Applied Visual Studio Team System

Using Google Caching to Rescue a Lost Community Server Blog

I recently needed to move some blog entries from one site (where they were previously posted) to a new blog site (this one, in fact). Both sites utilize Community Server, but the old site was offline - hence the need to relocate the files. 

As I had been blogging at this site for nine months, there were quite a few entries there. And, because things had changed during the past nine months, I knew some of the material would be difficult to reproduce.

I realized I could get to Google's cached version of some of the entries, but I didn't know how to get to them all. After some casting about, I hit upon a method for retrieving the information I sought.

Here's what I did:

1. Browse to Google.com and search for some text in your blog, preferably an entry title:

2. When you locate an entry from your old blog in the search results, right-click the entry and select "Copy Shortcut":

3. Click "Advanced Search" beside the main textbox on the Google results page:

4. On the Advanced Search page, paste the contents of the clipboard (the copied shortcut to your old blog entry) in the Domain textbox and click the "Google Search" button:

5. The Google advanced search will likely only return one result - the desired page:

6. Click on the "Cached" link below the description to view Google's cached version of the page:

7. Heres where it can get tricky. If your Community Server theme includes a sidebar that displays Archives, right-click on the earliest archived month and select "Copy Shortcut" (If Archives is not visible, all is not lost...):

8. Return to Google and again click the "Advanced Search" link. Paste the copied shortcut into the Domain textbox (If you do not have access to the Archived link, Community Server Archive links are fairly standard. They follow the format "/archive/YYYY/MM.aspx") and click the "Google Search" button:

9. The search results should contain the latest cached version of your Community Server's blog entries for the archived month:

10. Click on the "Cached" link to view Google's cache of your blog:

11. You can then copy and paste the results into another blog editor, or save the page - thus rescuing your Community Server blog!

:{> Andy

Technorati Tags: Blog Rescue Blogs Google Cache Google Cache Developer Community

Richmond Code Camp - Success!

The first ever Richmond MSDN Code Camp was held yesterday. The event was an awesome success!

Many people deserve recognition and thanks. Indulge me while I say thanks to:

ECPI, for allowing us to use their Moorefield facilities. The ECPI Moorefield campus was the perfect location for a Code Camp! The administration and staff were more than accomodating and, without their help, there simply would not have been a Richmond Code Camp. Special thanks to Ada Gerard and Matt Keadle for their support!

Microsoft, for providing support, managing registration, buying lunch for all Code Camp attendees and for picking up the tab for the speakers-and-volunteers-night-before-dinner, and for all the cool swag. Special thanks to our Developer Evangelist, Andrew Duthie, for his tireless efforts on our behalf!

MaconIT, for the coolest Code Camp shirts ever!

TekSystems, for the surprise breakfast!

APress, Wrox, and Wiley for lots of books! (I believe every attendee received at least one book.)

 

Thanks to the speakers and volunteers (forgive me if I leave anyone out - and then notify me so I can add you!):

Susan Lennon,
Frank La Vigne,
Greg Postlewait,
Gary Blatt,
Mike Richardson,
Brian C. Lanham,
Kevin S. Goff,
Geoff Switz,
Omri Bahat,
Don Demsak,
Vishwas Lele,
Darrell Norton,
Andrew Duthie,
Jonathan Cogley,
Harold Buckner,
Robin Edwards,
Kevin O'Connor,
Teresa Shi,
Joe Waldin,
Christopher Berg,
and Jason Leonard.

 

Special thanks to the organizing team: Frank La Vigne, ; Darrell Norton, ; Susan Lennon, MCAD,MCSD,MCDBA, MCSE + I, MCT; and Andrew Duthie!

:{> Andy

Technorati Tags: Developer Community Richmond Virginia VA Code Camp