WebParts are the building blocks of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server pages. By using a simple pattern, you can use NetAdvantage for ASP.NET to target this powerful platform. In this guide, you will learn the key steps necessary to get started in building your own custom web part.

An Introduction to SharePoint
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) is a powerful web-based portal package that promotes communication and collaboration with-in an organization. MOSS can be used to quickly build web applications, through the Web Parts Framework. Web Parts themselves, are packaged components that when added to a page can provide functional pieces of an application such as data visualization, or data entry.

SharePoint Requirements
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server WebPart pages require a component to derive from a common WebPart base class. The NetAdvantage for ASP.NET controls derive from the core ASP.NET base class, WebControl. Because of this incongruity, NetAdvantage for ASP.NET controls cannot be added directly to a WebParts page.

Getting Started with NetAdvantage for ASP.NET and SharePoint
Wrapping a WebControl into a composite WebPart enables you to bring your typical ASP.NET controls into the world of SharePoint WebParts pages. Composite WebParts, which are typically simple shells which host child WebControls, bring the functionality and reusability of standard WebControls into the modular and personalizable WebPart framework. In this manner, it is quite a simple exercise to create a WebPart shell around one or more NetAdvantage for ASP.NET web controls. Based on your needs, you can make your wrapper as simple or advanced as necessary. On the more advanced end, public properties can be added to the WebPart to enable end user customization. Taking it one step further, you can even add connection points to enable data binding or drill down scenarios. For our example we are going to stick with the basics – a simple shell.

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