Category Archives: SharePoint

SharePoint Specified cast is not valid

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SharePoint pages were not loading on one server in our farm after doing a registry updated.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa973248.aspx

Turned out that a Key value was incorrectly set. Once the Key value was fixed, pages started loading.

Server Error in ‘/’ Application.
——————————————————————————–

Specified cast is not valid.
Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code.

Exception Details: System.InvalidCastException: Specified cast is not valid.

Source Error:

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace:

[InvalidCastException: Specified cast is not valid.]
Microsoft.SharePoint.SPRequestManager.get_SPRequestsPerThreadWarning() +26657440
Microsoft.SharePoint.SPRequestManager.Add(SPRequest request, Boolean shareable) +340
Microsoft.SharePoint.SPGlobal.CreateSPRequestAndSetIdentity(SPSite site, String name, Boolean bNotGlobalAdminCode, String strUrl, Boolean bNotAddToContext, Byte[] UserToken, String userName, Boolean bIgnoreTokenTimeout, Boolean bAsAnonymous) +27989305
Microsoft.SharePoint.SPRequestManager.GetContextRequest(SPRequestAuthenticationMode authenticationMode) +268
Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPFarm.get_RequestAny() +173
Microsoft.SharePoint.SPRegionalSettings.get_GlobalInstalledLanguages() +27
Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPTemplateFileSystemWatcher.RefreshInstalledLocales() +60
Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPTemplateFileSystemWatcher.Initialize() +69
Microsoft.SharePoint.ApplicationRuntime.SPRequestModule.System.Web.IHttpModule.Init(HttpApplication app) +931
System.Web.HttpApplication.RegisterEventSubscriptionsWithIIS(IntPtr appContext, HttpContext context, MethodInfo[] handlers) +480
System.Web.HttpApplication.InitSpecial(HttpApplicationState state, MethodInfo[] handlers, IntPtr appContext, HttpContext context) +336
System.Web.HttpApplicationFactory.GetSpecialApplicationInstance(IntPtr appContext, HttpContext context) +350
System.Web.Hosting.PipelineRuntime.InitializeApplication(IntPtr appContext) +382

[HttpException (0x80004005): Specified cast is not valid.]
System.Web.HttpRuntime.FirstRequestInit(HttpContext context) +11335878
System.Web.HttpRuntime.EnsureFirstRequestInit(HttpContext context) +88
System.Web.HttpRuntime.ProcessRequestNotificationPrivate(IIS7WorkerRequest wr, HttpContext context) +4355300

——————————————————————————–
Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:2.0.50727.5472; ASP.NET Version:2.0.50727.5456

Cleaning up a drop off library mess

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You installed SharePoint, then your power users enabled the content organizer feature all over your farm. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if it’s not being used, turn it off! Less load on the farm, the better off you will be.

You will find plenty of examples on the web about cleaning up this mess, but I took a slightly different approach. Before disabling the feature and deleting the library, I first checked to make sure the library was empty and no content org rules had been created. 

Start-SPAssignment -Global

$web = Get-SPWeb "http://webapp.sharepointed.com"
$feature = Get-SPFeature "7ad5272a-2694-4349-953e-ea5ef290e97c" 

   if ($web.Features[$feature.ID]) 
   {
            $corList = $web.lists["Content Organizer Rules"]
            $dolList = $web.lists["Drop Off Library"]
            
            #check for Cont Org Rules and items in Drop Off Library
            if(($corList.ItemCount -eq 0) -and ($dolList.ItemCount -eq 0))
            {
                  #disable the feature
                  Disable-SPFeature -Identity "7ad5272a-2694-4349-953e-ea5ef290e97c" -Url $_.URL -Confirm:$false
                  
                  #remove the Drop Off Library
                  $dolList.AllowDeletion = $true
                  $dolList.Update()
                  $dolList.Delete()
            }
   } 

Stop-SPAssignment -Global

Accessing search.asmx from a site collection

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My goal was to setup a desktop app to query the SharePoint Search Web Service located at: http://webApp/managedPath/siteCollection/_vti_bin/search.asmx

Guide for creating the app:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff394650.ASPX

In my app, I needed to query a site collection, not the root site. Also needed to pass in my test-account username, password, and domain.

