SharePoint 2010 Products: Upgrade and the Fabulous 40 Application Templates

Many of you have used the "Fabulous 40 templates" that were created for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. Some of these templates were created as site admin templates (.stp files) and some as server admin templates (.wsp files). Microsoft is not releasing new versions of these templates for SharePoint 2010 Products. Also, .stp files are deprecated and can't be used to create new sites when you upgrade to SharePoint Server 2010 or SharePoint Foundation 2010.

So, what do you do when you want to upgrade?

Sites based on these templates should upgrade, but you'll want to try out your upgrade in a test environment before you upgrade your production environment so that you can catch any potential issues. Definitely use the pre-upgrade checker to identify any issues (some people have seen problems with custom workflows or CAML-based views in the templates). However, after upgrade, you won't be able to use STP files to create new templates.

Type of template Can I upgrade sites based on this template? Will I be able to use the template after upgrade?
Site admin (.stp file or site template) Yes No
Server admin (.wsp file or solution package) Yes* Yes*

*There are issues with a few of the .wsp files after upgrade. In particular, after upgrading, some customers are unable to create new sites based on the following templates: Absence Request and Vacation Schedule Management, Call Center, Help Desk, IT Team Workspace, Knowledge Base, and Physical Asset Tracking and Management. If you have trouble using any of these templates, you can post an issue in the SharePoint 2010 – Setup, Upgrade, Administration and Operation TechNet Forum at https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sharepoint2010setup/threads, or contact Microsoft Product Support.

So, what do you do if you're using an .stp file and you want to continue using it after upgrade? You can convert the .stp file to a .wsp file manually. To do this, in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 or Office SharePoint Server 2007, create a site based on the template, and then upgrade the site to 2010. Then, follow this procedure:

  1. On the Site Actions menu in the site, click Site Settings.
  2. On the Site Settings page, under Site Actions, click Save site as Template.
  3. On the Save as Template page, enter a file name and Template name and then click OK.
  4. The site template is saved as a WSP file to the Solutions Gallery for that site collection and you can create new sites based on that solution.

If you can't or don't want to do that, you can look to the partner community for upgraded templates. Khalil over on TechSolutions has already converted some of these templates to 2010 for you. Take a look at https://techsolutions.net/Blog/tabid/65/EntryId/17/Fab-40-Templates-for-MOSS-2010.aspx.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Hi - just letting you know that I'm passing all this feedback along to the product team.

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Hi - for those of you looking for info on a specific template, try the forum: social.technet.microsoft.com/.../threads Regarding the My Site templates, I have not heard of any plans to create 2010 versions.

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Dejan and Mike - I'm afraid that I don't have an answer for you. There are no current plans to release 2010 versions of the Fab 40 or a subset. However, the product team is investigating other useful tools or templates they may want to release over the next year. Sorry I can't give you any better information.

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Hi - list templates are still saved as STP files. Only site templates in STP files are deprecated.

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    I have the same problem of the other people. I got a WSP from techsolution website. I dont see the HelpDesk when create a new site, after following this steps:

  1. Create a new Web Application on SPFoundation 2010
  2. Create a new Site Collection against that new Web Application (Select template "Team Site" while creating this Site Collection)
  3. Goto 'Site Settings' of that new Web Application
  4. Goto 'Solutions'
  5. Upload the SPFoundation  2010 Application Template ".wsp" file, and "Activate" that when upload completes
  6. Create a new "Site" in the newly created "Site Collection" (in step 2), and select the newly uploaded solution in "Template" section ================================== But in the last step, (the solution in "Template"), don´t appear nothing. Anyone have an answer ?
  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    I second Craig's comment about this being a disappointment.  I opened an incident with Microsoft back in June about the KnowledgeBase template not functioning properly after the upgrade to 2010. I was told that a new set of FAB 40 templates for 2010 was under development and would be released soon which "...should be able to resolve these issues."  I’ve been back in touch with Microsoft regarding the incident that was archived (to be officially closed upon notification from Microsoft of new template release) and they were unaware that “Microsoft is not releasing new versions of these templates for SharePoint 2010 Products.”  The Microsoft support technician I spoke with today says they will do more research & follow up with me.  I’m beginning to think that there will be no “upgrade” for our heavily utilized WSS 3.0 KnowlegeBase; and that I’ll have to go the route of using http://techsolutions.net as a means for continuing use of all the content we’ve generated over the past several years.  This is unfortunate. social.technet.microsoft.com/.../af090264-084d-477a-b181-db5f1b070097

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Hi - for those of you looking to get started with SharePoint, take a look at the following sites: sharepoint.microsoft.com/.../default.aspx technet.microsoft.com/.../ee518660.aspx office2010.microsoft.com/.../getting-started-with-sharepoint-server-2010-HA010371435.aspx

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    We have built a customized application using Physical Asset Tracking template. Although it does migrate into SP2010 any of the custom workflows that were built and/or modified are not coming over. You had mention that this has occurred for others, do you or anyone else have a solution to migrate custom workflow that reside in template?

