Sharepoint Solutions

Recently our library converted to Microsoft Sharepoint for our internal Intranet. With the conversion I encountered some challenges in being limited by Sharepoint's ability to display HTML code. Since our Sharepoint is controlled by our IS department, I was restricted to coming up with solutions that didn't involve reconfiguring Sharepoint settings or using Sharepoint Designer. So thanks to the Wonderful Worldwide Web, I was able to find workarounds that didn't involve having to install custom Web Parts or fiddling with XML code schemas and javascript.

Challenge #1: How to display a Google Search box?
Answer: http://www.heathersolomon.com/blog/archive/2005/07/18/1023.aspx
I used these steps:
1. Upload a simple html page to your Sharepoint Server with your google search code.
2. Next drop a Page Viewer Web Part onto your page and point it to the page you created. The url to the page will be http://servername/_layouts/external/yoursimplewebpage.htm

Challenge 2: How to allow users to add Links that open up in a new window?
Answer: http://weblogs.asp.net/bryanglass/archive/2008/03/07/changing-links-list-in-sharepoint-2007-to-open-in-new-browser-window.aspx
I used Rob Carlson's no code solution:
1. Go to the Site Settings,
2. Under the black heading of "Galleries" click on Site Columns,
3. Create (button at the top left),
4. Enter a Column Name - whatever you want to name it.
5. Check the box - Hyperlink with formatting and constraints for publishing,
6. Hit OK
7. Now Go to your List/Library,
8. Go to Settings or go to List Settings
9. Click on "add from existing site column",
10. Locate your recently created "site column" from the group you selected previously,
11. Select it, Click Add and OK,
12. Now you have a new URL column that allows you to make the hyperlink open in a new window. This looks just like the CEWP hyperlink field.
I then edited the View to display only my new URL column and not the default URL column. I also had to train my users to click on the Edit Hyperlink link and leave the other fields blank.