Sitecore Modules Compatibility Table

I was in discussion with Sitecore Support regarding Sitecore 8 upgrade process and they point me to a very useful webpage. I found this webpage very useful and thought to share it with you. (Maybe you already know this :-D )

https://kb.sitecore.net/articles/541788

This page contains all the module compatibility with sitecore versions.

Points about Update Installation Wizard

Today, while I'm browsing/searching on SDN, I found a documentation around Update Installation Wizard tool. I have used this tool on most occasions (mainly doing upgrades) and thought of writing the important points here.

Document Link : http://sdn.sitecore.net/upload/sdn5/resources%20misc/tools/update%20installation%20wizard/update_installation_wizard_guide-a4.pdf#search=%22Sitecore%22

Update Package

• used to update sitecore solutions
• contains items, files and metadata about items or files to be added/deleted and changed
• contain information about the expected value of fields and has values for files, making it possible to identify potential conflicts
• extension ".update"
• CANNOT be installed using the Installation wizard that is available in the Sitecore Desktop

Accessing the Update installation wizard

http://<host_name>/sitecore/admin/UpdateinstallationWizard.aspx

Post Update Installation Steps

• rebuild the search indexes and the links database
• configuration files will be saves with a different name (Ex: web.config.sitecore_6.1.0_rev.090630)

Quick look at Sitecore XP 8

1. Sitecore admin login screen - /sitecore/login

Changes : Desktop/Content Editor/Page Editor selection NOT available

2. Sitecore Admin Homepage - Launch Pad

Changes : Speak Launch pad is the main control point in Sitecore XP 8

3. Sitecore Content Editor

4. Sitecore Desktop

 5. Sitecore Experience Editor (Previously : Page Editor)

6. Sitecore Control Panel

Standard Values for Language Versions

Today, one of my colleague asked me about standard values and how they work when creating different language versions. Following are just a small note on what I learn regarding that.

Standard values are language sensitive. i.e. if you have different language versions, you need to create language versions for standard value item also.
Items does not inherit standard value of "__Source" field from its data template standard value item

A good blog post on standard values,

http://www.sitecore.net/Learn/Blogs/Technical-Blogs/John-West-Sitecore-Blog/Posts/2013/01/All-About-Standard-Values-in-the-Sitecore-ASPNET-CMS.aspx
http://learnsitecore.cmsuniverse.net/en/Developers/Articles/2010/08/Standard-values-in-sitecore.aspx

Create Versions Action for Workflows

One of my recent work includes to support a complex workflow scenario.
While I am working on that, I got to know the following small but very useful module, "Create Versions Action" module. You can find it on sitecore marketplace.

https://marketplace.sitecore.net/Modules/Create_Versions_Action.aspx?sc_lang=en

What this module does is, it create a new workflow action. By using this action, we can create new language versions for existing workflow item. Also, it has given a option of selecting which languages that you need to create new version.

I found it very cool.. :-)

I also extend this and added new features. I will write a new blog post in near future about that.

Bye for now.

First Meetup of Sitecore User Group Sri Lanka ended Successfully!

After lot of preparation and hard work, we were able to do our first meetup on 12th November.

Over 12 developers participated for the event including developers from Codehouse Ltd, HSBC, Virtusa, Exilesoft, Calcey Technologies, CAAMS software development companies.

Presentation was done by Mr. Sen Guptha, Solution Architect, Sitecore International.
The presentation includes following points

• Introduction to Sitecore Company
• Growth of Sitecore Company
• Introduction to Sitecore - Page Editor, Content Editor, Desktop, etc
• Introduction to Sitecore Marketing suite - Marketing center, DMS, etc
• Sitecore Certification Programs
• Sitecore Resources - Marketplace, SDN, KnowledgeBase, etc

Presentation which took around 1 hour was followed by a Question and Answer session.

Q&A Session was highly successful with participants asking lot of question and clarifying their doubts from Mr. Sen Guptha.


After the presentation and Q&A session, it is time to relax and have some refreshments. Participants were discussed on how to progress with these meeting and how to promote the group so that more and more people with get the benifit from this group.

This event was powered by Codehouse Ltd, Sitecore Solution Partner.

Following are few snaps of the evnet

Looking forward to meet everyone on our December Meetup !

Until then, Ayubowan! (Good Bye) :-)

Sitecore User Group Sri Lanka - First Meeting

We are starting "Sitecore User Group Sri Lanka", aiming to grow and educate the sitecore community in Sri Lanka. This will be an open discussion forum dedicated to support growing sitecore community in Sri Lanka.

Sitecore was generous to provide an Exclusive Online Presentation for our first Meetup, 12th November, 2014. We are expecting around 10 - 15 participants for the first meetup.

This will be facilitated by Codehouse Ltd, a Certified Sitecore Partner.

Everyone is welcome! :-)