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    We have two sites that heavily use the Knowledge Base template from the 2007 Fab 40. We tested before upgrading from 2007 to 2010 and identified numerous issues with the KB after the upgrade (can't write or upload articles, problems viewing articles, can't edit articles, and if a user clicks the "revert to template" button, then the article is wiped out. It isn't going to be an easy task to get this info out of these two KBs because the template is a customized wiki. The TechSolutions KB won't work for anyone with an existing 2007--> 2010 Knowledge Base because Tech Solutions has rewritten the code totally for their version of the Knowledge Base--it's got nothing in common with the Fab 40 template. We've upgraded from 2007 to 2010, but this has been a huge stumbling block for us.

  • Anonymous
    August 19, 2010
    In our experience, .stp template based sites do not upgrade well to 2010 and the pre-upgrade checker does not identify these as potential problems.  You mileage may vary.

  • Anonymous
    August 19, 2010
    Does this " Microsoft is not releasing new versions of these templates for SharePoint 2010 Products. " mean that there will be no 2010 Application Templates at all. Or is this comment resticted to only the 2007 Application Templates that used .stp files? and if that is the case will there be ony 20 "fantastic" 2010 Application Templates ? (and if so, when?)

  • Anonymous
    August 23, 2010
    This is quite disappointing. Just upgraded to SharePoint 2010, and although we knew a template wouldn't work, we lived in hope that a new version would be along soon. These templates just make using SharePoint when in a small business, with limited time and resources significantly easier, either as a solution in itself, or as a basis for a more complex solution.

  • Anonymous
    September 17, 2010
    Used the templates released by Techsolutions and it worked well for me.... Thanks Khalil and TechSol

  • Anonymous
    September 17, 2010
    Fab 40 for Sharepoint Foundation are also available at www.techsolutions.net/.../Fab-40-for-Sharepoint-Foundation.aspx

  • Anonymous
    September 23, 2010
    samanro: Would you mind answering Mikes Walsh`s questions?

  • Anonymous
    September 23, 2010
    I have just hosted my site with http://www.asphostportal.com. I really surprised with SharePoint 2010. There are many features. I hope you can share more about SharePoint to me. I am new in SharePoint 2010. Hope learn more from you. Thanks...

  • Anonymous
    September 29, 2010
    Wow, I'm an end-user and I really needed the Competitive Intelligence SharePoint Services 2.0 template and my company is in 3.0, so we can't even look at it.  The Competitive Analysis 3. template is not the same.  Can anyone help me to find a way to at least see how the CI 2.0 template was created (screen shots of each page) so our team can attempt to recreate the site in 3.0 and eventually 2010 (since we also plan to upgrade)?  Like Craig Tolley said, small businesses just don't have the time or sometimes staff to develop such pages (that really are rich to use for certain buisness functions.  I really would appreciate anyone's help on this one!

  • Anonymous
    October 04, 2010
    Thank you for taking this back to the product team Samantha.  I'm going around the net linking others with issues, thoughts, concerns, etc. back to this blog.  I'm not certain the product team fully understands the impact the fab 40 templates not functioning in 2010 will have for folks who wish to migrate their 2003 / 2007 sites to 2010.  Although Khalil is doing some excellent work, it is a workaround - which unfortunately results in an unsupported installation. I look forward to hearing what the product team has to say - optimistically ;-)

  • Anonymous
    November 04, 2010
    I have one client where the content db triples in size if the fab40 are deplloyed during the upgrade to SP2010. Remove the Fab40 and and your upgraded content dbs not grow to that extent... Also, Mike is correct Microsoft will not be releasing a 2010 version of the Fab40 and if I remember correctly, the Fab40 were not supported but were to be used as demos... SP2010 has so many abilities that you can easily replicate the behaviour of any of the Fab40 templates. there were and still are numerous issues with the Fab40 and I always recommended against there deployment to production.. That said for all the small business out there Tech Solution has they claim I have noit used them re-created the fab40 fior SP2010, good luck if they as flaky as the originals you may need it... www.techsolutions.net/.../Fab-40-Templates-for-MOSS-2010.aspx Have fun, SharePoint ROCKs!!! -Ivan

  • Anonymous
    November 18, 2010
    Hi Samanro Can you tell me if there are any plans for the 7 role-based My Site templates that were released for MOSS 2007? technet.microsoft.com/.../cc263453%28office.12%29.aspx thanks Drew

  • Anonymous
    December 01, 2010
    What about list templates saved as stp files? Are they also deprecated?

  • Anonymous
    January 07, 2011
    Hi! I need something like "Timecard template" for SharePoint 2010. Is there any alternative? Any suggestion would be appreciated! Thanks!

