#sharepoint features

[ameliakeli]

CloudFuze First in the Market To Integrate New Box Notes API

[neeraj82]

https://saxon.ai/blogs/6-new-sharepoint-intranet-features/

[makemybiz1]

Microsoft Sharepoint Features

Microsoft Sharepoint Services Seamlessly collaborate across the organization Microsoft Sharepoint Features Customer Centricity We can help customers create collaboration tools and content management capabilities can create a unified platform for customer interaction, from personalized marketing campaigns to responsive support channels. SharePoint facilitates interactive communities and portals, enabling customers to self-serve, share feedback. Cost Optimization Helps

Visit: https://www.makemybiz.in/microsoft-sharepoint/

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Billionaire-proofing the internet

Picks and Shovels is a new, standalone technothriller starring Marty Hench, my two-fisted, hard-fighting, tech-scam-busting forensic accountant. You can pre-order it on my latest Kickstarter, which features a brilliant audiobook read by Wil Wheaton.

During the Napster wars, the record labels seriously pissed off millions of internet users when they sued over 19,000 music fans, mostly kids, but also grannies, old people, and dead people.

It's hard to overstate how badly the labels behaved. Like, there was the Swarthmore student who was the maintainer of a free/open source search engine that indexed files available in public sharepoints on the LAN. The labels sued him for millions and millions (the statutory damages for digital copyright infringement runs to $150,000 per file) and, when he begged for a settlement, said that they would accept his life's savings, but only if he changed majors and stopped studying Computer Science.

No, really.

What's more, none of the money the labels extracted from teenagers, grandparents (and the dead) went to artists. The labels just kept it all, while continuing to insist that they were doing all this because they wanted to "protect artists."

One thing everyone agreed on was how disgusted we all were with the labels. What we didn't agree on was what to do about it. A lot of us wanted to reform copyright – say, by creating a blanket license for internet music so that artists could get paid directly. This was the systemic approach.

Another group – call them the "individualists" – wanted a boycott. Just stop buying and listening to music from the major labels. Every dollar you spend with a label is being used to fund a campaign of legal terror. Merely enjoying popular music makes you part of the problem.

You can probably guess which group I was in. Leaving aside the futility of "voting with your wallet" (a rigged ballot that's always won by the people with the thickest wallet), I just thought this was bad tactics.

Here's what I would say when people told me we should all stop listening to popular music: "If members of your popular movement are not allowed to listen to popular music, your movement won't be very popular."

We weren't going to make political change by creating an impossible purity test ("Ew, you listen to music from a major label? God, what's wrong with you?"). I mean, for one thing, a lot of popular music is legitimately fantastic and makes peoples' lives better. Popular movements should strive to increase their members' joy, not demand their deprivation. Again, not merely because this is a nice thing to do for people, but also because it's good tactics to make participation in the thing you're trying to do as joyous as possible.

Which brings me to social media. The problem with social media is that the people we love and want to interact with are being held prisoner in walled gardens. The mechanism of their imprisonment is the "switching costs" of leaving. Our friends and communities are on bad social media networks because they love each other more than they hate Musk or Zuck. Leaving a social platform can cost you contact with family members in the country you emigrated from, a support group of people who share your rare disease, the customers or audience you rely on for your livelihood, or just the other parents organizing your kid's little league game.

Hypothetically, you could organize all these people to leave at once, go somewhere else, and re-establish all your social connections. Practically, the "collective action problem" of doing so is nearly insurmountable. This is what platform owners depend on – it's why they know they can enshittify their services without losing users. So long as the pain of using the service is lower than the pain of leaving it, the companies can turn the screws on users to make their lives worse in order to extract more profit from them. This is why Musk killed the block button and why Zuck fired all his moderators. Why bear the expense of doing something nice for users if they'll still stick around even if you cut a ton of headcount and/or expensive compute?

