Sharepoint Webpart Concepts

In order to create WSS-style Web Parts, you must have a dependency on the Microsoft.SharePoint.dll and you must inherit from the WebPart base class in the Microsoft.SharePoint.WebPartPages namespace.

In order to create ASP.NET-style Web Parts, you have a dependency on System.Web.dll and inherit from a base class named WebPart in the System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts namespace.

When creating WSS 3.0 Web Part pages, you should use the WebPartZone control defined in the Microsoft.SharePoint.WebPartPages namespace. You do not want to use the WebPartZone control contained within ASP.NET 2.0.

Different controls contained in a WSS-style Web Part page

The preferred way to create Web Parts for WSS 3.0 sites is to create the ASP.NET style WebParts. As discussed before, this means inheriting from the WebPart base class in the System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts namespace and overriding the RenderContents method.