Sharepoint online - Guided tours, feature tour, walk throughs

Hello Aditya,

Creating in-app walkthroughs, guided tours, or feature tours on SharePoint Online using open-source libraries like intro.js, chardin.js, joyride, Bootstrap, HopScotch, or Crumble can be a bit challenging due to the restrictions and specific architecture of SharePoint Online, particularly with the Modern experience pages. Here’s a detailed response to your inquiries:

1. Using Open Source Libraries in SharePoint Online:
   • Compatibility: The Modern SharePoint Online environment utilizes the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) for customizations. Most JavaScript libraries that don't specifically rely on manipulating the DOM directly should technically work with SharePoint Online, provided they are implemented correctly within the SPFx framework. However, libraries that manipulate the DOM heavily (like some of those used for guided tours) may face compatibility issues due to the dynamic nature of SharePoint Online’s content rendering and updates.
   • Implementation: To implement these libraries, you would typically need to develop an SPFx extension. This extension can inject the required JavaScript and CSS files into your SharePoint pages. If you are not a web developer, this might require some learning or assistance from someone with experience in web development and specifically in SPFx.
2. Privacy and Security Concerns:
   • Third-Party Services: When using third-party libraries or services, especially in an intranet environment, there are always concerns about data privacy and security. With open-source libraries that you host yourself, the risk is generally lower because you're not sending data to third-party servers. Still, you should review the library code to ensure it does not transmit data externally.
   • Permissions: SPFx extensions run in the context of the current user, meaning they have access to any data that the user can access. It's crucial to ensure that your implementation does not inadvertently expose sensitive information.
3. Alternatives for Creating Walkthroughs:
   • PnP PowerShell and PnP Modern Search: For a less technical approach, consider using out-of-the-box SharePoint Online features combined with custom SharePoint lists to guide users through features. You could create a 'Help' section where each item details a feature and links to relevant parts of the intranet.
   • Microsoft Power Apps: Another alternative might be to use Power Apps to create custom help dialogs or overlays that can be more integrated into your SharePoint environment without extensive development.
4. Where to Ask for More Help:
   • Microsoft Tech Community: This is a great place to ask such questions as it is frequented by both Microsoft employees and experienced community contributors.
   • Stack Overflow: Specifically tag your questions with SharePoint, SPFx, etc.
   • GitHub Discussions within the repository of the specific library you are considering might also be helpful.

Given your background in scripting and automation, picking up the basics of SPFx for implementing simple extensions might be within reach with some dedicated study. Microsoft’s documentation and numerous community blogs and tutorials can be invaluable here.

Best of luck with your SharePoint Online project, and I hope this information helps you create an effective and user-friendly guided tour for your intranet!

Regard: BNB Travel & Tours

SharePoint Online allows you to create custom web parts using SharePoint Framework (SPFx). If you or someone on your team has development skills, you can potentially use SPFx to create custom web parts for the in-app walkthroughs. This would require coding expertise. You can use SharePoint Framework Extensions like Application Customizers to inject JavaScript and CSS into modern SharePoint pages. This approach may allow you to integrate third-party walkthrough libraries like intro.js or HopScotch. However, it would still require development skills. You can create automated flows in Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) to guide users through specific processes or actions in SharePoint Online. While this may not provide the same level of interactivity as dedicated walkthrough libraries, it can offer step-by-step guidance. SharePoint Online has its own modern page editing capabilities that allow you to add text, images, and web parts to pages like Hatta sightseeing tour. You can use these features to create visual guides or tutorials. While this doesn't provide interactive tours, it can still be helpful for documentation.Consider leveraging the built-in training resources within SharePoint Online. Microsoft provides extensive documentation, guides, and training materials that can help users understand and navigate SharePoint features.