This error is not unusual when configuring excel services and trying to display an excel document inside the browser. OK, so what to do then?

1. First step would be to check the SharePoint log and the event log for errors
2. Check that the account running the excel service application has “db_owner” rights to the SharePoint content database. (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/jjameson/archive/2010/05/04/the-workbook-cannot-be-opened-error-with-sharepoint-server-2010-and-tfs-2010.aspx)
3. If you get this error in the event log “The data culture ‘X’ was requested, and it is not fully supported because its language pack is not installed. Some features will not be available.”, install the language pack for that specific country and run the configuration wizard. (http://www.kowalski.ms/2008/07/04/excel-services-was-unable-to-load-the-workbook-that-you-requested/)
4. See an “System.InvalidOperationException: Could not retrieve a valid Windows identity.” error in the ULS log? Make sure “Claims to Windows Token Service is started in Windows Services
5. Also, check if Claims to Windows Token Service is started in central administration (Services on server)

Verification code 49B6CSRMMKN9

The Top 5 Benefits of SharePoint in Education

1) Easy to find and share documents. Teachers and staff can upload documents quickly and easily onto the SharePoint site. Then using the search system on the site students and staff can efficiently search and find the document that they require.

2) SharePoint can put all your school systems into one. Staff can improve efficiency by only having one system to log on to and to work from. For example school staff can handle school news by putting it straight onto a school news feed on the SharePoint site, instead of sending out hundreds of newsletters. This saves a lot of time and money.

3) Access to the platform anywhere at any time. This is a useful feature of a SharePoint site as it means students and staff can access their documents anywhere and at any time depending on whether they have an internet connection.

4) Branding on your SharePoint site. Your SharePoint site can be branded and tailored to each school’s specific needs and be unique to the school. For example the site can have your school colours and badge added. In addition to this you can also have specific web-parts added to suit your specific needs.

5) Improve student performance through early intervention. SharePoint can be extended to integrate with a school’s Management Information System (MIS) which allows parents and teachers to view student data (including attendance, attainment, targets and outcomes).  Providing access to real time information enables early intervention to be made when appropriate, leading to improved student performance.

We’ve got a great meeting lined up for the next Sharepoint Users Group Midlands on 25th May.

Session details are:

Session 1 – Phil Childs on Using Powershell to Manage Sharepoint 2010

Session 2 – Charlie Lee on an Introduction to Custom Claims Providers

Session 3 – Ant Clay on Taking the Geek out of SharePoint project Governance

See http://ow.ly/4ML3l for more details and to signup.

Mark Rackley has posted an intersting article on when to use and when not to use JQuery.

Most of the post I agree with, with the exception of  “You should not be writing jQuery in SharePoint if you are not a developer…”

There are many occasions when the design team can take the decision to use JQuery – for example to create UI components (tabs, carousels etc).

Read the full article