Sitecore API

Identify the easiest way to retrieve the Home item.

The correct answer was:
Use the Sitecore.Context.Site.StartPath as the argument for the GetItem method.
Your answer was:
Use Sitecore.Context.Site.StartItem
This property retrieves the Name of the startItem, and not actually the Item itself. StartPath is an Attribute
of the Sites element of the web.config file. This approach also works well for multiple sites.

What is most efficient way to create a SEO friendly URL for an item in the Sitecore Content
Tree?
The correct answer was:
string myUrl = Sitecore.Links.LinkManager.GetItemUrl(thisItem); 
Your answer was:
string myUrl = Sitecore.Links.LinkManager.GetDynamicUrl(thisItem); 
GetDynamicUrl() does not return a friendly URL.

Conditional Rendering Rules

Which of the following is an example of an Action?
The correct answer was:
Run a Script
Your answer was:
Compare two field values
An action contains logic to implement when one or more Conditions are true.

Which of the following is a conditional rendering rule that features both a condition and
action?
The correct answer was:
where the visit no is greater than 10 trigger the Revisits Web Site goal
Your answer was:
Add the ShowImage Rendering to the Content placeholder.
This is an action. No condition is defined.

A Product Description item has Layout Details for a Default Device. The Default Device
settings show a Site Layout and Product Description Sublayout. The Sublayout dynamically
binds to the content-main placeholder.

You create a conditional rendering rule named Hide Product Description. This rule hides a
specified presentation component when the visitor is a competitor. Where do you apply the
conditional rendering rule?
The correct answer was:
Product Description Sublayout
Your answer was:
content-main placeholder
Use the Control Properties dialog to apply the conditional rendering rule to the component.

When the current item has one or more Product child items, a conditional rendering rule
will add the Show Subitem List XSLT Rendering to the Top-Row placeholder (click view
picture) only.

Where do you apply the rule?

The correct answer was:
Show Subitem List XSLT Rendering
Your answer was:
Show Product Sublayout
Apply the conditional rendering rule to the Show Subitem List XSLT Rendering. Based on a condition, set the
placeholder to Top-Row.

Name three types of Sitecore rules:

The correct answer was:
Insert Options, Conditional Rendering, and Validation.
Your answer was:
Conditional Rendering, Scripting, and Database Rules
There are no Scripting or Database Rules.

A Rule Description reads: except where item is based on the Product Description template

What is the best Token expression?

The correct answer was:
where item is based on the [templateid,Tree,root=/sitecore/templates,specific] template
Your answer was:
except where item is based on the [templatename,Text,,specific] template
The rule set editor will allow for the exclusion using except. Except is not required.

Data Infrastructure 1
How are items and templates related to one another?
The correct answer was:
Templates define the field structure of items.
Your answer was:
Templates provide a set of default field values for newly created items.
Developers may assign a __Standard Values item to a data template, which provides default values, but the
template itself defines fields.

When assigning Insert Options, what is a Sitecore Best Practice?

The correct answer was:
A best Practice is set the Insert Options on the template standard values.
Your answer was:
A best Practice is set the Insert Options on the data template.
Insert Options are how developers control what types of items business users create in the Sitecore Content
Tree. Setting insert options on the data template has no effect on the items based on that data template. A
best practice is to set insert options on template standard values. In this manner, items defined by the same
data template will inherit the same Insert Options.

Data Infrastructure 2
The Product data template inherits from the Metadata data template.

The Product data template includes the following fields: Title, Description and Price.

The Metadata data template includes the following fields: Keywords and Description.

Which fields will appear in the Product data template's __Standard Values item?
The correct answer was:
Title, Description, Price, Keywords and Description.
Your answer was:
Title, Description and Price.
The Standard Values has the same fields as any other item based on the template. As a result, the Standard
Values will display fields from the template and any templates from which it inherits.

When defining a field of the type Rich Text using Template Builder, what does the source
field indicate?
The correct answer was:
HTML Editor Profile
Your answer was:
File path to the Editor XML file
For fields of the type Rich Text, the source field defines the HTML Editor Profile to use for editing the field.

[Intermediate] Data Infrastructure

When does it NOT make sense for a data template to inherit one or more base templates?
The correct answer was:
When fields with identical names and field types require different field sources.
Your answer was:
When there are common field sections, field names, and field types with differing default values.
Differing default values (field values, for example) can be overridden on the Template Standard Values item.

Is it possible to create a hierarchy of items with a branch template?

The correct answer was:
Yes, it possible.
Your answer was:
Yes, but only in the case where the branch templates inherits from more than one or more base templates. All base
data templates are created in the branch. In all other cases, only one item can be created with no children.
As defined by the branch template, branch template allow for the creation of an item with nested child
items.

