heart	Dreamboat Annie
Holler	Holler
Hoobastank	The Reason
Huey Lewis And The News	Greatest Hits: Huey Lewis And The News
Human League	Greatest Hits
I Awake	The Core
Isao Tomita	Snowflakes Are Dancing
J. Geils Band	Love Stinks
Jack Johnson	To The Sea
Jack Johnson And Friends	Curious George: Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies
James Horner	Avatar Music From The Motion Picture Music Composed And Conducted By James Horner [+digital booklet]
Jason Mraz	Levi’s Pioneer Sessions 2010 Revival Recordings
Jason Mraz	We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
Joe Jackson	Steppin’ Out: The Very Best Of Joe Jackson
Joe Jackson	Summer in the City: Live in New York
Joe Satriani	Engines of Creation
Joe Satriani	Is There Love in Space?
Johannes Schmoelling	Wuivend Riet
John Barry	Somewhere in Time
John Carpenter	Escape From New York
John Carpenter & Alan Howarth	Halloween III: Complete Original Motion Picture Score (Digital Only,Re-mastered,Bonus Tracks)
John Mayer	Battle Studies
John Mayer	Continuum
John Mayer	Heavier Things
John Mayer	Room for Squares
John Mayer Trio	Try! John Mayer Trio Live in Concert
John Williams	Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Collector’s Edition Soundtrack
John Williams	Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
John Williams	Superman Soundtrack
Jon & Vangelis	Page of Life [Germany Bonus Tracks]
Journey	Greatest Hits
Journey	Raised on Radio
Journey	The Essential Journey
Julian Lennon	Valotte
Kasey McKall	Kasey McKall
Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman, Vangelis	Mythodea – Music For The Nasa Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey
Keith Richie
Keith Richie	Gandahar (Light Years)
Keith Richie	Keith Richie – misc
Keith Richie	La famille du solénoïde
Keith Richie	Missing You Between Lucid Dreams – Single
Keith Richie	Réalité de Destination
Keith Richie	Sidetracks, Vol. 1
Keith Richie	Sidetracks, Vol. 2
Keith Richie	Sidetracks, Vol. 3: The Heikkinen Exclusive
Keith Richie	Sidetracks, Vol. 4: Eye of the Innocent
Keith Richie	The Maestoso Interstellar Suite
Kenny Chesney	When the Sun Goes Down
Kenny Loggins	Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: The Greatest Hits
King Diamond	"Them"
King Diamond	Abigail
King Diamond	Abigail II: The Revenge
King Diamond	Black Rose: 20 Years Ago-A Night of Rehearsals
King Diamond	Conspiracy
King Diamond	Dangerous Meeting
King Diamond	House of God
King Diamond	The Graveyard
King Diamond	The Spider’s Lullabye
King Diamond	Voodoo
Kiss	Killers
Kiss	Music from "The Elder"
Kitaro	Mandala
Klaus Schulze	Klaus Schulze
Kraftwerk	Computer World [Japan Bonus Track]
Kraftwerk	Electric Cafe
Kraftwerk	Minimum-Maximum Disc 1
Kraftwerk	Minimum-Maximum Disc 2
Kris Kross	Totally Krossed Out
K’S Choice	Paradise In Me
Led Zeppelin	In Through the Out Door
Lee Ann Womack	There’s More Where That Came From
Lee Holdridge, Arr. Dan Redfield	Love Came For Me – Love Theme from "Splash"
Lenny Kravitz	Greatest Hits [Explicit]
Lipps Inc.	Funkyworld: The Best of Lipps, Inc.
Liquid Mind	Relax: A Liquid Mind Experience
Lit	A Place In The Sun [Explicit]
Louis Armstrong	Ken Burns Jazz
Luciana Souza	Duos II
Ludwig van Beethoven	The Best of Beethoven Disc 1
Madness	The Business Disc 2
Maire Brennan	Perfect Time
Mannheim Steamroller	A Fresh Aire Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller	Christmas
Mannheim Steamroller	Christmas Extraordinaire
Mannheim Steamroller	Christmas in the Aire
Mannheim Steamroller Meets Mouse	Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse
Mark Akin	Alien Car Chase
Mars Lasar	The Eleventh Hour
Material Issue	International Pop Overthrow
Mercyful Fate	Melissa
