Contents
Overview 1
Configuring a Digital Dashboard Server 2
Deploying and Supporting Digital
Dashboards 12
Personalizing and Customizing Digital
Dashboards 18
Enabling Offline Use of Digital
Dashboards 23
Lab A: Installing a Digital Dashboard
Server Site 28
Review 32

Module 4: Creating and
Deploying Digital
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Module 4: Creating and Deploying Digital Dashboards iii Instructor Notes
This module provides students with the skills necessary to create and deploy
digital dashboards.
At the end of this module, students will be able to:
!
Install and configure a digital dashboard server that supports both
Microsoft
®
Windows
®
2000 file system–based and Microsoft SQL

Complete the lab.

Presentation:
45 Minutes

Lab:
15 Minutes
iv Module 4: Creating and Deploying Digital Dashboards Module Strategy
Use the following strategy to present this module:
!
Configuring a Digital Dashboard Server
Explain how to install and configure digital dashboard environments based
on the two types of Web Part stores supported by the Digital Dashboard
Resource Kit version 2.0: Windows 2000 file system and SQL Server.
!
Deploying and Supporting Digital Dashboards
Explain how to implement a digital dashboard. Describe the difference
between personal and team digital dashboards. Explain how to access a
digital dashboard by using Microsoft Outlook
®
2000.
!
Personalizing and Customizing Digital Dashboards
Explain how to personalize digital dashboards and how to customize digital
dashboards. Explain how to enable digital dashboards to store user
preferences.
!

Deploy and support digital dashboards by using the four basic
implementation models along with Microsoft Outlook
®
2000.
!
Personalize and customize digital dashboards for individuals or for
corporate groups.
!
Enable offline use of a digital dashboard.

Slide Objective
To provide an overview of
the module topics and
objectives.
Lead-in
In this module, you will learn
how to create and deploy
digital dashboards.
2 Module 4: Creating and Deploying Digital Dashboards #
##
#

Configuring a Digital Dashboard Server
!
Installing a File System–based Digital Dashboard
Environment
!

two sample digital
dashboards included with
the Digital Dashboard
Resource Kit as the
foundation for your digital
dashboard.
Important
Module 4: Creating and Deploying Digital Dashboards 3 Installing a File System–based Digital Dashboard Environment
Components of a File
System–based
Digital Dashboard
Components of a File
System–based
Digital Dashboard
Web Part
Storage
Web Page
Storage
Providing Information
During Installation
Installing the File System
Sample Digital Dashboard
Installing the File System
Sample Digital Dashboard
\Factory\*.*
\Factory\*.*
\Dashboards\

Factory folder. This component is an NTFS folder and IIS virtual root that
stores components used by the digital dashboard factory while rendering a
digital dashboard view.

Slide Objective
To illustrate the components
needed to install a file
system–based digital
dashboard environment.
Lead-in
A digital dashboard can
store Web Parts in the
Windows 2000 file system.
4 Module 4: Creating and Deploying Digital Dashboards Installing a File System Sample Digital Dashboard
The most straightforward way to install a digital dashboard based on the
Windows file system is to install the Windows File System Sample Digital
Dashboard (included with the Digital Dashboard Resource Kit).
To install the Windows File System Sample Digital Dashboard:
1. On the Digital Dashboard Resource Kit compact disc, run the Ddrk_fs.msi
file.
2. Follow the instructions provided by the installation wizard.

Providing Information During Installation
During installation, you will be asked to provide the following information:
!
Web site server. You must specify the IIS server that will be used to support
your digital dashboard site. The default value is Default Web Site.

Professional can be used to develop Web Parts and can be used to connect
Visual InterDev to the server hosting a digital dashboard site, but it should not
be used as a digital dashboard site host. This is because a client-side digital
dashboard does not support a full implementation of the digital dashboard
architecture.

Note
Module 4: Creating and Deploying Digital Dashboards 5 Configuring a File System–based Digital Dashboard Environment
!
Verifying Server Configuration
!
Verifying the Digital Dashboard Factory Configuration
Files
$
Verifying the Dashboard_const.inc file
$
Verifying the Factory_const.inc fileAfter installation is complete, your digital dashboard site is fully configured.
However, if you encounter problems during installation or while using the Web
Part Builder software, use Event Viewer to review the event log and verify IIS
settings on your server to ensure that the configuration is accurate and
complete.
Verifying Server Configuration
When you install the Windows File System Sample Digital Dashboard, two IIS
virtual root folders are placed on your server. By default the two folders are

6 Module 4: Creating and Deploying Digital Dashboards Verifying the Digital Dashboard Factory Configuration
Files
You should verify the configuration settings for two files that are related to
digital dashboard factory configuration.
Verifying the Dashboard_const.inc File
An include (.inc) file named Dashboard_const.inc is located in the
C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot\Factory folder. This file should be configured as follows:
<%
Const stPortalServer = "http://server_name"
Const stPortalVRoot = "Dashboards"
Const stDashVRoot = "dashboards/Your_Startup_Dashboard/"
%>

