Tom Schultz's Blog

Commerce Server 2007 Book Now Available!

Glen Smith has published the very much anticipated Commerce Server 2007 book.  To buy it, click here.  I know I am ordering a copy ASAP.  :-)

 Congrats to Glen!

 Per Glen's feedback, this book currently covers CS2007 w/ the intention to be updated w/ CS2009 content.

Commerce Server Profile Schema - Automating Import/Export with PowerShell Scripts

A common headache for any large team Commerce Server project is keeping each local developer’s workstation in synch with the schemas.  In the case of the Profile System, each developer must be mindful to export the profile schema using the Commerce Server Manager, check-in to source control, and then notify the team to import the new schema.  Each developer then uses the same MMC to manually import the schema, being sure to specify connection strings for their local profile databases. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to automate the export & import?!!  Here are a couple PowerShell scripts for exporting and importing the schema.  Note the export script uses BusinessDataAdmin2FreeThreaded.ExportCatalogs Method to store the credentials in the outputted XML.  This is not something available to the CS MMC.

To run these scripts, simply open your PowerShell command prompt and CD to the directory where you saved the scripts.  Of course, you’ll want to update the parameter values to reflect your CS Site Name.  Run .\ExportProfileSchema.ps1 and .\ImportProfileSchema.ps1

ExportProfileSchema.ps1

# Commerce Server Site Name

$siteName = "CSharpSite"

# Export File Path 

$filePath = "c:\ProfileSchema.xml"

$user = ""

$pwd = ""

# If removeCredentials parameter is true, then the credentials (user name and password) will be removed from all connection strings. 

# These credentials will have to be replaced # before the catalog can be imported. 

# If the catalog is imported through Commerce Server Manager, the user must enter a user name and password for each data source partition in # the catalog. 

# A value of true indicates remove the credentials. A value of false indicates do not remove the credentials. The default value is true. 

# If the removeCredentials parameter is false, then the credentials will be exported in plain text with the rest of the catalog.

# http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.commerceserver.interop.profiles.businessdataadmin2freethreaded.exportcatalogs.aspx

$removeCredentials = 0

# Load Assemblies

echo "Loading .NET Assemblies"

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load("Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Profiles.BizDataAdmin, Version=6.0.1.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35")

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load("Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Configuration.MSCSCfg, Version=6.0.1.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35")

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load("ADODB, Version=7.0.3300.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a")

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load("System.Xml, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089")

# Initialize SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded            

echo "Initializing Commerce Server 2007 SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded Object"

$siteConfig = new-object Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Configuration.SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded

$siteConfig.Initialize($siteName)

# Get the Biz Data Store Connection String (OLEDB)

$bdsConnect = $siteConfig.Fields.Item("Biz Data Service").Value.Fields.Item("s_BizDataStoreConnectionString").Value

echo "CS Biz Data Store Connection String (OLEDB)

:" $bdsConnect

# Release underlying COM resources

$siteConfig.Dispose()

# Connect to Biz Data Store

$bizDataAdmin = new-object Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Profiles.BusinessDataAdmin2FreeThreaded

echo "Connecting to Biz Data Store"

$bizDataAdmin.Connect([ref] $bdsConnect, [ref] $user, [ref] $pwd)

# Export to XML File

echo "Exporting Profile Schema to " $filePath

$bizDataAdmin.ExportCatalogs([ref] $filePath, [ref] $removeCredentials)

# Release underlying COM resources

$bizDataAdmin.Dispose()

echo "Profile Schema Exported Successfully!"

# Commerce Server Site Name

$siteName = "CSharpSite"

# Import File Path 

$filePath = "c:\ProfileSchema.xml"

$user = ""

$pwd = ""

# Load Assemblies

echo "Loading .NET Assemblies..."

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load("Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Profiles.BizDataAdmin, Version=6.0.1.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35")

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load("Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Configuration.MSCSCfg, Version=6.0.1.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35")

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load("ADODB, Version=7.0.3300.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a")

[System.Reflection.Assembly]::Load("System.Xml, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089")

# Initialize SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded            

echo "Initializing Commerce Server 2007 SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded Object..."