There's a way out of this, thankfully. When social media is federated, then you can leave a server without leaving your friends. Think of it as being similar to changing cell-phone companies. When you switch from Verizon to T-Mobile, you keep your number, you keep your address book and you keep your friends, who won't even know you switched networks unless you tell them:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/29/how-to-leave-dying-social-media-platforms/

There's no reason social media couldn't work this way. You should be able to leave Facebook or Twitter for Mastodon, Bluesky, or any other service and still talk with the people you left behind, provided they still want to talk with you:

https://www.eff.org/interoperablefacebook

That's how the Fediverse – which Mastodon is part of – works already. You can switch from one Mastodon server to another, and all the people you follow and who follow you will just move over to that new server. That means that if the person or company or group running your server goes sour, you aren't stuck making a choice between the people you love who connect to you on that server, and the pain of dealing with whatever bullshit the management is throwing off:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/23/semipermeable-membranes/#free-as-in-puppies

We could make that stronger! Data protection laws like the EU's GDPR and California's CCPA create a legal duty for online services to hand over your data on demand. Arguably, these laws already require your Mastodon server's management to give you the files you need to switch from one server to another, but that could be clarified. Handing these files over to users on demand is really straightforward – even a volunteer running a small server for a few friends will have no trouble living up to this obligation. It's literally just a minute's work for each user.

Another way to make this stronger is through governance. Many of the great services that defined the old, good internet were run by "benevolent dictators for life." This worked well, but failed so badly. Even if the dictator for life stayed benevolent, that didn't make them infallible. The problem of a dictatorship isn't just malice – it's also human frailty. For a service to remain good over long timescales, it needs accountable, responsive governance. That's why all the most successful BDFL services (like Wikipedia) transitioned to community-managed systems:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/12/10/bdfl/#high-on-your-own-supply

There, too, Mastodon shines. Mastodon's founder Eugen Rochko has just explicitly abjured his role as "ultimate decision-maker" and handed management over to a nonprofit:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/01/mastodon-becomes-nonprofit-to-make-sure-its-never-ruined-by-billionaire-ceo/

I love using Mastodon and I have a lot of hope for its future. I wish I was as happy with Bluesky, which was founded with the promise of federation, and which uses a clever naming scheme that makes it even harder for server owners to usurp your identity. But while Bluesky has added many, many technically impressive features, they haven't delivered on the long-promised federation:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/02/ulysses-pact/#tie-yourself-to-a-federated-mast

Bluesky sure seems like a lot of fun! They've pulled tens of millions of users over from other systems, and by all accounts, they've all having a great time. The problem is that without federation, all those users are vulnerable to bad decisions by management (perhaps under pressure from the company's investors) or by a change in management (perhaps instigated by investors if the current management refuses to institute extractive measures that are good for the investors but bad for the users). Federation is to social media what fire-exits are to nightclubs: a way for people to escape if the party turns deadly:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/12/14/fire-exits/#graceful-failure-modes

So what's the answer? Well, around Mastodon, you'll hear a refrain that reminds me a lot of the Napster wars: "People who are enjoying themselves on Bluesky are wrong to do so, because it's not federated and the only server you can use is run by a VC-backed for-profit. They should all leave that great party – there's no fire exits!"

This is the social media version of "To be in our movement, you have to stop listening to popular music." Sure, those people shouldn't be crammed into a nightclub that has no fire exits. But thankfully, there is an alternative to being the kind of scold who demands that people leave a great party, and being the kind of callous person who lets tens of millions of people continue to risk their lives by being stuck in a fire-trap.

We can install our own fire-exits in Bluesky.

Yesterday, an initiative called "Free Our Feeds" launched, with a set of goals for "billionaire-proofing" social media. One of those goals is to add the long-delayed federation to Bluesky. I'm one of the inaugural endorsers for this, because installing fire exits for Bluesky isn't just the right thing to do, it's also good tactics:

https://freeourfeeds.com/

Here's why: if a body independent of the Bluesky corporation implements its federation services, then we ensure that its fire exits are beyond the control of its VCs. That means that if they are ever tempted in future to brick up the fire-exits, they won't be able to. This isn't a hypothetical risk. When businesses start to enshittify their services, they fully commit themselves to blocking anything that makes it easy to leave those services.

