Browser of object model

The browser of object model displays the structure of any .NET object using the .NET Reflection technology.



Browser window consists of two sections.

In the left window part, there is a tree that shows detailed information of an object. The root node symbolizes the object itself. When the program is launched, browser window with root nodes is opened. First node shows condition of object of type Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPFarm (object for work with SharePoint farm), second – Microsoft.SharePoint.Upgrade.SPManager (object that provides essential information about configurational database of SharePoint). Name of root object is formed vie the function ToString().

Root node of the object consists of:

1. Detailed list of public properties sorted in alphabetical order.
2. List of hidden properties (private, protected, internal).
3. Lists of public and hidden constructors.
4. Lists of public and hidden fields.
5. Lists of public and hidden methods.
6. Information about type of root object.
7. List of interfaces realized by object.
8. List of child objects (objects inherited from Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPPersistedObject). Such objects are marked in the tree with icon .

Each node in the tree can be flagged to select the necessary nodes for further use in a script (see usage of script window).

All objects that realize IEnumerable, interface are typed with bold font. Besides child nodes listed above, they also contain node Collection Items, in which the list of objects obtained by search in collection via methods of interface IEnumerator is located. Class System.String is exclusion as objects of this type are present everywhere.



In the right section of browser window, you can find a set of tabs, each containing the standard list of properties. Set of tabs includes:

1. General tab. Contains object properties that can be changed. Moreover, under object properties, a large text field is located, in which object string representation received via method ToString() is shown.
2. Property tab of object type. Contains properties of type of object, selected in the tree.
3. Tab contains information about type of property, field or method declared in description of root object type.

Example. On the image shown above, property Parent of object of type Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPTimerService. is selected. In description of class SPTimerService , it is said that property Parent returns object of type SPPersistedObject – exactly this type is presented on the last tab. In our specific case, property Parent returned object of type SPFarm inherited from SPPersistedObject – that is why type SPFarm is presented on the second tab.



This program feature is useful, if properties return values like null – it can be always seen what they must return.

If more detailed examination of any object is needed, it can be opened in separate browser window via context menu item Open in new window.



To simplify access to objects such as SPFarm, SPManager, SPTimerService, SPWebApplication, SPSite and SPWeb, you can automatically generate scripts to get them in uture work. to do that use the context menu item Add to stored.



Also, objects like SPSite and SPWeb can be accessed from the Internet browser by selecting Open in Internet Browser from the context menu.



Change the values of the corresponding fields in the tab General to change the object properties. You should confirm changes to number of objects (eg, SPWeb) by selecting Save changes from the context menu.