Meridian Dream	How About Now
Metallica	Master of Puppets
Michael Bublé	It’s Time
Michelle Tumes	Center Of My Universe
Michelle Tumes	Dream
Michelle Tumes	Listen
Nickelback	Silver Side Up
Nusound	Erotic Moods, Vol. 3: Romantica
Oceanlab	Oceanlab misc
Oceanlab	Satellite
Otis Redding	The Very Best of Otis Redding, Vol. 1
Outcast	double plaidinum
Ozric Tentacles	Arborescence
Ozric Tentacles	Erpland
Ozric Tentacles	Jurassic Shift
Ozric Tentacles	Spirals in Hyperspace
Ozric Tentacles	The Floor’s Too Far Away
Ozric Tentacles	The Hidden Step
Ozric Tentacles	The Yumyum Tree
Ozric Tentacles	Waterfall Cities
Pat Boone	In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy
Peaches And Herb	At Their Best
Pet Shop Boys	live wires
Peter Gabriel	So
Peter Gabriel	Solid Gold Collection
Pink Floyd	A Momentary Lapse of Reason
Pink Floyd	The Division Bell
Pink Floyd	The Wall (Live)
Prince & The Revolution	Purple Rain
Quadrophonia	Cozmic Jam
Queen
Queen	Greatest Hits [We Will Rock You Edition]
Queen	Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2 Disc 1
Queen	News Of The World
Queensryche	Empire
Queensryche	Operation: Mindcrime
Raphael	Angels of the Deep
Ray Charles	The Best Of Ray Charles: The Atlantic Years
reflekt feat delline bass	viata in club feb 2oo5
Reflekt ft Delline Bass	Solo TEMAZOS!! Vol.3 (2004-2005)
Rita Coolidge	Delta Lady / The Anthology
Rob Zombie	20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection
Robert Miles	Dreamland
Roxy Music	Street Life: 20 Greatest Hits
Rush	Chronicles
Rush	Moving Pictures
Sade	Lovers Live
Sade	The Best Of Sade
Sarah Brightman	Time to Say Goodbye
Shapeshifters	Shapeshifters
Sick Puppies	Dressed Up As Life
Simple Minds	Themes 15-CD Collector’s Box
Sir Mix-A-Lot	Swass
Sleepthief	The Dawnseeker
Sounds from the Ground	Terra Firma
Soundtrack	Cars [Original Soundtrack]
Soundtrack	Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Soundtrack	Happy Feet [Original Soundtrack]
Soundtrack	Once
Soundtrack	Rain Man
Soundtrack	Superman II
Soundtrack	Team America: World Police
Soundtrack	Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Squirrel Nut Zippers	Perennial Favorites
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble	The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Disc 1
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble	The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble Disc 2
Strontium 90	Police Academy
Stryper	Soldiers Under Command
Stryper	The Yellow and Black Attack!
Stryper	To Hell with the Devil
Styx	Greatest Hits
Suede	Suede
Symphony of Science	Symphony of Science
Tangerine Dream	220 Volt Live
Tangerine Dream	Alpha Centauri [Remastered]
Tangerine Dream	Atem [Remastered]
Tangerine Dream	Booster II
Tangerine Dream	Cyclone
Tangerine Dream	Electronic Meditation [Remastered]
Tangerine Dream	Encore
Tangerine Dream	Exit
Tangerine Dream	Extracts from Poland
Tangerine Dream	Firestarter
Tangerine Dream	Force Majeure
Tangerine Dream	Goblins Club
Tangerine Dream	Great Wall of China
Tangerine Dream	Hyperborea
Tangerine Dream	I-Box 1970-1990
Tangerine Dream	I-Box 1970-1990 Disc 1
Tangerine Dream	I-Box 1970-1990 Disc 2
Tangerine Dream	I-Box 1970-1990 Disc 3
Tangerine Dream	I-Box 1970-1990 Disc 4
Tangerine Dream	I-Box 1970-1990 Disc 5
Tangerine Dream	Le Parc
Tangerine Dream	Legend [Original Score]
Tangerine Dream	Lily on the Beach
Tangerine Dream	Logos: Live at the Dominion
Tangerine Dream	Miracle Mile
Tangerine Dream	Optical Race
Tangerine Dream	Phaedra
Tangerine Dream	Quinoa
Tangerine Dream	Ricochet
Tangerine Dream	Rubycon
Tangerine Dream	Sorcerer
Tangerine Dream	Stratosfear
Tangerine Dream	Tangents: 1973-1983 Disc 1
Tangerine Dream	Tangents: 1973-1983 Disc 2