That's why Apple went so hard after Beeper Plus, a service that enhanced iMessage's security by making conversations between Apple and Android users as private as chats that were confined to Apple users:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/07/blue-bubbles-for-all/#never-underestimate-the-determination-of-a-kid-who-is-time-rich-and-cash-poor

It's why Elon Musk periodically freaks out and suspends users who list their Mastodon userids in their Twitter bios:

https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/15/elon-musk-suspends-mastodon-twitter-account-over-elonjet-tracking/

And it's why Meta will suspend your account if you link to Pixelfed, a Fediverse-based alternative to Instagram:

https://www.404media.co/meta-is-blocking-links-to-decentralized-instagram-competitor-pixelfed/

Once upon a time, we had a solid way of overcoming the problem of lock-in. We'd reverse-engineer a proprietary system and make a free, open alternative. We've been hacking fire exits into walled gardens since the Usenet days, with the creation of the alt.* hierarchy:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/11/altinteroperabilityadversarial

When the corporate owners of Unix started getting all weird about source-code access and user-modifiability, we didn't insist that Unix users were bad people for sticking with a corporate OS. We reverse-engineered Unix and set all those users free:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_Project

The answer to Microsoft's proprietary SMB network protocol wasn't a campaign to shame people for having SMB running on their LANs. It was reverse-engineering SMB and making SAMBA, which is now in every single device in your home and office, and it's gloriously free as in speech and free as in beer:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/07/samba-versus-smb-adversarial-interoperability-judo-network-effects

In the years since, a thicket of laws we colloquially call "IP" has grown up around services and products, and people have literally forgotten that there is an alternative to wheedling people to endure the pain of leaving a proprietary system for a free one. IP has put the imaginations of people who dream of a free internet in chains.

We can do better than begging people to leave a party they're enjoying; we can install our own fucking fire exits. Sure, maybe that means that a lot of those users will stay on the proprietary platform, but at least we'll have given them a way to leave if things go horribly wrong.

After all, there's no virtue in software freedom. The only thing worth caring about is human freedom. The only reason to value software freedom is if it sets humans free.

If I had my way, all those people enjoying themselves on Bluesky would come and enjoy themselves in the Fediverse. But I'm not a purist. If there's a way to use Bluesky without locking myself to the platform, I will join the party there in a hot second. And if there's a way to join the Bluesky party from the Fediverse, then goddamn I will party my ass off.

Check out my Kickstarter to pre-order copies of my next novel, Picks and Shovels!

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/14/contesting-popularity/#everybody-samba

[startedwellthatsentence]

Question about browsers

I'm asking this because I think I have developed a use for browsers that is different to the normal person, and I want to see if that's true.

It started on my phone, actually, in which I Firefox (previously Chrome) for ONLY fanfiction, and Safari for everything else. Firefox is in a folder with my Kindle, Books, and Comixology apps.

Then I got two jobs that both use Microsoft (Teams, Sharepoint, etc.), and if I am logged into them both on the same browser they won't let me access ANYTHING because I don't have permission with one of my accounts, even though I do with the other. So I use Edge for one job and Opera for the other.

I use Firefox for my personal browser because of the security features.

I use Chrome for school, because I use Speechify for all of my readings and their web app only works on Chrome. (Speechify my beloved, I would not be capable of grad school without you.)

So I just want to know: is this normal?

[armandoarmstrong]

The Vital Role of Windows VPS Hosting Services in Today’s Digital World

In the fast-paced, ever-evolving digital landscape, businesses and individuals alike are in constant pursuit of reliability, speed, and efficiency. One technological marvel that has been increasingly pivotal in achieving these goals is Windows VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting services. These services offer a robust and versatile solution that caters to a wide range of needs, from small business operations to large-scale enterprises. But what makes Windows VPS hosting services so indispensable? Let's dive in.