Error 1:

System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapException: Server was unable to process request. ---> Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation.
at System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapHttpClientProtocol.ReadResponse(SoapClientMessage message, WebResponse response, Stream responseStream, Boolean asyncCall)
.....

Error 2:

System.Net.WebException: The request failed with HTTP status 401: Unauthorized.
at System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapHttpClientProtocol.ReadResponse(SoapClientMessage message, WebResponse response, Stream responseStream, Boolean asyncCall)

Error1 was the primary issue.
Error2 was related to an incorrect login.

When creating my app, I used a web reference pointing to http://webApp/managedPath/siteCollection/_vti_bin/search.asmx . After receiving Error1 countless times, I opened the App.config file. In there I found the answer…

For some great reason, Visual Studio updated the reference to point to the root web app, not the site collection.

http://webApp/_vti_bin/search.asmx

Updated the App.config file to point to the site collection, no more Error1.

http://webApp/managedPath/siteCollection/_vti_bin/search.asmx

Connection I used:

//queryService.Credentials = System.Net.CredentialCache.DefaultCredentials;
queryService.Credentials = new NetworkCredential("testAccountName", "thePassword", "domain");

Use PowerShell to Create Year and Month Folders in Library

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How do you create a year and month folder structure in a SharePoint document library?

Every year, I needed to create a folder structure in a report library that looks like this:

Next Year – 01 …… 12

Using PowerShell I’m able to create the parent folder (year), then create the subfolders (months).

*NOTE*
This can be executed using a scheduled task or using a workflow in SharePoint Designer with the help of the iLoveSharePoint add in.

if ((Get-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null) {
    Add-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell"
}

$spWeb = Get-SPWeb "http://sharepointed.com/sites/reports"
$spDocLib = $spWeb.Lists["TacoReports"]

$yearFolder = (get-date (Get-Date).AddYears(1) -UFormat "%Y")

$targetFolder = $spWeb.GetFolder($spDocLib.RootFolder.ServerRelativeUrl + "/$yearFolder")

if($targetFolder.Exists -eq $false)
{
    $spFolder = $spDocLib.AddItem("",[Microsoft.SharePoint.SPFileSystemObjectType]::Folder,$yearFolder)
	$spFolder.Update()

	$i = 1
	While ($i -le 12)
	{
		$subFolder= "{0:D2}" -f $i
		$spSubFolder = $spDocLib.AddItem($spFolder.Folder.ServerRelativeUrl,[Microsoft.SharePoint.SPFileSystemObjectType]::Folder,$subFolder)
		$spSubFolder.Update()

		$i++
	}
}

Get the current year and add one.
Check if the new folder already exist.
Create the year folder.
Then create the twelve subfolders (one for each month).

Task ‘SharePoint’ reported error (0x80004005): an error occurred in this SharePoint list

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From what I have read in other blogs and forums, this might not be the fix for everyone.

Error in Outlook:
0x80004005

Using Fiddler, I was seeing the same reference to http://randomSite.SP.com.

In my case, it turned that I had an outdated / not used URL in my Alternate Access Mappings.
Default Zone was set to http://goodSite.SP.com
Intranet Zone was set to http//randomSite.SP.com

Once http://randSIte.SP.com was removed, the Outlook error went away.
(removing the mapping did NOT induce an IISreset.)

Alternate Access Mappings can be found here:
http://YourCentralAdminSite/_admin/AlternateUrlCollections.aspx

Full error:
Task ‘SharePoint’ reported error (0x80004005) : ‘An error occurred in this SharePoint List (site name – list name). Try updating the folder again. If the problem continues, contact the SharePoint site administrator. HTTP 500.
The server returned the following error message: Exception of type
‘Microsoft.SharePoint.SoapServer.SoapServerException’ was thrown.’