You can modify the value being assigned to the stDashVRoot parameter to
enable an automatic redirect from the http://server_name/factory location to
your default digital dashboard. (Note the trailing / in the example listing above.)
Enabling automatic redirection enables users to connect to a default corporate
digital dashboard by using Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 to browse to the
http://server_name/factory location rather than connect directly to your digital
dashboard site. You can change which digital dashboard the users see by
changing the value assigned to the stDashVRoot parameter.
The stPortalVRoot parameter contains the root folder location where your
digital dashboards are stored. The DBList.asp file uses this parameter to
determine where to create new digital dashboard folders. The stPortalServer
parameter identifies your digital dashboard server.
Verifying the Factory_const.inc File
The Factory_const.inc file is used by the Web Part Builder to determine which

Your Computer
SQL Server
SQL Server
\Dashboard\*.*
\Dashboard\*.*
Web Part Catalog
IIS Extension
Web Part Catalog
IIS ExtensionThe SQL Server 7.0 Sample Digital Dashboard provides services for storing
and accessing Web Parts and digital dashboards. The SQL Server 7.0 Sample
Digital Dashboard provides a scalable application platform and supports
advanced security, personalization, and property search characteristics.
Components of the SQL Server 7.0 Sample Digital
Dashboard
The SQL Server 7.0 Sample Digital Dashboard provides storage and access
services for Web Parts and digital dashboards through the use of two
components:
!
SQL Server Web Part database. This component is a SQL Server
(version 7.0 or later) database that you create to physically store digital
dashboard resources and properties, including user-specific properties that
determine how and whether a digital dashboard is rendered.
!
SQL Server Web Part server. This component is an IIS extension that serves
as an access layer between the database and IIS. All calls that retrieve,
update, and store information are routed to and transformed by this layer
into a format that is understood by the underlying SQL Server engine.

Before you install the SQL Server 7.0 Sample Digital Dashboard, you should
create an empty database that has Administrator privileges. This allows you to
keep your digital dashboard resources separate from your production data.
During installation of the database, a setup program adds tables, stored
procedures, and triggers to the database that you specify. A good name for this
database is SQL Dashboard. The User, Domain, and Password values that you
supply during the installation of the SQL Server 7.0 Sample Digital Dashboard
must match those of the user login that you created for the database.
To install the SQL Server 7.0 Sample Digital Dashboard:
1. On the Digital Dashboard Resource Kit compact disc, run the Ddrk_sql.msi
file.
2. Follow the instructions provided by the installation wizard.

Providing Information During Installation
During installation, you will be asked to provide the following information:
!
SQL Server. You must provide the name of the computer running SQL
Server and an authentication mode (either Windows NT or SQL Server).
!
Web root. You must provide the name of the Web root that users will use
when they connect to a digital dashboard. The digital dashboard factory files
will be stored in the Web root that you specify. The default virtual root
name is Dashboard, and the default location is the Default Web Site server.
!
Catalog Web root. You must provide the name of the Web root that contains
the SQL Server Web Part server. The default name is Sqlwbcat.
!
Database. You must provide the name of the database that will be used to
store the digital dashboard components. You must specify an existing
database.
Configuring a SQL Server–based Digital Dashboard Environment
1
1
1
Reviewing the
Error Log File
Reviewing the
Error Log File
Verifying
Server Configuration
Verifying
Server Configuration
2
2
2
Digital
Dashboard
Factory
Digital
Dashboard
Factory
3
3
3
Verifying Digital Dashboard
Factory Configuration
Verifying Digital Dashboard
Factory Configuration

Verifying Server Configuration
Because the SQL Server Web Part server is accessed by using an IIS extension,
it is exposed as a virtual directory in your Web root directory and must reside in
its own virtual directory.
By default, the location is C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot\Sqlwbcat. By using Internet
Services Manager, ensure that the virtual directory supports the following
settings: Execute permissions set to Scripts and Executables, and Application
Protection set to Low (Pooled). Configuration should have an application
mapping that defines an * extension for Sqlwbcat.dll.
Verifying Digital Dashboard Factory Configuration
The digital dashboard factory is also installed as a virtual directory. By default,
it is located at C:\Inetpub\Wwwroot\Dashboard. Its settings should support
Read permissions, and the Execute Permissions box should contain Scripts
Only.
Slide Objective
To illustrate the steps for
reviewing the configuration
of the SQL Server–based
digital dashboard
environment.
Lead-in
If you have problems when
running a SQL Server–
based digital dashboard,
you should review the error
file and verify server IIS
settings to ensure that the
configuration is accurate
and complete.