$siteConfig = new-object Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Configuration.SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded

$siteConfig.Initialize($siteName)

# Get the Biz Data Store Connection String (OLEDB)

$bdsConnect = $siteConfig.Fields.Item("Biz Data Service").Value.Fields.Item("s_BizDataStoreConnectionString").Value

echo "CS Biz Data Store Connection String (OLEDB)

:" $bdsConnect

# Release underlying COM resources

$siteConfig.Dispose()

# Connect to Biz Data Store

$bizDataAdmin = new-object Microsoft.CommerceServer.Interop.Profiles.BusinessDataAdmin2FreeThreaded

echo "Connecting to Biz Data Store"

$bizDataAdmin.Connect([ref] $bdsConnect, [ref] $user, [ref] $pwd)

# Read XML into string

$doc = new-object System.Xml.XmlDocument

$doc.Load($filePath)

# Import Profile Schema

echo "Importing Profile Schema from " $filePath

$bizDataAdmin.ImportCatalogs([ref] $doc.get_InnerXml())

# Release underlying COM resources

$bizDataAdmin.Dispose()

echo "Profile Schema Imported Successfully!"

Commerce Server 2009 Web Cast - Using Store Locator Web Part

In this Web Cast, I explain how to setup, configure, and use the Store Locator web part feature of Commerce Server 2009.  If you have any questions, issues, or feedback, please contact me via my e-mail address, tschultz@microsoft.com.

You can download the PowerPoint deck here.

UPDATE: This web cast is now available on Channel 9 via this link.  The bit-rate is much improved over that of the SoapBox/video.msn.com post.

Commerce Server 2009 - National Retail Federation (NRF) 98th Annual Convention & EXPO

Hello Everyone...

Are you attending the National Retail Federation (NRF) 98th Annual Convention & EXPO in New York City January 11-14th?  If so, please stop by the Microsoft booth to check out Commerce Server 2009 demonstrations and get answers to your questions direct from the product team.  I will see you there!!

On a separate note, I am returning from the Commerce Server team to Microsoft Consulting Services as a solution architect.  Scott Cairney will be taking over all TAP responsibilities for Commerce Server 2009 and beyond.  You can reach Scott via e-mail b-scairn@microsoft.com.  I encourage you to reach to Scott for the latest on CS2009 and Commerce Server futures.  If you have not already, definitely check out the latest CTP & downloads on the Commerce Server Connect Site. 

Please note my updated e-mail address is tschultz@microsoft.com. 

It's been a real pleasure assisting Commerce Server TAP customers/partners, MVPs, and early adopters.  I look forward to working w/ many of you directly in the field on Commerce Server projects!

Happy New Year and see you at NRF!

Tom

FIX: Error 1330 - Installing Visual Studio 2008 on Windows Server 2008 VPC

OK, I have run into SO many bloody 1330 errors while installing Visual Studio 2008 on a Windows Server 2008 VPC.  Here is the fix I ran across on Heath Stewart's blog. 

 On my host, I installed the Windows SDK for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5. 

I then copied SetReg to my VPC image from my host's C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.1\Bin.

I then updated my SetReg settings on the VPC as is mentioned in Heath's article.

Software Publishing State Key Values (0x22800):
   1) Trust the Test Root........................... FALSE
   2) Use expiration date on certificates........... TRUE
   3) Check the revocation list..................... TRUE
   4) Offline revocation server OK (Individual)..... FALSE
   5) Offline revocation server OK (Commercial)..... TRUE
   6) Java offline revocation server OK (Individual) FALSE
   7) Java offline revocation server OK (Commercial) TRUE
   8) Invalidate version 1 signed objects........... FALSE
   9) Check the revocation list on Time Stamp Signer FALSE
  10) Only trust items found in the Trust DB........ FALSE

 Reran the VS2008 install and PRESTO!  it worked w/ no Error 1330s.

 FWIW, I am writing this down here on my blog so I have it semi-permanently for future such mishaps.  :-)

 Tom

Commerce Server 2009 - December 2008 CTP Now Available!

The Commerce Server team is pleased to announce the availability of the Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 - December 2008 CTP, the feature complete pre-release of the next version of Commerce Server.  (These CTP’s were formerly known as Commerce Server 2007 code name “Mojave”.)

Commerce Server 2009 delivers the ability to increase your business reach by making it possible to sell via multiple channels using an out-of-the-box shopping site, SharePoint Commerce Services, and the Multi-Channel Commerce Foundation. The new out-of-the-box shopping site leverages SharePoint Commerce Services, which provides a gallery of ASP.NET 3.5 Web Parts, a comprehensive e-commerce shopping feature-set, and technology integration between Commerce Server and SharePoint technologies. The Multi-Channel Commerce Foundation provides a new unified, extensible run-time programming model for Commerce Server, including new run-time e-commerce capabilities.