Tangerine Dream	Tangents: 1973-1983 Disc 3
Tangerine Dream	Tangents: 1973-1983 Disc 4
Tangerine Dream	Tangents: 1973-1983 Disc 5
Tangerine Dream	Tangram
Tangerine Dream	The Dream Mixes One [2 CD] Disc 1
Tangerine Dream	The London Eye Concert
Tangerine Dream	Thief
Tangerine Dream	Turn of the Tides
Tangerine Dream	Tyger
Tangerine Dream	Tyranny of Beauty
Tangerine Dream	Underwater Sunlight
Tangerine Dream	White Eagle
Tangerine Dream	Zeit [Remastered]
Tangerine Dream	Zoning
Tears for Fears	Shout: The Very Best of Tears for Fears
The Bangles	Super Hits
The Beach Boys	Misc
The Beach Boys	Still Cruisin’
The Bee Gees	Best Of Bee Gees, Vol. 1
The Bee Gees	Best Of Bee Gees, Vol. 2
The Bee Gees	Greatest Disc 1
The Cars	Complete Greatest Hits
The Charlie Daniels Band	Super Hits
The Dream Academy	The Dream Academy
The Egyptian Lover	King of Ecstasy (His Greatest Hits Album)
The Frames	The Cost
The Go-Go’s	Return to the Valley of the Go-Go’s
The Police	Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings Disc 1
The Police	Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings Disc 2
The Police	Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings Disc 3
The Police	Message in a Box: The Complete Recordings Disc 4
The Smiths	The Sound Of The Smiths [Deluxe Edition]
The Swell Season	Levi’s Pioneer Sessions 2010 Revival Recordings
The Swell Season	Strict Joy
The Swell Season	The Swell Season
Thomas Dolby	The Best of Thomas Dolby: Retrospectacle
Thompson Twins	Into the Gap
Toad The Wet Sprocket	Playlist: The Very Best Of Toad The Wet Sprocket
Tomo Vedvik	Slowdiver
Toto/Brian Eno	Dune
Trace Adkins	Greatest Hits Collection, Vol. 1
Tracy Lawrence	Find Out Who Your Friends Are (Single)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra	Christmas Eve And Other Stories
Trans-Siberian Orchestra	The Lost Christmas Eve
Trevor Jones/David Bowie	Labyrinth [1986]
Trifonic	Emergence
Trifonic	Remergence – EP
U2	The Unforgettable Fire
U2	War
Unknown	Rock ‘n’ Roll High School
Van Halen	1984
Van Halen	5150
Van Halen	Diver Down
Van Halen	Fair Warning
Van Halen	Van Halen II
Van Halen	Women and Children First
Vangelis	Antarctica
Vangelis	Chariots Of Fire
Vangelis	China
Vangelis	Heaven and Hell
Vangelis	Oceanic
Vangelis	Opera Sauvage
Vangelis	Portrait
Vangelis	The City
Vangelis	Vangelis Blade Runner – Trilogy
Vangelis	Voices
Various	Ghostly Classics
Various Artists	A Juniper Creek Christmas
Various Artists	All Time Greatest Movie Songs [UK] Disc 2
Various Artists	Ambient Amazon
Various Artists	Billboard Family Christmas Classics
Various Artists	Billboard Top Hits: 1983
Various Artists	Billboard Top Hits: 1986
Various Artists	Disco Box Disc 3
Various Artists	Everything 80′s
Various Artists	Hip Hop Essentials, Vol. 1
Various Artists	Irish Celebration: Smiling Eyes
Various Artists	Millennium: 80′s New Wave Party
Various Artists	New Millennium Blues Party
Various Artists	Sedated in the Eighties
Various Artists	Sedated in the Eighties, Vol. 2
Various Artists	Sedated in the Eighties, Vol. 3
Various Artists	Sedated in the Eighties, Vol. 4
Various Artists	Sedated in the Eighties, Vol. 5
Various Artists	Super Hits Of The ’70s Vol. 1
Various Artists	Super Hits Of The ’70s Vol. 2
Various Artists	Super Hits Of The ’70s Vol. 3
Various Artists	Super Hits Of The ’70s Vol. 4
Various Artists	Superstarz Cheerleaders
Various Artists	Terminator Soundtrack
Various Artists	The Gentle Maiden
Various Artists	The Wedding Singer
Various Artists	Totally Hits 2005
Various Artists	Yes Man
Verschiedene Interpreten	Welcome to the club
Vince Guaraldi	A Charlie Brown Christmas [Starbucks Exclusive]
W.A.S.P.	The Best Of The Best [Explicit]
Waylon Jennings	Super Hits [1996]