1. Unmatched Performance and Reliability

When it comes to performance, Windows VPS hosting stands out. Unlike shared hosting, where resources are distributed among multiple users, VPS hosting allocates dedicated resources to each user. This means faster load times, reduced downtime, and a smoother user experience. For businesses, this translates to enhanced customer satisfaction and improved SEO rankings.

2. Scalability at Its Best

One of the standout features of Windows VPS hosting is its scalability. Whether you're a startup experiencing rapid growth or an established business expanding its digital footprint, VPS hosting allows you to easily upgrade your resources as needed. This flexibility ensures that your hosting service grows with your business, eliminating the need for frequent and costly migrations.

3. Enhanced Security Measures

In an age where cyber threats are a constant concern, security is paramount. Windows VPS hosting provides a higher level of security compared to shared hosting. With isolated environments for each user, the risk of security breaches is significantly minimized. Additionally, many Windows VPS services come with advanced security features such as firewalls, regular backups, and DDoS protection, ensuring your data remains safe and secure.

4. Full Administrative Control

For those who require more control over their hosting environment, Windows VPS hosting offers full administrative access. This means you can customize your server settings, install preferred software, and manage your resources as you see fit. This level of control is particularly beneficial for developers and IT professionals who need a tailored hosting environment to meet specific project requirements.

5. Cost-Effective Solution

Despite its numerous advantages, Windows VPS hosting remains a cost-effective solution. It offers a middle ground between the affordability of shared hosting and the high performance of dedicated hosting. By only paying for the resources you need, you can optimize your budget without compromising on quality or performance.

6. Seamless Integration with Microsoft Products

For businesses heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, Windows VPS hosting provides seamless integration with Microsoft products. Whether it's running applications like SQL Server, SharePoint, or other enterprise solutions, the compatibility and performance of Windows VPS hosting are unparalleled.

In conclusion, Windows VPS hosting services are a critical asset in the modern digital world. They offer unmatched performance, scalability, security, control, and cost-effectiveness, making them an ideal choice for businesses and individuals striving for success online. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, embracing Windows VPS hosting can provide the stability and reliability needed to stay ahead of the curve.

[elsa16744]

Power of Data Visualization: A Deep Dive into Microsoft Power BI Services 

In today’s data-driven world, the ability to transform raw data into actionable insights is a crucial asset for businesses. As organizations accumulate vast amounts of data from various sources, the challenge lies not just in storing and managing this data but in making sense of it. This is where Microsoft Power BI Services comes into play—a powerful tool designed to bring data to life through intuitive and dynamic visualizations. 

What is Microsoft Power BI? 

Microsoft Power BI is a suite of business analytics tools that enables organizations to analyze data and share insights. It provides interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities with a simple interface, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical users. Whether you are analyzing sales performance, tracking customer behavior, or monitoring operational efficiency, Power BI empowers you to create dashboards and reports that highlight the key metrics driving your business. 

Key Features of Microsoft Power BI Services 

User-Friendly Interface: One of the standout features of Power BI is its user-friendly interface. Even those with minimal technical expertise can quickly learn to create reports and dashboards. The drag-and-drop functionality allows users to effortlessly build visualizations, while pre-built templates and AI-powered insights help accelerate the decision-making process. 

Data Connectivity: Power BI supports a wide range of data sources, including Excel, SQL Server, cloud-based data warehouses, and even social media platforms. This extensive connectivity ensures that users can pull in data from various systems and consolidate it into a single, coherent view. The ability to connect to both on-premises and cloud-based data sources provides flexibility and scalability as your data needs evolve. 

Real-Time Analytics: In today’s fast-paced business environment, real-time data is critical. Power BI’s real-time analytics capabilities allow users to monitor data as it’s collected, providing up-to-the-minute insights. Whether tracking website traffic, monitoring social media engagement, or analyzing sales figures, Power BI ensures that you are always equipped with the latest information. 

