Passing this exam would earn you MCTS: SharePoint Server 2007 ― Application Development certification. If you are a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), you not only thrive on the continuing challenges of the information technology (IT) field, but you also take the initiative to develop and hone your skills so that you stay a step ahead. When you become Microsoft certified, you will:
• Stand out. Prove your specific, real-world technology skills.
• Be productive. Help increase customer satisfaction, reduce network downtime, and push service to a higher level.
• Achieve success. Each Microsoft certification takes you further along the path to professional recognition.
The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 – Application Development certification highlights your area of expertise and validates the knowledge and skills required to build Web portals and integrate business applications by using Office SharePoint Server 2007. A successful candidate will have prior experience working with XML, the Microsoft .NET Framework, and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services development
The process to become is very simple. Once you have done all the preparation and confident to pass this exam, you need to enrol for the exam at Prometric
Who should apply?
Candidates for this exam are consultants who provide consulting services for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and corporate developers who use Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. Candidates have the following experience or knowledge:
· Six months to one year of experience developing applications by using Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
· Experience using the following related technologies:
1. The Microsoft .NET Framework at least six months with ASP.NET 2.0)
2. Windows SharePoint Services development (six months to one year)
· Experience working with XML documents
· Experience with XML Web services development and consumption
· Working knowledge of Windows Workflow Foundation
· Working knowledge of IIS 6
Log into Promteric site and browse to Microsoft -> 70-542. Now, select the testing centre close to your location and book a suitable time. Do the payment. It is pretty much the same thing afterwards about rescheduling etc. Rescheduling notice time is one business day.
Once you book a spot with Prometric, you will receive an email from Prometric about the confirmation of the exam spot on a given date and time. Prepare your best for the exam and go to the examination centre on a scheduled date and time. They do pretty much the standard identification check (one with your photo and other with your signature) and allow you to sit an exam. The exam itself consists, almost entirely, of multiple choice questions. You will usually be required to select one answer from a possible four (using radio buttons), in some instances you may be asked to select two answers (using a selection items/tick boxes), and in at least one case you will have to drag and drop possible answers from the left side of the screen to the right in the correct order. The exam currently consists of about 32 questions, and you need to get about 70% correct to pass.
At the end of the exam, you will get the final result – % Scored. If you pass (and I am sure you will) then relax for few moments as you have achieved a very demanding certification. Then celebrate as it’s time to party after such hard-work.
There are different approaches being taken by different people doing the same task. I completely understand that you may follow different approach to get your certification. Regardless of your expertise with SharePoint, allocate yourself a good amount of time to study. This exam covers most of MOSS functionality and as such you’ll need to brush up on allot of skills, so make sure you have the hours free!
This section mainly shows the study path that as per me should get you pass this exam.
| Topic | Description | Resource |
| Document Policies | Study up on custom document policies, what they are, when you need them, and how to create them e.g.: Public class DocPolicy : IPolicyFeature | |
| Content Deployment | If you have done this before or used STSADM, you should be fine | http://blogs.msdn.com/jackiebo/archive/2007/02/26/content-deployment-step-by-step-tutorial.aspx |
| Custom Field Controls | Learn what you can inherit a custom field control from and why | |
| Excel Services | Learn about this new technology that enables you to load, calculate, and display Excel workbooks on Office SharePoint Server 2007 | http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms519581.aspx
|
| Variations Feature |
| http://aspnetcoe.wordpress.com/2007/02/09/customize-variation-root-landing-logic/ |
| Business Data Catalogues | Yes, they come up extensively. Pay particular attention to the XML and know how to define entity vs methods. Make sure you know the difference between a Finder and Specific Finder method. | http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms563661.aspx http://blah.winsmarts.com/2007-4-SharePoint_2007__BDC_-_The_Business_Data_Catalog.aspx |
| Single Sign-On (SSO) | Should be part of BDC | |
| InfoPath forms | Pay special attention to what you need to do to get the form to display on an ASP page. Where does the XSN/XML file get added and so on? | http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/magazine/cc163562.aspx
|
| User Profiles | Read up on the API ensure you know what the code looks like, because you will be looking at code snippits in this exam | http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms574336.aspx
|
| Search | Lots on this, but mostly related to BDC Definitions as far as I recall. Make sure you are familiar with the kind of XML that can be edited for the Search Core results page. What kind of fields are there. | Refer the book in next section |
| Audiences | Pay careful attention to the API and learn the basics of the AudienceManager and what you can do with it | http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/microsoft.sharepoint.portal.audience.audiencemanager.aspx
|
Personally, it was bit easier for me on User Profile, Audience, Search and BDC as I have used them extensively in my last project. I would surely advice anyone taking this test to write some code on User Profile and audience targeting.
| | Inside Microsoft® Office SharePoint® Server 2007 Author : Patrick Tisseghem Language : English |
In my opinion, no study can be termed as complete without going through the book. I bought this book one year ago while preparing for MOSS 2007 Configuration exam. This has really been helpful in passing in the exams. This book provides great overview of all the functionality of MOSS specially Search. I highly recommend it.
This book provides:
· Build collaboration and publishing portals for your intranet and extranet
· Customize and brand your site with master pages, CSS, and navigation options
· Programmatically support search administration and execute search queries
· Create scripts to customize the provisioning flow of your portal
· Use the Business Data Catalog to integrate collaborative workspaces with line-of-business applications
· Add browser-based form capabilities with InfoPath Forms Services
· Develop Web-based business intelligence solutions using Excel Services
· Apply policy and document routing frameworks to help enforce information management rules