Determining the Configuration Database in a SharePoint 2007 Farm

Keith Richie — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:14:44 +0000

For whatever reason you may have, you may find the need to identify the Configuration Database in your server farm programmatically. The problem is that it is not directly exposed for consumption via the object model. What I mean by this, is that there is no single identifiable property that tells you that the database your enumerating is in fact the Configuration Database.

In V2, it was a simple matter of using the SPConfigDatabase object within the Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration namespace, but with V3, this was marked obsolete, with no reference to what you can use in V3. Another issue is that the new object type for the configuration database (SPConfigurationDatabase) is not exposed publicly in the object model.

I’ve seen a few posts that drive you to towards deriving it using crazy nested reflection by first starting with the ProcessIdentity object of the farms TimerService, but I recommend a clearer and simpler approach as follows

// Code Begins

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.SharePoint;
using Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration;

namespace SPTest
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {

            // Get the Database Service class within the farm
            SPDatabaseService dbService = SPFarm.Local.Services.GetValue();

            // Enumerate the service instances
            foreach(SPDatabaseServiceInstance instance in dbService.Instances)
            {
                // enumerate the databases within this service instance
                foreach (SPDatabase database in instance.Databases)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("Database Server: {0} :: Database Name: {1}",database.Server.Name, database.Name);

                    object oDB = database.GetType();

                    Console.WriteLine("Object Type: {0}", oDB.ToString());

                    // If the objects type is "Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPConfigurationDatabase, you've found the Config DB.
                    if (oDB.ToString().CompareTo("Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPConfigurationDatabase") == 0)
                        Console.WriteLine("You found the config database oDB.ToString(): {0} ",oDB.ToString());
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

// Code Ends

HTH!

– Keith

Help me welcome Paul Stork to the ShareSquared team!

Keith Richie — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:17:57 +0000

Please help me welcome Paul Stork to the ShareSquared Team!!!

During my tenure with Barracuda, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Paul a few times, and it’s exciting to be working with him again .

You can read his announcement at http://sharepoint.mindsharpblogs.com/PaulS/default.aspx

Welcome Aboard Paul!

– Keith

2010 – The Year I make Contact

Keith Richie — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:22:50 +0000

It’s another new year again

I told myself I was going to watch 2010: The Year We Make Contact on New Years Eve weekend, but I didn’t. If you haven’t seen it, it’s movie based on Arthur C. Clare’s second part of his 4 part Odyssey series beginning with 2001: A Space Odyssey. (I’ve read all four parts of the series, and they’re definitely worth the read btw). The reason I bring this up, is that I always love watching movies that predict where we’ll be at a given point in time. They always seem to predict we’ll be further along than where we actually wind up. The same goes for me over the past few years and where I predicted I would be at this point in my life.

What I’m about to say, is not to attract people to a perceived pity party, because that’s definitely not what this post is all about. I’m just giving some background on what’s happened and what I plan to do about it ; to set things in motion for myself; to reflect on where I’ve been;where I plan to go, and to predict where I’ll be in the future.

