SoftCom Corporate Blog

This post assumes you know a little something about Windows SharePoint Services. If you’ve never heard about SharePoint but you have, at some point, had a need to set up a secure, password-protected site to store documents with version control, collaborate, back up files off site, run project management software, a knowledge base or a whole host of productivity applications, you should check it out (and then read this).

One of the things we do that’s unique is provide unlimited sub-directories with every SharePoint site we provision. What this means in SharePoint speak is that you can have unlimited number of sub-webs, each with it’s own function and potentially its own membership.

For example, say you signup for a SharePoint site under the domain http://team.mycompany.com. At that top level you can add users and assign permissions (Read, Contribute, Design or Full Control ) and provide those users access to documents at that level.

But then you can add a Wiki (as an admin, go to Site Actions > Create > Sites and Workspaces ) as a sub-web. This would now appear as http://team.mycompany.com/wiki . This sub-site can be part of the navigation or not – your choice. And this sub site can inherit the same users and permission – with a single click – or have an entirely unique set of users and permissions.  

Another really cool feature – sub-webs can be created in a different language. Keep in mind not all the languages offer application templates (click here for a list and description of application templates) but all 25+ languages supported include the built in templates like Wiki’s and Blogs.

Maybe you want to run a project that not everyone is involved in, this too could be quickly added and not even included in the navigation if you want to keep it private (eg. http://team.mycompany.com/projectx/ )

There are a couple obvious advantages to using sub-webs as I’ve described. First, it saves you money – you don’t have to buy multiple SharePoint accounts to accomplish what I’ve proposed. Second, it’s more practical. Employees or members of your organization aren’t likely to remember multiple SharePoint domains, but they are more likely to remember and use one SharePoint domain - particularly if it’s loaded with content.

John Carthy
V.P. Sales and Marketing
SoftCom Technology Consulting Inc.

Related posts:

1. Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 – Update
2. Sharepoint: I’m starting to see the point
3. Office SharePoint Designer 2007 – The SharePoint WYSIWYG editor
4. On Demand Business Solution – WSS 3.0 and then some
5. Welcome to Windows SharePoint Services 3.0