Custom Visualizations: While Power BI comes with a robust library of standard visualizations, it also supports custom visuals. Organizations can create unique visualizations that cater to specific business needs, ensuring that the data is presented in the most effective way possible. These custom visuals can be developed in-house or sourced from the Power BI community, offering endless possibilities for data representation. 

Collaboration and Sharing: Collaboration is key to making data-driven decisions. Power BI makes it easy to share insights with colleagues, whether through interactive reports or shared dashboards. Reports can be published to the Power BI service, embedded in websites, or shared via email, ensuring that stakeholders have access to the information they need, when they need it. 

Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem: As part of the Microsoft ecosystem, Power BI seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products like Excel, Azure, and SharePoint. This integration enhances productivity by allowing users to leverage familiar tools and workflows. For example, users can import Excel data directly into Power BI, or embed Power BI reports in SharePoint for easy access. 

The Benefits of Microsoft Power BI Services for Businesses 

The adoption of Microsoft Power BI Services offers numerous benefits for businesses looking to harness the power of their data: 

Enhanced Decision-Making: By providing real-time, data-driven insights, Power BI enables businesses to make informed decisions faster. The ability to visualize data through dashboards and reports ensures that critical information is easily accessible, allowing decision-makers to respond to trends and challenges with agility. 

Cost-Effective Solution: Power BI offers a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. With a range of pricing options, including a free version, Power BI is accessible to small businesses and large enterprises alike. The cloud-based service model also reduces the need for expensive hardware and IT infrastructure, making it a scalable option as your business grows. 

Improved Data Governance: Data governance is a growing concern for many organizations. Power BI helps address this by providing centralized control over data access and usage. Administrators can set permissions and define data access policies, ensuring that sensitive information is protected and that users only have access to the data they need. 

Scalability and Flexibility: As businesses grow and their data needs evolve, Power BI scales effortlessly to accommodate new data sources, users, and reporting requirements. Whether expanding to new markets, launching new products, or adapting to regulatory changes, Power BI provides the flexibility to adapt and thrive in a dynamic business environment. 

Streamlined Reporting: Traditional reporting processes can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Power BI automates many of these processes, reducing the time spent on report creation and ensuring accuracy. With Power BI, reports are not only generated faster but are also more insightful, helping businesses to stay ahead of the competition. 

Empowering Non-Technical Users: One of Power BI’s greatest strengths is its accessibility. Non-technical users can easily create and share reports without relying on IT departments. This democratization of data empowers teams across the organization to take ownership of their data and contribute to data-driven decision-making. 

Use Cases of Microsoft Power BI Services 

Power BI’s versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of industries and use cases: 

Retail: Retailers use Power BI to analyze sales data, track inventory levels, and understand customer behavior. Real-time dashboards help retail managers make quick decisions on pricing, promotions, and stock replenishment. 

Finance: Financial institutions rely on Power BI to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), analyze risk, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Power BI’s robust data security features make it an ideal choice for handling sensitive financial data. 

Healthcare: In healthcare, Power BI is used to track patient outcomes, monitor resource utilization, and analyze population health trends. The ability to visualize complex data sets helps healthcare providers deliver better care and improve operational efficiency. 

Manufacturing: Manufacturers leverage Power BI to monitor production processes, optimize supply chains, and manage quality control. Real-time analytics enable manufacturers to identify bottlenecks and make data-driven adjustments on the fly. 

Conclusion 

In an era where data is a key driver of business success, Microsoft Power BI Services offers a powerful, flexible, and cost-effective solution for transforming raw data into actionable insights. Its user-friendly interface, extensive data connectivity, and real-time analytics capabilities make it an invaluable tool for organizations across industries. By adopting Power BI, businesses can unlock the full potential of their data, making informed decisions that drive growth, efficiency, and innovation. 