Important

We invite you to install this pre-release version of Commerce Server 2009 into a non-production environment, preferably on a clean machine, to learn more about the Multi-Channel Commerce Foundation and SharePoint Commerce Services. This release is for evaluation purposes only and is not intended to be used in a production environment.

To download the December CTP ISO, go to the Download Center.

To download the Commerce Server 2009 Installation Guide and the Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 December 2008 CTP Readme, click this link. Follow the instructions in the Installation Guide to install the December CTP.

To download samples of how to use the API, click this link.

Bugs, Questions, Feedback?

If you have any questions, please submit them via the Connect site.

Thanks much.

Tom

Commerce Server 2007 code name "Mojave" November 2008 CTP - Now Available!

The Commerce Server team is pleased to announce the availability of the Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 code name "Mojave" November CTP.  This is pre-release of the next version of our Commerce Server offering. 

To download the November CTP ISO and installation guide, click this link  or go to the Downloads page. Follow the instructions in the Installation Guide to install the November CTP.

You can also download November CTP samples that show how to use the API.

Microsoft Commerce Server code name “Mojave” delivers the ability to increase your business reach by selling through multiple channels through a new default out-of-the-box shopping site based on ASP.NET 2.0 Web Parts deployed in SharePoint and other SharePoint commerce services, and a compelling new multi-channel commerce foundation, with a new unified run-time calling model, new extensibility points and new built-in features.

Specifically “Mojave” adds:

• New multi-channel commerce foundation, superseding the existing Commerce Server programming model, to rapidly build extensible e-commerce applications for the Web and beyond utilizing .NET 3.5 SP1+.
  
• SharePoint commerce services including 29 out-of-the-box e-commerce Web parts plus integration between Commerce Server and SharePoint offering a new default out-of-the-box site with new search functionality, new shopping features, and what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) content management and design experiences to facilitate rapid assembly and maintenance of e-commerce Web sites by business users and creative professionals.

Commerce Server "Mojave" PDC Session Now Available

If you missed our session on Commerce Server "Mojave" at this week's Microsoft Professional Developer Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles..

The web cast and deck from the session are now available on MSDN Channel9. 

 "In this session you will get an in depth look into the new Commerce Server "Mojave" product release. Learn how you can use Commerce Server's next-generation e-commerce API to develop performant, multi-channel e-commerce websites. See improvements to the programming model, improved functionality for working with the desktop and devices, and integration of Commerce Server with SharePoint and ASP.NET. We'll also show how to use the "Mojave" e-commerce web parts to quickly build rich, custom user experiences."

Commerce Server Code Name “Mojave” TAP Announcement

Commerce Server 2007 SP2 Now Available!

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Browse.aspx?DisplayLang=en&nr=20&productId=1D25BFD4-FAE9-4E08-BF77-60FB266BEE44&sortCriteria=date

·         Windows Server 2008 Support with Logo Certification

·         Hyper-V Virtualization Support

·         Visual Studio 2008 Support

·         .NET Framework 3.5 support

·         Support for IIS 7.0 in both Classic and Integrated Pipeline Mode

·         Preliminary SQL Server 2008 testing to accelerate compatibility when SQL2008 ships

·         Update of documentation

How to troubleshoot "The Commerce Server runtime has detected that more than # instances of the SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded object have been created." warning messages

Introduction

This article describes how to troubleshoot SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded event log warning messages from Microsoft Commerce Server 2007. You can use these general troubleshooting tips before you contact Microsoft Product Support Services. 

You may notice successive warnings in the web server event logs from Commerce Server such as the following:

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Commerce Server
Event Category: None
Event ID: 4116
Date:  11/20/2007
Time:  11:32:35 AM
User:  N/A
Computer: Contoso
Description:
The Commerce Server runtime has detected that more than 101 instances of the SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded object have been created. Creating many SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded instances will negatively affect the performance of the site. Please refer to the Commerce Server documentation for the recommended use of the SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded object.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Possible Causes

CommerceDataWarehouseAuthenticationModule

The CommerceDataWarehouseAuthenticationModule HTTP module is known to cause this problem.  This module provides the correlation mechanism to track ASP.NET site visitors to profile users.   If you are not using the data warehouse resource in your site, then remove the following section from the <httpModules>section of your web application.