Pre 2007

Working for Microsoft was an absolute pleasure, and my decision to move to SharePoint vs. Exchange/Outlook was probably the most important decision I ever made in my professional career. I absolutely loved working with this product. It gave me the opportunity to to slowly move back into a development “Like” position which was something I truly missed. So many great things were going on such as:

My oldest daughter had recently graduated High School, and was attending College.
My Wife at the time, and I had recently adopted a second child.
I began to realize the impact that some of the technical contributions I made to the community was quite larger than I had anticipated
I finally got back to writing/composing music and publishing a few CD’s
Ideas for blog posts; helping the community; and inspiration was plentiful.

There were great things happening, and I think 2005/2006 were probably the best years of my life up to that time.

Mind you, there were certainly things I was NOT happy for such as

Working literally an average of 70 hours a week most times
Life’s own dramatic interruptions
Trying to launch a new Church

2007

My desire to get back into full time development was really making me consider what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, and eventually I made the decision to leave Microsoft, and then a flood of life impacting things occurred.

My oldest daughter decided to Join the Army. Something I’m VERY PROUD OF, but was truly a scary time;
My marriage technically ended, and I began the process of going through a divorce
My oldest daughter was deployed to IRAQ
What I thought was going to be an amazing career move for me, turned out not to be quite so; I could see myself drifting further and further away from SharePoint.
People I thought were “True” friends, basically showed their true colors. When you confide in someone and they immediately turn around and disclose things to others, is the absolute worst thing you can do, and when you do it to me, well….. Don’t bother speaking to me again buddy .
People I “Knew” were “True” friends, also confirmed their true colors. They proved themselves to be true friends; and my list of friends grew smaller, but also closer and more tight.
My desires and aspirations and love of life were at an all time low.
Most people didn’t have encouraging things to say; and I was constantly brought down rather than being encouraged.

Where 2005/2006 were the best years of my life, 2007 was probably the worst.

This was NOT where I predicted myself to be.

2008

2008 wasn’t entirely horrible; but it was certainly a close runner up to 2007.

My mothers health began to deteriorate
I was doing literally NO SharePoint work.
I was living in a home I did not want to be at nor even wanted, but due to the economy, couldn’t do a thing about.
Other pathetic things I don’t even care to mention
My divorce was finalized
I did however begin to make some new close friendships, but learned to keep my guard up even higher.

So again I’m not saying these things to attract people to a perceived pity party. I’m just simply putting them out there to lead up to something later.

2009

Finally, things started turning around. I had plenty of time to do plenty of thinking in the previous years and did the following things

Took time to inspect and choose a job I felt I could really excel at.
Moved out of my house for a brief period. Initially to sell it; but primarily to just start anew.
Moved “back” to my house .
Started investing back into “Me, something I had not had the opportunity to do for a very, very long time.
Refurnished a majority of my home, to make it more “me”.
Buried a closet full of hatchets.
Made lots of new friends who believe in “Joy” and “Humor” like myself and that sometimes you just can’t take some things in life so darn seriously!.

Things were getting better, and I began to make predictions about the future again.

2010

Well now 2010 is upon us. Although I’m not completely where I wanted to be at this stage in my life, I have a new found hope and belief in the future.

Moving forward I plan to get back to what I once was

A Joyful; Helpful; Community Oriented and driven SharePoint expert.
Get back into my music once again
Continue to be the best father to two great children I can possibly be.

Things were not great in the past, but it’s time to put those things aside and move on! I want this year to be “The year that I make Contact” once again, and let you know I’m still here and quite alive!

- Keith

SharePoint BI and PowerPivot

Keith Richie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:57:41 +0000

The 2009 SharePoint Conference was a total blast. For those who were not able to attend, Microsoft also announced PowerPivot. With PowerPivot, IT Managers can empower business users to create and share Excel 2010 workbook applications through SharePoint 2010.

Rob Collie, one of the founding engineers behind PowerPivot has started a blog here and has announced the "Great Football Project” as a non-demoware PowerPivot solution, from start to finish where he’ll be taking a hardcore BI project from his past and re-implement it using PowerPivot.