[graysongarelick]

Elevate Client Services with Excel: Expert Tips for Financial Consultants by Grayson Garelick

Financial consultants operate in a dynamic environment where precision, efficiency, and client satisfaction are paramount. Excel, as a versatile tool, offers an array of features that can significantly enhance the services provided by financial consultants. Grayson Garelick, an accomplished financial analyst and consultant, shares invaluable Excel tips to help financial consultants elevate their client services and add tangible value.

The Role of Excel in Financial Consulting

Excel serves as the backbone of financial consulting, enabling consultants to analyze data, create models, and generate insights that drive informed decision-making. As the demands of clients become increasingly complex, mastering Excel becomes essential for financial consultants aiming to deliver exceptional services.

1. Customize Excel Templates

One of the most effective ways to streamline workflows and improve efficiency is by creating customized Excel templates tailored to specific client needs. Grayson suggests developing templates for budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting that can be easily adapted for different clients, saving time and ensuring consistency.

2. Utilize PivotTables for Data Analysis

PivotTables are powerful tools in Excel that allow financial consultants to analyze large datasets and extract meaningful insights quickly. Grayson emphasizes the importance of mastering PivotTables for segmenting data, identifying trends, and presenting information in a clear and concise manner to clients.

3. Implement Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting is a valuable feature in Excel that allows consultants to highlight important information and identify outliers effortlessly. By setting up conditional formatting rules, consultants can draw attention to key metrics, discrepancies, or trends, facilitating easier interpretation of data by clients.

4. Leverage Excel Add-ins

Excel offers a variety of add-ins that extend its functionality and provide additional features tailored to financial analysis and reporting. Grayson recommends exploring add-ins such as Power Query, Power Pivot, and Solver to enhance data manipulation, modeling, and optimization capabilities.

5. Automate Repetitive Tasks with Macros

Macros enable financial consultants to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows, saving valuable time and reducing the risk of errors. Grayson advises recording and editing macros to automate tasks such as data entry, formatting, and report generation, allowing consultants to focus on value-added activities.

6. Master Advanced Formulas and Functions

Excel's extensive library of formulas and functions offers endless possibilities for financial analysis and modeling. Grayson suggests mastering advanced formulas such as VLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, and array formulas to perform complex calculations, manipulate data, and create sophisticated models tailored to client needs.

7. Visualize Data with Charts and Graphs

Visualizing data is essential for conveying complex information in an easily digestible format. Excel offers a variety of chart types and customization options that enable consultants to create compelling visuals that resonate with clients. Grayson recommends experimenting with different chart styles to find the most effective way to present data and insights.

8. Collaborate and Share Workbooks Online

Excel's collaboration features enable financial consultants to work seamlessly with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders in real-time. Grayson highlights the benefits of sharing workbooks via OneDrive or SharePoint, allowing multiple users to collaborate on the same document, track changes, and maintain version control.

9. Protect Sensitive Data with Security Features

Data security is a top priority for financial consultants handling sensitive client information. Excel's built-in security features, such as password protection and encryption, help safeguard confidential data and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. Grayson advises implementing security protocols to protect client data and maintain trust.

10. Stay Updated with Excel Training and Certification

Excel is a constantly evolving tool, with new features and updates released regularly. Grayson stresses the importance of staying updated with the latest Excel training and certification programs to enhance skills, explore new capabilities, and maintain proficiency in Excel's ever-changing landscape.

Elevating Client Services with Excel Mastery

Excel serves as a catalyst for innovation and excellence in financial consulting, empowering consultants to deliver exceptional services that add tangible value to clients. By implementing Grayson Garelick Excel tips, financial consultants can streamline workflows, enhance data analysis capabilities, and foster collaboration, ultimately driving client satisfaction and success. As financial consulting continues to evolve, mastering Excel remains a cornerstone of excellence, enabling consultants to thrive in a competitive landscape and exceed client expectations.

[ameliakeli]

10 Features to Look For in a Box to SharePoint Migration Tool

[iverveinc]

What is the Best Microsoft Development Tool for Your Project?