Fiddler referenced this web service:
GetListItemChangesSinceToken

Change List or Library URL and Name

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Recently had a scenario where I needed to move a bunch of libraries from different sites, to another farm. Every library was titled the same, so when I went to import the libraries, I ran into a small issue. Using a combo of Export-SPweb and Import-SPweb, I moved a library over, then updated the library url and name to the source site name.

if ((Get-PSSnapin “Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell” -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null)
{
Add-PSSnapin “Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell”
}

$webURL = “http://sharepointed.com/sites/taco”

$before = “LibBefore”
$after = “LibAfter”

#Change the URL of the library
$web = Get-SPWeb $webURL
$web.lists[$before].RootFolder.MoveTo($after)
$Web.Dispose()

#Update the library name
$web = Get-SPWeb $webURL
$list = $web.Lists[$after]
$list.Title = $after
$list.Update()
$web.Dispose()

Couple notes.
You might be able to shorten the script to rename and update in a couple lines of code.
If you use the script to change the URL of a list, the list will moved to the root of the site. it will no longer live at site/lists.

*I have not tested this with libraries or list that workflows associated with them. It’s also safe to assume any links to documents would be broken.*

One or more field types are not installed properly. Go to the list settings page to delete these fields

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Error:
One or more field types are not installed properly. Go to the list settings page to delete these fields.

After much research, I have found that this error can be the result of a couple things.
1. Programmatically create a site column / content type and the process fails. The result is a broken column that you have to hunt down and remove from the content database.
2. Using a combination of Export-SP and Import-SPweb, an imported list or library will display the error.

In my case, #2 needed to be fixed. Basically, I had a lookup column that had become orphaned from its parent list.
When you look at the field settings (Library/List Settings –> click on your lookup column) you will see that the Get information from: property is empty.

So how do you reconnect or refresh the lookup field property?
Using PowerShell, the fields web ID and source list ID schemaXML need to be populated.

if ((Get-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null)
{
Add-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell"
}
$web = Get-SPWeb "http://sharepoint.com/site/"
$list = $web.Lists["Broken LoopField List"]
$lookupList = $web.Lists["Loopup Source List"]

$fixColumn = $list.Fields["My Broken Lookup Field"]

#Change schema XML on the lookup column
$fixColumn.SchemaXml = $fixColumn.SchemaXml.Replace($fixColumn.LookupWebId.ToString(), $web.ID.ToString())
$fixColumn.SchemaXml = $fixColumn.SchemaXml.Replace($fixColumn.LookupList.ToString(), $lookupList.ID.ToString())
$fixColumn.Update()

What’s going on here?
Load the SharePoint snapin.
Get site that holds the broken list / library.
Get broken list / library.
Get source list / library that the broken lookup references.
Get broken field.
Update the broken field schemaXML.

Parameter name: userProfileApplicationProxy

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Had a contractor leave the company and return. Often this creates issues because we don’t run a ‘dead account cleaner’ often enough.

To get around this, I run the script below to get the ‘new’ Active Directory account synced with the new Active Directory account.

Script:

$user = Get-SPUser -web "http://sharepointed.com" -Identity "Mydomain\TheUser"
Move-SPUser -Identity $user -newalias "Mydomain\TheUser" -IgnoreSID

Where I went wrong… I remoted’ into one of the servers in the farm using my personal NT login. By doing this, I was receiving the error below. Once I remoted’ into the server using the Admin account, I was able to run the script.

Error:
Move-SPUser : Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: userProfileApplicationProxy
At line:1 char:12
+ Move-SPUser <<<< -Identity $user -newalias "Mydomain\TheUser" -IgnoreSID + CategoryInfo : InvalidData: (Microsoft.Share...PCmdletMoveUser: SPCmdletMoveUser) [Move-SPUser], ArgumentNullException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell.SPCmdletMoveUser

Inventory Web App Using PowerShell

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Ask: We need an Excel spreadsheet that will list out all the Sites, List, Libraries for a given Web App in SharePoint.