<add name="CommerceDataWarehouseAuthenticationModule" type="Microsoft.CommerceServer.Runtime.CommerceDataWarehouseAuthenticationModule, Microsoft.CommerceServer.Runtime, Version=6.0.1.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35" />

 If you are using the data warehouse resource in your site, install Commerce Server 2007 SP1 which includes a fix for the problem.

CatalogContext, OrderContext, ProfileContext

The CatalogContext, OrderContext, and ProfileContext internally creates instances of the SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded class to determine the connection strings of the Catalog and Transactions resources respectively.  Instead of creating your instances of CatalogContext and OrderContext, reference those loaded onto CommerceContext by the Commerce HTTP modules.

CommerceContext.Current.CatalogSystem

CommerceContext.Current.OrdersSystem

CommerceContext.Current.ProfileSystem

Using Registry Switches to Troubleshoot

By default, Commerce Server logs messages for this problem after 100 SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded instances have been created.  This is value can be configured in the registry by setting the following DWORD value.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Commerce Server 2007\ExcessiveUseWarnLevel

So, setting this value to a lower number will help you reproduce the warnings more quickly.

Finding the source of the problem is always the most challenging.  To force the Commerce Server runtime to throw an exception once the ExcessiveUseWarnLevel value has been exceeded, set the following DWORD value to 1.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Commerce Server 2007\ThrowExceptionOnExcessiveUse

You will then be able to access the stack trace and determine where in your code the problem is happening.

For example...

Server Error in '/Contoso' Application.

---

The Commerce Server runtime has detected that more than 3 instances of the SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded object have been created.
Creating many SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded instances will negatively affect the performance of the site. Please refer to the Commerce Server documentation for the recommended use of the SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded object.

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:

[NotSupportedException: The Commerce Server runtime has detected that more than 3 instances of the SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded object have been created.
Creating many SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded instances will negatively affect the performance of the site. Please refer to the Commerce Server documentation for the recommended use of the SiteConfigReadOnlyFreeThreaded object.
]
   Microsoft.CommerceServer.Orders.OrderServices.CreateServerImpl(OrderSiteAgent agent) +336
   Microsoft.CommerceServer.Orders.OrderManagementContext.Create(OrderSiteAgent agent) +86
   Contoso.OrderHelper.GetOrderManagementContext() in c:\Contoso\OrderHelper.cs:996
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.OnRowDataBound(GridViewRowEventArgs e) +104
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.CreateRow(Int32 rowIndex, Int32 dataSourceIndex, DataControlRowType rowType, DataControlRowState rowState, Boolean dataBind, Object dataItem, DataControlField[] fields, TableRowCollection rows, PagedDataSource pagedDataSource) +233
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.CreateChildControls(IEnumerable dataSource, Boolean dataBinding) +2603
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.CompositeDataBoundControl.PerformDataBinding(IEnumerable data) +59
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.PerformDataBinding(IEnumerable data) +12
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataBoundControl.OnDataSourceViewSelectCallback(IEnumerable data) +111
   System.Web.UI.DataSourceView.Select(DataSourceSelectArguments arguments, DataSourceViewSelectCallback callback) +25
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataBoundControl.PerformSelect() +151
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.BaseDataBoundControl.DataBind() +68
   System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridView.DataBind() +4
   Contoso.Web.Controls.LineItemsControl.BindData() in c:\contoso\Controls\Orders\LineItemsControl.ascx.cs:1009
   Contoso.Web.Controls.LineItemsControl.Page_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) in c:\contoso\Orders\LineItemsControl.ascx.cs:376
   System.Web.Util.CalliHelper.EventArgFunctionCaller(IntPtr fp, Object o, Object t, EventArgs e) +13
   System.Web.Util.CalliEventHandlerDelegateProxy.Callback(Object sender, EventArgs e) +45
   System.Web.UI.Control.OnLoad(EventArgs e) +98
   Contoso.UI.Web.BaseUserControl.OnLoad(EventArgs e) in c:\contoso\Code\BaseUserControl.cs:31
   System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +71
   System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +154
   System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +154
   System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +154
   System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +154
   System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +154
   System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +154
   System.Web.UI.Control.LoadRecursive() +154
   System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestMain(Boolean includeStagesBeforeAsyncPoint, Boolean includeStagesAfterAsyncPoint) +4268

Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:2.0.50727.832; ASP.NET Version:2.0.50727.832

More Information

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms963135.aspx

SiteCacheRefresh - Mixed Authentication Solution

Background

Support for refreshing Commerce Server caches is provided by the SiteCacheRefresh HTTP Handler and is configured in the web.config.