Introduction

It is crucial to choose the right development tools for any project. It can be overwhelming to figure out which tools are most suitable for your project based on the vast array of options available. We will provide you with insight and criteria in this blog post to help you make informed decisions and select the best Microsoft development tools for your projects.

1) An overview of Microsoft's development tools

Several tools are industry favourites when it comes to Microsoft development. Listed below are a few popular Microsoft development tools:

A. Microsoft Visual Studio

It provides comprehensive tools, debugging capabilities, and integration with a variety of languages and frameworks, making it the leading integrated development environment (IDE) for Windows platform development.

B. Visual Studio Code

It's particularly well-suited to web development because it's lightweight and versatile. Customization options are extensive, extensions are numerous, and debugging capabilities are powerful.

C. Windows Forms

Windows Forms is a powerful framework for building applications with graphical user interfaces (GUI). In addition to providing a rich set of design options and controls, it simplifies the creation of desktop applications.

D. ASP.NET

Building dynamic and scalable web applications is easy with ASP.NET. A variety of development models are available, including Web Forms and MVC (Model-View-Controller), and it integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft tools. For more information on why choose .Net framework for your next project, please refer to our detailed article.

E. Microsoft SharePoint

Designed to facilitate collaboration, document management, and content publishing, SharePoint facilitates enterprise development. A wide variety of tools and services are available for building intranets, websites, and business solutions with it.

F. Azure

In addition to infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Microsoft Azure also offers platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) services. An application development, deployment, and management environment that is scalable and flexible.

Help Using Microsoft Tools with Expertise

Would you like expert assistance in maximizing the potential of Microsoft tools for your development project? For more information, please visit our comprehensive development services page.

2) When choosing development tools, consider the following factors

You should consider the following factors when selecting Microsoft development tools:

A) Purpose and Technology Stack

Understand your project's purpose and the technology stack needed. Different tools are optimized for different purposes, such as web development, desktop applications, and cloud computing.

B) Ease of Use and Learnability

Make sure the tools are easy to use and easy to learn. Your development team's familiarity and learning curve with the tools should be considered. An intuitive interface and extensive documentation can significantly improve productivity.

C) Desired Features and Performance Goals

Determine what features and performance goals your project requires. Make sure your selected tools provide the necessary functionality and are capable of meeting your project's scalability and performance needs.

D) Specialized Tools and Services

Microsoft offers specialized tools and services tailored to specific requirements. Office 365 development services provide integration with the productivity suite, while Power BI and Power Apps development services enable low-code and advanced data analytics.

E) Security and Regular Updates

Protect against vulnerabilities by prioritizing tools that emphasize security and offer regular updates.

F) Cost-Effectiveness

Take into account the cost-effectiveness of the tools based on the needs and budget of your project. Each tool should be evaluated based on its licensing model, support options, and long-term expenses.

3) Considerations and additional Microsoft development tools

As well as the core development tools, Microsoft Office 365 is also worth mentioning. Microsoft Office 365 offers a range of productivity and collaboration tools, including Word, Excel, Teams, and SharePoint, that seamlessly integrate with development workflows.

Considering the use of development tools requires consideration of costs and prioritizing regular updates. The use of the latest tools ensures data protection, improves overall performance, and mitigates the risk of security breaches.

Using Microsoft development tools like Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Windows Forms, ASP.NET, SharePoint Development, and Azure, you have access to a comprehensive ecosystem that supports various development requirements. Power BI development services , Power Apps development services , and Office 365 development services can help you improve your development process and deliver high-quality solutions.

In addition to improving productivity, choosing the right tools can ensure streamlined development and the development of robust, scalable, and efficient solutions. Choosing the right Microsoft development tool for your project requires evaluating your project needs, exploring the available tools, and making an informed choice.

Office 365 Development Services

Get the most out of Microsoft's productivity suite with our Office 365 development services. You can find more information on our website.

