I have created a module for adding a tab to the Developer Center when working with an XSLT Rendering to be able to view the raw XML that Sitecore is working with. It works on the item that is selected in the DropTree from the Preview Toolbar given down the bottom in the Developer Center.

When selected the module will take the “content/Nicam” item and will show its serialised XML like so:

I recommend that developers install this so they can build their XSLT with knowing exactly what elements and attributes are available at their finger tips.

You can download the package from here to install it into your Sitecore environment. Always backup your environment before installing ANY package. Hope this helps.

I have implemented a bit of a change to the DropTree Field Type that will make the popup div stay in place if the user clicks on part of the empty part of the div and not an item from the content tree. Essentially, if I click on any of the empty white part of the div below, and not e.g. “Sample Workflow” then I want the drop tree to remain open for me.

First of all you will want to open the Sitecore.js file that lives in you webroot under …..\WebSite\sitecore\shell\Controls\Sitecore.js.

Open this file an make the following changes:

1. Add a variable up the top of the file called BlankDivCheck like so

this. BlankDivCheck = null;

2. Search for the line scSitecore.prototype.postEvent = function(tag, evt, parameters): and append the following code after the following line of code “var ctl = this.getEventControl(evt, tag);”

BlankDivCheck = false;
if (ctl.className.toString() == “scTreeItem”) BlankDivCheck = true;

3. Search for the line scRequest.prototype.resume = function(), and change the following code

if (this.closePopups && typeof(scForm) != “undefined”)
{
scForm.browser.closePopups(“Request”);
}

To this code:

if (this.closePopups && typeof(scForm) != “undefined” && BlankDivCheck!= true)
{
scForm.browser.closePopups(“Request”);
}

4. Save the file and go back to your Sitecore Desktop or Content Editor. You will want to refresh the cache (Ctrl + F5) as well as deleting all temporary internet files from Tools-> Options -> General Tab -> Browsing History -> Delete Button -> Delete All. Once this is done, refresh the browser and go check out e.g. the Workflow Field Section of an item as discover that when you miss clicking on an item from the content
tree, the div stay open.

Enjoy.

Thanks to all those whom participated in the Sitecore User Group meeting in Sydney last week. We had a great turn-out and it was good to see a mix of developers, partners and clients. We discussed the new and exciting features of Sitecore 6.2.

We also had a guest presentation from Gruden. Mark and Joel went through some of the implementation phases of Sitecore and talked about some of the custom functionality that they built into the Sitecore Desktop. It was really interesting to see that they had built a File-Output application that was able to do things like “Create an ISO file out of content Items”. Once again, thanks to Mark and Joel for taking the time to create their presentation.

We also gave away the prize for our first User Group Module competition and the winner was Steven Lim. Steven create a module that added functionality to the Content Editor for tasks that are often used within Sitecore, but are not built in functionalities. The module is available from the Shared Source Library. Steven won a Logitech Di Novo Keyboard for creating his module.

We also announced the prize for the next User Group Module competition which is due on the 22^nd of February 2010. The winner will get this funky laser keyboard, for which practical use is yet to be determined, but on the coolness level is out of this world. I can’t wait to see what new modules come through this time.

Even if it recycling an old module that you have had lying around in Sitecore for a while, I recommend packaging it up and sending it through to myself. (tiw@sitecore.net )

Thanks again to all those whom attended and those whom have a 100% attendance rate!

Here is a link to some of the pictures from the night

Hi All,

Check out this new blog from Phil on the new WebDav feature within Sitecore 6.2.

http://philheltewig.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E339C3F87E43ABC8!378.entry

Hi All,

Sitecore Australia and New Zealand is looking for a trainer/developer who is wanting to work in the most exciting product in the industry (It is Sitecore just in case anyone didn’t read between the lines )

Here is the link to the Seek job -> http://www.seek.com.au/job/net-b-developer-b-b-trainer-b/brisbane/16117194/64/1/

Here are the details of the job.

Sitecore is one of the fastest growing web companies globally, with an extremely strong presence in Australia.

The .NET Developer / Trainer role is a dynamic role combining technical website design concepts and carrying out technical tasks as well as developer and user training.

Knowledge & Experience:

• Experience in Web Content Management Systems (e.g. Sitecore, SharePoint)
• Experience in ASP.net with the 3.5 framework, C#, Visual Studio, xHTML, JavaScript and CSS
• Experience as a trainer of any kind, preferably technology trainer (skills can be taught)

Responsibilities:

• Development of Proof of Concept websites in Sitecore and .NET
• Participation in online developer communities (Blogging, User Groups)
• Technical sales consulting
• Solution prototyping and services
• Documentation contributions
• Miscellaneous technical tasks as need arises
• Carrying out technical and user training in Australia and New Zealand
• Estimated 35% travel in Australia and New Zealand

Traits:

• Customer-facing language and presentation skills
• Travel-ready
• Ability to work independently or as a team, with or without management
• Driven by strong interest in a broad range of web and related technologies, especially ASP.NET, XML, XSL, Microsoft technologies and Sitecore
• Ability to independently prioritize multiple overlapping tasks
• Self-starting strategic thinker taking initiative to drive projects through completion
• Ability to adjust to the requirements of a fast-shifting market
• Meticulous and detail-oriented
• Ability to explain concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Ready to work in a startup style, growing the company together

This is an excellent opportunity to earn competitive compensation while learning new skills and emerging technologies in a fun, dynamic, profitable, fast-growing, high-tech organization with room for advancement and the feel of a startup.

Sitecore is particularly interested in applicants with prior experience in the web content management field. Specific technical skills can be taught and are less important than the traits listed above.

Applicant must be able to work efficiently from home.

The position will be based in Brisbane.

Feel free to email at tiw@sitecore.net if you would like to have an interview.

Hi Guys,

Yesterday I discovered a tool that is a much better solution than my previous post that mentioned that we should redirect all our mail to the local drive when testing out mail in your development environment or with no connection to the internet.

Introducing a really cool tool called Papercut. Papercut is a no-install light-weight tool that runs in your notification box and simple intercepts all your localhost emails on any port that you designate (by default it is 25).

Download it, it is awesome. Let me know in the comments section of any other tools that have just made your life easier that you think others might not know about.

(Download Here)

Hi All,

I had to create a social book marking control for a proof of concept and thought I would save you all the time and just add it here as a Sitecore package. Tested and working with Sitecore 6.0 onwards.

Sitecore Package Download : SocialBookmark.zip

Here it is in action :

Social Bookmark Control

Hi All,

We have just announced the next Sitecore User Group meeting. The details are below :

Sitecore Invitation

Hope to see you all there!!