Field Classes
How can you determine the field type for a Sitecore field?
The correct answer was:
The TypeKey property.
Your answer was:
GetType() method.
GetType() returns the object reference.

Choose the code snippet that best demonstrates how to retrieve the Description field, which
is of the field type Rich Text?
The correct answer was:
HtmlField htmlField = items.Fields["Description"];
string text= htmlField.InnerField.Value;
Your answer was:
RichTextField richTextField = items.Fields["Description"];
string text= richTextField.InnerField.Value;
There is no RichTextField class. Use the HtmlField Class.

[Intermediate] Field Classes

The Reseller item contains a Name Value List field. The raw value of the field is
Standard=30&Silver=30%2f10&Gold=30%2f10%2f5.

You are coding a Sublayout to display these field values as a human readable string.

Choose the best code snippet.

The correct answer was:
Literal l = new Literal();
Sitecore.Data.Fields.Field fld = currentItem.Fields["Discount Tiers"];
if (fld.TypeKey == "name value list") { 
string discountTiers = fld.Value;
NameValueCollection nameValueCollection = WebUtil.ParseUrlParameters(discountTiers); 
foreach (string s in nameValueCollection.AllKeys) { 
l.Text += String.Format("{0} = {1}.", s, nameValueCollection[s]);
} 
}
this.Controls.Add(l);
Your answer was:
Literal l = new Literal();
Sitecore.Data.Fields.Field fld = currentItem.Fields["Discount Tiers"];
if (fld.TypeKey == "name value list") { 
string discountTiers = currentItem["Discount Tiers"];
SafeDictionary safeDictionary = WebUtil.ParseQueryString(discountTiers);
foreach (string s in safeDictionary.Keys) {
l.Text += String.Format("{0} = {1}.", s, safeDictionary[s]);
} 
}
this.Controls.Add(l); 
The SafeDictionary collection is helpful, but in this case, the ParseQueryString returns a dictionary that URL
encodes the string.

The News Article data template contains a field called Media Link which usually contains a
link to a media item in the Media Library.

Which is the best code snippet to display a thumbnail of the referenced media item?
The correct answer was:
Image img = new Image();
LinkField linkField = currentItem.Fields["Media Link"];
if (linkField.IsMediaLink){
string mediaItemPath = "/sitecore/media library/" + linkField.Url;
Item item = currentDB.GetItem(mediaItemPath);
MediaItem mediaItem = new MediaItem(item);
char prefix = '/';
string url = StringUtil.EnsurePrefix(prefix, MediaManager.GetThumbnailUrl(mediaItem));
img.ImageUrl = url;
}
Your answer was:
Image img = new Image();
LinkField linkField = currentItem.Fields["Media Link"];
if (linkField.IsMediaLink){
string mediaItemPath = "/sitecore/media library/" + linkField.Url;
Item item = currentDB.GetItem(mediaItemPath);
MediaItem mediaItem = new MediaItem(item);
string url = mediaItem.GetThumbnail();
img.ImageUrl = url;
}
GetThumbnail() is deprecated. Use the MediaManager's GetThumbnailUrl method. This code retrieves the
icon for the media item.

The Product Description data template contains a Related Services field of type Checklist
with its source set as a Sitecore Query expression.

What other field type could you use to improve the user experience of the content editors?
The correct answer was:
Multilist
Your answer was:
Treelist-Ex
Multilist as a field type supports Sitecore Query. Treelist-Ex does not support Sitecore Query directly, but
rather, a parameterized Source.

Item Collections
What type of collection does the GetChildren() function return?
The correct answer was:
ChildList
Your answer was:
Item Collection
GetChidlren returns a ChildList.

You would like to use the asp:Repeater control to display a formatted list of Sitecore items
on a Sublayout. Your design requirements call for every other row to be formatted with a
different style for easier reading.

Your web designer needs to be able to modify the markup file with the appropriate CSS
styles. Choose the best implementation strategy.
The correct answer was:
Create an ItemTemplate section inside the asp:Repeater, add controls to display field values and format them
appropriately for the first row background color. Add a AlternatingItemTemplate section, add controls and format them
appropriately for the alternating background color.
Your answer was:
Create an ItemTemplate section inside the asp:Repeater, add controls to display field values and format them
appropriately for the first row background color. Add a SeparatorTemplate section, add controls and format them
appropriately for the alternating background color.
Use ItemTemplate and AlternatingItemTemplate sections to vary the formatting for every other item. The
Separator section is used to provide formatting (typically a line break or horizontal rule) between items.
Using the Template sections allows you to dynamically change the formatting without having to write and
compile additional code.
Presentation Components
In ASP.NET terms, what does it mean to "statically bind" a control on a Sitecore Sublayout?
The correct answer was:
It means to use declarative syntax.
Your answer was:
It means to bind the control on the DataBound event.
Static binding simply means to use declarative syntax.