I myself will be diving deep into PowerPivot over the next few weeks, and will detail all I can as the weeks progress.

Until then, be sure to visit the following links to get an overview of PowerPivot and Rob Collie

Cheers!

– Keith

Whoa! I’m listed in the Zune Marketplace!

Keith Richie — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:44:54 +0000

Wow, just checked and saw this, I’m now listed in the Zune Marketplace.

http://social.zune.net/artist/Keith-Richie/79d40c00-0600-11db-89ca-0019b92a3933/albums

One thing that isn’t listed is my La famille du solénoïde release, But of course it’s available on iTunes here, as with the rest of my releases.

I plan to get back to my music too, I’ve just had a very busy past couple of years, and no time or inspiration for it.

Anyways, just wanted to note the whole listing in the Zune Marketplace real quick, cause it was way too exciting!

- Keith

Public update for the Service Pack 2 expiration date issue

Keith Richie — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:13:46 +0000

Head up! The update to the SharePoint Service Pack 2 expiration date issue is now available.

Direct download links:

For more information on the original issue, see the following posting on the SharePoint Team Blog:

Attention: Important Information on Service Pack 2

Cheers!

– Keith

What to blog about

Keith Richie — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:41:42 +0000

Since I started my new job, I’ve been struggling to find topics to discuss that have not already been discussed before.

I’m not the kind of guy to just re-hash what someone else has said unless I can add additional value to it. When I do that, I always start out with “First read what so and so has said about x”. There are too many of the content thieves out there, and they really provide no real value back to the community. They’re just going for self gratification in subscribers, etc. I also don’t like just blasting links as I discover them just to make a blog post, unless they are significant. Besides, if I come across a cool article these days, I just dump it on twitter. What I’m saying, is that when I post something, I want to really provide extreme value.

What I’ve realized, is that the things I do want to blog about require too much time to sit down in one setting to post, and thus I never get them done, or take the time to finish them and thus, this blog just gets extremely stale. Also, I’ve noticed a lot of blog postings recently on very very short samples, about things I figured a lot of people would know. But I’ve had to take a step back and realize that not all my followers know all the gritty details.

So…From now on, I’m going to blog about just what’s on my mind, what I learned, what I might be able to share. There may be some overlap in things that were already posted, but I’ve got to stop worrying about “It’s been said before” because I have to realize that my view/insight into the problem/solution may in fact add value not otherwise stated.

- Keith

Microsoft Certified Master for SharePoint Server 2007 at ShareSquared

Keith Richie — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:26:18 +0000

Maurice and I have been friends for quite awhile. While at Microsoft, he and I collaborated while working through critical SharePoint customer issues, debated on bugs, discussed SharePoint tools, etc. After both of our departures from Microsoft, we continued to keep in contact sharing ideas and thoughts about the product. I was excited when I came on board with ShareSquared to not only be working with my friend again, but also to expand my horizons and work with a great bunch of talented folks.

Maurice has just completed the Microsoft Certified Masters training for SharePoint Server 2007 and was awarded the certification along with a small group of elite personnel. Now ShareSquared has a Microsoft Certified Master for SharePoint Server 2007 in our group, and I’m extremely happy for my company and friend.

Maurice did a great write-up on his perspective of the program here, and I encourage you to give it a read if you are considering this for your future. As well, you can check out Spence Harbar’s write-up here.

Congratulations to the newest Certified Masters for SharePoint Server 2007!

– Keith

I’m such a Square, and proud of it!

Keith Richie — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:28:58 +0000

Today I’m happy to announce that I have joined the great team at ShareSquared The SharePoint Solution Experts, where I’ll be working with long time friend and cohort Maurice Prather as a Senior SharePoint Architect.

The team at ShareSquared is composed of expert SharePoint architects and developers who are seasoned computer science professionals with a thorough understanding of proper software construction, design patterns and best practices. I’m so proud to be joining this team.

I want to thank ALL my friends for their support over the past couple of months while I sought ought just who I wanted to be when I grew up . My new position will allow me to utilize my previous skills as well as further extend myself into areas I had only dreamed about before.

Here’s to new adventures in 2009!

- Keith