If you have a Dashboard Web Part (DWP) file that refers to an assembly that is already deployed to the appropriate \bin or GAC on your Web Server(s), you have at least three options to deploy that Web Part. All three options require appropriate rights and the DWP must be saved to a known location.
1. Import the Web Part directly onto your Web Part Page
- Navigate your browser to the Web Part Page where you want to use the Web Part.
- Choose Modify Shared Page > Add Web Parts > Import:
- Browse... to the location of the DWP, select it, and click the Open button.
- Click the Upload button.
- Drag and drop the Web Part from the Tool Pane into a desired Web Zone.
2. Upload the Web Part into the Site Gallery
- Navigate your browser to the web in the site collection where you want to use the Web Part.
- Choose Site Settings from the top-nav.
- Choose Go to Site Administration from the bottom of the Administration section.
- Choose Manage Web Part gallery from the top of the Site Collection Galleries section.
- Choose Upload Web Part from the toolbar.
- Browse... to the location of the DWP, select it, and click the Open button.
- Choose Save and Close from the toolbar.
- Navigate your browser to the Web Part Page where you want to use the Web Part.
- Choose Modify Shared Page > Add Web Parts > Browse:
- The Web Part will be listed alphabetically in the Web Part List of the Gallery that is initially displayed (click Next until you see the Web Part listed).
- Drag and drop the Web Part from the Site Gallery into a Web Zone.
3. Copy the Web Part into the Virtual Server Gallery (you will need Web Server access to complete these steps)
- Copy the DWP file to the \wpcatalog subdirectory of the IIS Home Directory for the Virtual Server (IIS Web Site) in which you wish to use it. If the \wpcatalog subdirectory doesn't exist, create it.
- Navigate your browser to the Web Part Page where you want to use the Web Part.
- Choose Modify Shared Page > Add Web Parts > Browse:
- Choose the Virtual Server Gallery from the resulting Tool Pane.
- The Web Part will be listed alphabetically in the Web Part List of the Virtual Server Gallery (click Next until you see the Web Part listed).
- Drag and drop the Web Part from the Site Gallery into a Web Zone.
In the coming weeks, I'll be posting a series of examples demonstrating how you can alter the style and behavior of a Web Part Page using the Content Editor Web Part (CEWP) without unghosting the instance of that page. I will also show how you can make these effects seamlessly available to your end users via the Team Site or Virtual Server galleries. Very cool stuff.
As a quick example of what I'm talking about; download my HideQuickLaunch DWP file, unzip it, and place it, using the techniques described above, into a Web Zone on the home page of any SharePoint Web. The Quick Launch will stop being displayed as depicted below:
All of the examples that follow will assume that you know how to place a DWP into a Web Zone on a Web Part Page. Hence the need for this post.
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