In Sitecore, a Layout typically includes common elements across all pages of a site, such as
the site header and footer. When creating a new Sitecore Layout in Visual Studio, what do
you create?
The correct answer was:
Web Form
Your answer was:
Master Page
A layout in Sitecore is an ASP.NET Web Form.
What is the purpose of a Sitecore Placeholder Web Control on a Layout?
The correct answer was:
Placeholders allow for the dynamic binding of controls. Because controls can be dynamically bound, this allows for
the possibility of control reuse. For example, a Sitecore solution might feature a few Layouts for an entire Web Site.
Your answer was:
Placeholders allow for the both the static and dynamic binding of controls. Because controls can be both dynamically
and statically bound, this allows for the possibility of control reuse. For example, a Sitecore solution might feature a
few Layouts for an entire Web Site.
Placeholders allow for component reuse. Presentation components are dynamically bound to a placeholder.

[Intermediate] Presentation Components

You would like to specify a CSS style sheet for use with a Sitecore Layout. What is the
easiest way to do this?
The correct answer was:
On the web form, within the HTML Head tag, add a Link tag that references the CSS file.
Your answer was:
In the Web.config, in the webStyleSheet setting, specify the path for the CSS file.
The webStyleSheet setting in the Web.config associates a CSS file with the Rich Text Editor. The Rich Text
Editor is used to edit Rich Text Fields.
With Page Editor, you add the Marketing Advertisements rendering to the column-right
placeholder. The Select the Associated Content dialog appears. Why can you select from a
list of existing Marketing Advertisement items?
The correct answer was:
For the component item, a Datasource Location is defined.
Your answer was:
For the selected item, insert options are defined.
Insert Options influence what types of new items can be created for a given item, not for items associated
with a newly added component.

The Show Subitems Sublayout displays a list of all the children of the current requested
item. It is used throughout your site. For example, the control is bound to items of the type
Training Category in order to show a list of Course Descriptions.

For the News Section, you want the Show Subitems Sublayout to list the children of the
Home item and not News Articles items.

What steps should you follow?

The correct answer was:
In Page Editor, edit the Show Subitems Sublayout control properties. Set the data source for the Sublayout to point to
the home item In the Sublayout Code File, retrieve the Data Source parameter. Using the parameter value, retrieve
the item and override the parent item.
Your answer was:
Go to the standard value for the data template. Use the device editor to create a Home Item parameter for the
Sublayout. Enter the name of the Home item. In the Sublayout Code File, retrieve the Home Item parameter. Using
the parameter value, retrieve the item and override the current item reference.
Although possible, it is better to use the data source parameter value of the Sublayout. It is a property of
the Sublayout class. Using this property value, retrieve the item from the context database, and then
override the Context item.

You create websites for higher education. A developer on your team has created individual
web forms for department pages, program pages, course pages, and faculty pages. All the
pages are identical, except for web user controls placed in the center of the web form. Since
this is a Sitecore solution, what do you recommend doing?
The correct answer was:
You recommend to define one web form as a Sitecore Layout and to define each web user control as a Sitecore
Sublayout.
Your answer was:
You recommend to define each web form as a Sitecore Layout and to define each web user control as a Sitecore
Sublayout.
Speed up development by reusing components. Since the design between web forms is the same, one web
form is required as a Sitecore Layout in this scenario. Web user controls as Sitecore Sublayouts can be
dynamically inserted with a Sitecore placeholder.

Requirements state that CSS and FilterByDataTemplate specific parameters are defined on
the Show List Sublayout. How can you best implement a solution?
The correct answer was:
Create a Rendering Parameters data template named Show List Rendering Parameters and inherit from Standard
Rendering Parameters template. Add to the template two fields: CSS of type Single-line text and
FilterByDataTemplate of type multilist with a source of /sitecore/templates/content templates/. For the Show List
Sublayout definition item, set the Parameters Template to Show List Rendering Parameters.
Your answer was:
Create the Show List Sublayout with a statically bound asp:GridView data control. Wherever the control is used,
define the Control Properties. In the Additional Parameters field, add CSS and specify a value. Add the
FitlerByDataTemplate and specify a value.
Create a Rendering Parameters template for the Sublayout rather than the Additional Parameters Name
Value List.