4) Conclusion

You can significantly impact the success of your project by choosing the right Microsoft development tools.The factors such as purpose, ease of use, desired features, security, and cost-effectiveness can help you make an informed decision and choose the tools that are most appropriate for your project.

In addition to handling web development and MVP development projects, i-Verve has extensive experience with multiple technology stacks.

[ailelie]

I'll have to consider a Google break-up. But this reminds me how I did just go through separation with Microsoft 365.

My very first step was listing out all the places where I use Microsoft and thinking through what my requirements were for replacing them. OneDrive, for the longest time, was my sticking point. This program has saved me twice now when I've had computer issues. I needed something that would keep copies of my files in the cloud, connect with multiple folders, sync instantly, and connect with my phone. I also wanted to pay no more than I was already paying for Microsoft 365. Finally, it had to be easy to use.

For the Office Suite, I just needed something that could open and edit my Microsoft files and have similar features. I rarely use Word/Excel/etc outside of work, though that may change if I do breakup with Google (I use Google Sheets for myriad things).

OneDrive

To replace the online drive and sync, I've switched to pCloud. It isn't free, though. It costs $50-60/year for 500GB (and about a $100 for 2T).

Steps for switching:

Make sure you have downloaded everything from OneDrive to your computer. Most of your files actually live in the cloud and you'll lose access to them when you uninstall OneDrive (note: they'll still be online).

Move all of your files into your User directory or somewhere else on your computer that isn't your OneDrive folder. (Learn from my mistakes...)

Uninstall OneDrive.

Go through your files and delete all of your OneDrive folders.

Download and install pCloud and follow their directions.

(Note: pCloud does have a OneDrive import feature, but I did not use that and I do not know how well it supports uninstalling OneDrive afterward.)

I also have pCloud on my phone now. I don't know if I just have rosy glasses on, but it feels nicer than the OneDrive app.

(Note: I do not rec NextCloud. I tried it and was met with nothing but pure frustration. Plus, for basic sync, I learned I had to download another program/extension, but then it was super unclear on how to install that extra bit and etc etc etc.)

ETA: OneDrive will still exist in some pretty critical default filepaths (e.g., your desktop folder). I followed this to fix it in my registry.

Office Suite

I've downloaded LibreOffice (free!)for this. If your Calc is an utter glacier when you open it, look up how to check the "Force Skia software rendering" box. That fixed the issue for me.

If you prefer ribbons over menus, there is a view option for that, too.

I am also currently trialing Typora, which costs $15 and is beautiful. It is a Markdown editor in which your Markdown is instantly rendered.

Other Microsoft Apps

I don't tend to use other Microsoft apps much outside of work. If I used a desktop email client, I'd probably go back to Thunderbird, which I used back in college.

As for OneNote, I'm not sure. Obsidian, which I use for my worldbook for my current story, is fantastic, but I've not tried to have different projects on it at once.

For teams, there's Slack and Discord. For the Sharepoint side of teams, maybe Box, Basecamp, or Confluence? I've not really looked into this because I don't use Teams in my non-work life and there is a 0% chance my workplace transitions away from Teams and Sharepoint anytime soon.

For Notepad, Notepad++ has always been one of the first programs I download to new computers. It is stellar.

For other apps, I'm already using alternatives (e.g., VLC Media Player, Firefox, WonderShare) or they aren't programs I even knew existed (e.g., Journal?, Family?). A few, though, just feel like system tools (e.g., Snipping Tool, Calculator).

Of course, there is the Linux of it all.

I have considered linux before. I have even tried linux (Ubuntu) before.

Most of what I use these days will work with Linux, with one major and rather important-to-me exception: Scrivener.

I am yet to find a single other application I like half as well as Scrivener.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day... 💔 

Ready to break up with Google?

So are we!

We’ve rounded up a bunch of privacy-centric alternatives for everything Google.

Check out the full list over on the blog!

- The Ellipsus Team xo