Found this post link, then modified it for my needs.

function Get-WebAppInventory($WebAppName) {
    [void][System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("Microsoft.SharePoint")
    $farm = [Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPFarm]::Local
    foreach ($spService in $farm.Services) {
        if (!($spService -is [Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPWebService])) {
            continue;
        }

        foreach ($webApp in $spService.WebApplications) {
            if ($webApp -is [Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPAdministrationWebApplication]) { continue }
			if($webApp.name -eq $WebAppName)
			{
            foreach ($site in $webApp.Sites) {
                foreach ($web in $site.AllWebs) {
                        foreach ($list in $web.Lists) {
							$data = @{
								"Site" = $site.Url
                                "Web" = $web.Url
                                "list" = $list.Title
								"Type" = $list.BaseType	
								"Item Count" = $list.ItemCount
								"Last Item Modified" = $list.LastItemModifiedDate
							}
							
                            New-Object PSObject -Property $data
         
                    }
                }
            }
		}
        }
    }
}
#Get-WebAppInventory "SharePointed - name.sharepointed.com80" | Out-GridView
Get-WebAppInventory "SharePointed - name.sharepointed.com80" | Export-Csv -NoTypeInformation -Path c:\inventory2.csv

Above you have two options, Out-GridView or Export-CSV. You can use both or comment out one of the lines.

To get the parameter I’m passing to the function, you will need to look in Central Admin at your Web Apps list. Central Admin –> Application Management section –> Manage web applications. (_admin/WebApplicationList.aspx). In there, copy the name of the Web App.

You can modify the $data = @{ section to bring in other properties of the List.

Use PowerShell to Query The SharePoint Search Index

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Needed to write a script to validate that the SharePoint crawler was picking up all items in a library.
One of my document libraries had over a 100,000 document, and I needed to make sure all of them were being indexed.
Document library can support millions of documents, IF you use a good foldering structure. 

function GetSearchIndex ($site, $file)
	{
		$fOutPut = $null
		$kq = new-object Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Query.KeywordQuery($site)
		
		$kq.ResultTypes= [Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Query.ResultType]::RelevantResults
		$kq.QueryText = $file
		$kq.HiddenConstraints = 'scope:"All Sites"'
		$kq.RowLimit = 10
		$res = $kq.Execute()
		
		$table = new-object System.Data.DataTable
		$table.Load($res[$kq.ResultTypes],[System.Data.LoadOption]::OverwriteChanges)
		
		if($table.Rows.Count -eq 0)
		{
			$fOut = "Failed"
		}
		else
		{
			$fOut = "Passed"
		}
		return $fOut
	}

$file = "c:\indexCheck.txt"
$cfcSite = Get-SPWeb "http://SOMEsite.sharepointed.com/sites/test"
$nv = $cfcSite.Lists["bigLibrary"]

$spQuery = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.SPQuery 
$spQuery.ViewAttributes = "Scope='Recursive'"
$spQuery.RowLimit = 2000 
$caml = '<OrderBy Override="TRUE"><FieldRef Name="ID"/></OrderBy>' 
$spQuery.Query = $caml 

do
{
    $listItems = $nv.GetItems($spQuery)
    $spQuery.ListItemCollectionPosition = $listItems.ListItemCollectionPosition
    foreach($item in $listItems)
    {
        $sResult = GetSearchIndex "http://test.sharepointed.com" $item.Name
		
		if($sResult -eq "Failed")
		{
			$item.Name | Out-File $file -Append			
		}
    }
}
while ($spQuery.ListItemCollectionPosition -ne $null)

Query the list/library in batches of 2,000.
Looping through the returned items.
Call function to see if the item is in the index (query SharePoint).
From the function, return a value of Passed or Failed.
If Failed is true, log it to a text file on the C:\ drive.