When we first proposed this book, we set a goal of writing a different
kind of SharePoint book. We did not want a reference that repeated the
software development kit, nor did we want a how-to book that explained
how to configure the out-of-the-box functionality. Instead, we
envisioned a book that helped developers apply the Microsoft Office
platform to customer problems. Since Chad and I work at the Microsoft
Technology Center in Virginia, we have a unique opportunity to work with
a wide variety of customers, in both the commercial and public sectors,
who are trying to realize a benefit from incorporating Office
technologies into their enterprises. Many of these customers are not
just seeking installation or configuration advice. Instead, the focus is
on how the Microsoft Office platform will make their workers more
efficient, their processes more repeatable, and their businesses more
profitable. For these customers, the technology must be applied to their
specific challenges. With the release of Office 2010, Microsoft gives
the developer a complete platform (both client and server) for
generating documents, automating processes, enhancing collaboration, and
integrating li- of-business data. This platform includes not only the
latest releases of SharePoint products and technologies, but also a new
set of desktop applications. More importantly, these applications are
extendable by . NET developers. This book walks through solutions to
common customer challenges and utilizes both the client and server
technologies of the Office 2010 platform, including Microsoft Office
2010, Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, and Visual Studio 2010.