  • Anonymous
    January 26, 2011
    One of our Dept is looking to use IT Team Workspace within our organizations. Currently the template has everything that the department is asking for and we can deploy without much coding or customization.  We're about 1 year maybe 2 years remove from upgrading from 2007 to 2010. Samanro, what is the recommended approach? Should we look at how the current template, apply it in our 2007 environment, while customizing it for 2010? or will this template be brought back 1 or 2 years down the road?

  • Anonymous
    February 04, 2011
    this is some thing interest to me, would some one show me how the sharepoint work to create the site

  • Anonymous
    February 04, 2011
    If you want to work on Sharepoint is out there any frere software to  install  to work on the sharepoint

  • Anonymous
    February 08, 2011
    What is Template task Fab 40? would someone show me how I create and where do I create from SharePoint

  • Anonymous
    February 08, 2011
    I am a subscriber to technet, and am trying to find software through Microsoft that will allow me to create/edit web pages. I have found Expressions Web, but its not available for download through the Technet site. Anyone have any suggestions? THanks.

  • Anonymous
    May 06, 2011
    I have recently created a site using the Document Library Review wsp from your links above. However, I cannot see any way to review documents. The document library shows up normally, but there is no review column or linked page for reviews automatically generated when a document is uploaded as there was in sharepoint 2007. How can I make it so there is a review column?

  • Anonymous
    June 03, 2011
    I have installed the FAB40 templates in a SharePoint 2007 Environment.  I am now tasked with upgrading to SharePoint 2010.  I am utilizing the "Database Attach" upgrade path and all site collections using the FAB 40 templates are failing on upgrade. Sites whihc use the FAB40 templates have no content once upgraded. Is there any way possible to upgrade these sites using the DB attach method?  Is there anything I can do besides recreating the sites with a standard  template and migrating existing content into the new site collection?

  • Anonymous
    September 16, 2011
    How many templates are there with a problem?

  • Anonymous
    October 15, 2011
    SharePoint Fab40 available here at Khalil's blog microsofttechnologies.blogspot.com/.../fab40-for-moss-2010.html

  • Anonymous
    November 07, 2011
    Hello, Thank you for the blog and the details. We have tried to deploy "Time Card Management" but we are not able to create a site. Do you know if this is a known issue and if there is a workaround? Kind regards, Alkis

  • Anonymous
    November 09, 2011
    I have followed the url mentioned for fab 40 template for sharepoint 2010 but I am facing lot of problem with activation of knowledge base and call center template as the template knowledge base template the look and feel comes out but unable to open any new documentary library of Knowledge base like recent article,recent change etc the moment I click on add new page its shows as this error “List does not exist. The page you selected contains a list that does not exist.  It may have been deleted by another user.” With respect to call center template concerned I have activated the wsp but unable to create the site based from that template and gives error as “site template required that the feature 2acf27a5-f703-4277-9f5d-24d70110b18b be installed in the farm or site collection” Could you please let me know as I am missing something

  • Anonymous
    January 09, 2012
    Templates replicating many of the Fab 40 ones in 2007 are available for 2010 from Office Talk www.office-talk.com/index.php

  • Anonymous
    February 15, 2012
    Hi, We are using the Employee Training and Scheduling Template (. STP) on 2007, with sucess. The indication of the IT Team is the platform will migrate to Sharepoint 2010. My question / doubt is: Someone can tell me what are the impacts? Some functionality will not work? Workflows? Afer migration... Thanks.

  • Anonymous
    May 24, 2012
    Was just about to pony up almost 18K a year for 3 years for Sharepoint licensing under open value with S.A. Now after learning the templates from 2007 aren't going to be supported I am re-examining the decision to use sharepoint. cDevWorkflow is a great FREE alternative. Or I may just go with free foundation server and combine it with another product. Point being - not porting these templates over just cost MS 54 grand in my case alone. Just thought that was worth sharing.

  • Anonymous
    June 07, 2012
    Does anyone have luck with SPF 2010 Inventory management, physical asset and mgmt application templates? Did anyone installed successfully and running it from techsol.

  • Anonymous
    June 08, 2012
    Excellent content, its good to see all these templates, I am sure they will go a long way in developing custom reusable solution in organizations. Just a humble suggestion though, this site has low readability the font size should have been larger.

  • Anonymous
    December 05, 2012
    I'm looking for an updated Sales-Order-Pipeline template for Sharepoint 2010 Can anyone help ?

  • Anonymous
    May 21, 2013
    Going to try http://fab40.codeplex.com on SP2010. Would you recommend?

  • Anonymous
    July 09, 2013
    I am looking for a Time card management template for Sharepoint 2010. Please advise.

  • Anonymous
    January 31, 2015
    Microsoft is cleaning house. Now that it has to maintain SharePoint for thousands of enterprises and