Supporting Page Editor1

Fred is a business user with limited skills. Fred wants to modify the home page of the
website. What do you tell Fred?
The correct answer was:
Use Sitecore Page Editor to make changes to the Home page. Preview these changes and then publish your
changes.
Your answer was:
The Home page is an item. Use Content Editor to edit the Home item. Edit the Home item to make changes to the
Home page. Preview and publish your changes using Content Editor.
Rarely do Sitecore developers associate all definable fields that are presented on just a single item itself.
Most likely, the Home page pulls information from more than one item in the Sitecore Content Tree. To
make the editing experience easy for content editors, Sitecore Developers build a Page Editor friendly home
page.
Ivan frequently edits the Travel Services section on his company Web Site using Page
Editor. For a given Travel Service, Ivan needs to be able to edit the Related Travel Services
field. As a Sitecore developer, what steps can you take to help Ivan.
The correct answer was:
Create an Edit Frame Button in the core database that specifies the Related Travel Service field. Add a Sitecore Edit
Frame Web Control to the presentation component that displays Related Travel Services.
Your answer was:
Create a web user control that supports Page Editor and allows Ivan to edit the Related Travel Service field. To make
development easy, use the Sitecore Multilist Web Control.
There is no Sitecore Multilist Web Control. Define an Edit Frame button in the core database and use a
Sitecore Edit Frame Web Control in the presentation component that displays Related Travel Services.
What are editable objects?
The correct answer was:
An editable object can be a field or a presentation component that is editable in Page Editor.
Your answer was:
An editable object is a field that is editable in Page Editor.
An editable object can be a field or a presentation component that is editable in Page Editor.

Supporting Page Editor2

You want designers using Page Editor to be only able to add any of three specific
Sublayouts to the column-left placeholder.

What should you do?

The correct answer was:
Create a Placeholder Settings item and assign the appropriate Sublayout items in the Allowed Controls field.
Your answer was:
In the Developer Center, open the layout, double-click the placeholder, and assign the appropriate Sublayouts in the
Allowed Controls field.
Placeholder Settings allow developers to limit the set of acceptable web controls associated with placeholder
in Page Editor. This is defined on a placeholder settings item in the content tree in the Allowed Controls field.

Besides using a placeholder settings, for a given presentation component, how can a
developer offer a Page Editor user other component options?
The correct answer was:
For the given presentation component item, define one or more compatible renderings.
Your answer was:
For the given presentation component, add the sc:replace Sitecore Web Control.
There is no sc:replace Sitecore Web Control. Compatible Renderings allow a Page Editor user to replace one
presentation component with another.

You need to define custom behavior for an Edit Frame Button. Where do you do this?
The correct answer was:
In the core database, under /Sitecore/content/Applications/WebEdit/Edit Frame Buttons.
Your answer was:
In the sc:EditFrame Web Control markup, for the fieldname attribute.
Find these settings in core database, not the master or web databases. You can change settings for an
individual EditFrame control at run-time in your code behind logic but custom button settings must first be
defined in the core database, so that you can reference them in your code.

What are replacement renderings?

The correct answer was:
Replacement renderings are other components that can replace an existing component when designing in Page
Editor.
Your answer was:
When editing in Page Editor, a replacement rendering is a component that can be added to a placeholder.
Replacement renderings replace an existing component in Page Editor. Page Editor Designing needs to be
enabled, not editing.

Sitecore Web Controls

What does the following code snippet do?

sc:Image Field="image" runat="server" ID="image1" MaxWidth="50"

The correct answer was:
It generates an img tag that displays a scaled version of the image from the media cache.
Your answer was:
It generates an img tag that displays a scaled version of the image in the context item's image field that maintains the
original height.
Sitecore always maintains aspect ratios when scaling images. The MaxWidth="50" attribute will cause
Sitecore to scale the image on the server side. This is saved in the media cache. This image is displayed
from media cache.
In a Sitecore Sublayout, what is the best way to display a value for a Sitecore date field
type?
The correct answer was:
string date = FieldRenderer.Render(item,"date"); 
Your answer was:
var date = item("date");
item("fieldname") is improper syntax. To extract the raw value of a field, you should use item["fieldname"].
However, although this statement (if corrected) would output the raw text value of the field, it will not
necessarily format the contents correctly, especially for fields like Dates and Images, plus content authors
will not be able to change the field contents in the Page Editor.

On every page on your website, you want to display a promotion link in the Side Bar area of
the web page. A promotion item features a field named Promotion Link. This field is of the
field type General Link. This link is for internal items only. You want to display the value of
a Promotion Link field in the Promotion Sublayout. You also want business users to edit this
link with Page Editor.

What is the best Sitecore Web Control to display the Promotion Link field?
The correct answer was:
sc:Link
Your answer was:
sc:EditFrame
EditFrame just creates an edit frame control.
To display a Rich Text field value on a Sublayout without coding, which Sitecore Web
Control should you use?
The correct answer was:
FieldRenderer
Your answer was:
RichText
There is no RichText Sitecore Web Control. For statically bound controls on a Sublayout, use the Sitecore
FieldRenderer Web Control or the Sitecore Text Web Control.