ASP.NET URL authorization is used to specify the users and groups allowed to refresh the cache.

By default, your retail ASP.NET site will use forms authentication.  The above ASP.NET URL authentication requires IIS to use Windows Authentication.  Out of the box, an ASP.NET 2.0 web site can support either forms authentication or windows authentication but not both.  Thus, a mixed authentication model must be implemented for SiteCacheRefresh.axd authorization.  Fortunately, the Commerce Server Starter Site provides such a solution.

Note: If you do not implement a mixed authentication solution on your retail site, each request to SiteCacheRefresh.axd will be redirected to the forms authentication login page as specified in the web.config.

Solution

1. Make sure your ASP.NET site has Windows Integrated security checked in IIS Admin.
2. Copy the CommerceComponents.dll from the Starter Site bin directory to your retail ASP.NET web site’s bin directory.
3. Add the following entry to the configSections element of your web.config.

   <section name="commerceComponents" type="CommerceComponents.Configuration.ComponentConfiguration, CommerceComponents" />

4. Add the following entries to the configuration element of your web.config.

   <commerceComponents baseCurrencyCode="USD" baseCurrencyCulture="en-US">     <mixedAuthenticationFiles>       <add fileName="SiteCacheRefresh.axd" />     </mixedAuthenticationFiles>   </commerceComponents>

5. Add the following entries to the httpModules element of your web.config. 

   <clear />           <add name="OutputCache" type="System.Web.Caching.OutputCacheModule" />        <add name="WindowsAuthentication" type="System.Web.Security.WindowsAuthenticationModule" />       <add name="MixedModeAuthentication" type="CommerceComponents.MixedAuthenticationModule" />       <add name="FormsAuthentication" type="System.Web.Security.FormsAuthenticationModule" />       <add name="MixedModeAuthenticationFixUp" type="CommerceComponents.MixedAuthenticationModuleFixUp" />       <add name="UrlAuthorization" type="System.Web.Security.UrlAuthorizationModule" />       <add name="FileAuthorization" type="System.Web.Security.FileAuthorizationModule" />       <add name="AnonymousIdentification" type="System.Web.Security.AnonymousIdentificationModule" />       <add name="Profile" type="System.Web.Profile.ProfileModule" />       <!--  COMMERCE SERVER HTTP MODULES Place the Commerce Server HTTP module declarations below this line.         -->

The Catalog Manager and the staging service use this HTTP Handler to refresh the caches in the web applications and orders web service. 

http://localhost/Contoso/SiteCacheRefresh.axd?CacheToRefresh=CatalogCache

http://localhost/OrdersWebService/SiteCacheRefresh.axd?CacheToRefresh=CatalogCache

You can verify that the catalog cache successfully refreshed by checking the application event log on each machine.

Event Type:          Information

Event Source:        Commerce Server

Event Category:      None

Event ID:            4114

Date:                01/13/2007

Time:                3:29:24 PM

User:                N/A

Computer:            WROX

Description:

The cache 'CatalogCache' has been refreshed for the site 'Contoso'

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Cactus Commerce Signs a Global Agreement With Microsoft Corp. for Electronic Commerce

A major announcement regarding Microsoft & Cactus Commerce commitment to Commerce Server and the e-commerce space.

http://www.cactuscommerce.com/pressreleases/080807_e.asp

Now Shipping: Foundation Flash CS3 for Designers

OK, yes this is MSFT blog, so why am I posting a Flash link?

Well my good friend David Stiller is the absolute Flash master, incredibly creative, and one heck of a unicyclist. 

Buy his book!

http://www.quip.net/blog/2007/flash/now-shipping-foundation-flash-cs3

Commerce Server 2007 SP1 Released

Service Pack 1 for Commerce Server 2007 is now available.

This release adds support for running Commerce Server 2007 Developer Edition and the business user applications on Windows Vista.  There are also performance and security enhancements as well as fixes for several known issues.  To download the bits, please go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=748049C5-A9BF-4AEC-91A0-AFE2DE0BF860&displaylang=en

An updated version of the Partner SDK is also available http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=BDEA4873-2C06-4C7F-AD51-830A0309FECC&displaylang=en