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Introduction

Recently my company decided to host a standard calendar to show holidays on the employees portal, however the catch was that the calendar should display holidays / information / updates that the Human Resource wanted the employees to know, they did not want to use the Announcement Web Part.

Problem

We would like to display a conventional calendar on SharePoint Intranet as a WebPart, with the feature of showing customized information in the form of ToolTip for each day. This customized information is displayed from a SharePoint Custom List with English & Chinese text.

Pre-requisite

This Web Part is based on a custom SharePoint List with pre-defined columns for it to work. So provision a custom list in SharePoint with the following site columns:

Display Name	Internal Name	Type	Purpose
Title	Title	Single Line Text	Display the holiday/announcement in English
Holiday Date	Holiday_x0020_Date	DateTime (Only Date)	The day to render.
TitleInChinese	TitleInChinese	Single Line Text	Display the holiday/announcement in Chinese
Location	Location	Single Line Text	The location (in my case this was Hong Kong, Macau, China)

Calendar

This web part is based on the standard System.Web.UI.WebControls.Calendar control, so there is nothing fancy about this control. However in order to render the days with the list, we have to override the OnDayRender() event.

public class MyCalander: System.Web.UI.WebControls.Calander
{
      MyWebPart oParent;
      public MyCalander(MyWebPart oCurrentParent)
      {
         this.oParent = oCurrentParent;
      }
      protected override void OnDayRender(TableCell cell, CalendarDay day)
        {
            try
            {
                // This Day is rendered as a Table Cell "<TD>"
                cell.ToolTip = String.Empty;
                // The oParent is the parent object with all 
                // the properties passed when creating instance of this class.
                cell.BorderWidth = new Unit(oParent.calBorderWidth);

                if (day.IsToday)
                {
                    cell.Font.Bold = true;
                    cell.BackColor = Color.FromKnownColor(oParent.calTodayBackColor);
                    cell.ForeColor = Color.FromKnownColor(oParent.calTodayForeColor);
                }

                if (day.IsWeekend)
                {
                    cell.BackColor = Color.FromKnownColor(oParent.calWeekEndBackColor);
                    cell.ForeColor = Color.FromKnownColor(oParent.calWeekEndForeColor);
                }

                if (day.IsOtherMonth)
                {
                    cell.BackColor = Color.FromKnownColor(oParent.calRestDayBackColor);
                    cell.ForeColor = Color.FromKnownColor(oParent.calRestDayForeColor);
                }

                if (this.HolidayScheduleListName == null || 
		this.HolidayScheduleListName == String.Empty)
                {
                    return;
                }
                SPWeb web = SPControl.GetContextWeb(this.Context);
                SPSite siteCollection = SPContext.Current.Site;
                SPList calendarList = 
		siteCollection.RootWeb.Lists[HolidayScheduleListName];

                // DEFAULT TO Holiday_x0020_Date if the user has not 
	       // provided with a exact column name.
                if (oParent.HolidayDateFilterSiteColumn == null || 
		oParent.HolidayDateFilterSiteColumn == "") 
		oParent.HolidayDateFilterSiteColumn = "Holiday_x0020_Date";

                // Now check if the column exists on the list.
                if (!calendarList.Fields.ContainsField
			(oParent.HolidayDateFilterSiteColumn)) 
                {
                    CalendarWebPart.LogMessage
		  (oParent.HolidayDateFilterSiteColumn + " site column not found.");
                    return;
                }

                SPQuery query = new SPQuery();
                query.ExpandRecurrence = true;
                query.Query = "<Where><And><Eq><FieldRef Name='"
			+oParent.HolidayDateFilterSiteColumn+"'/>
			<Value Type='DateTime'>" + day.Date.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd") + 
			"T00:00:00Z</Value></Eq>";
                query.Query += "<Eq><FieldRef Name='Location'/><Value Type='Text'>" + 
			oParent.strLocation + "</Value></Eq>";
                query.Query += "</And></Where>";
                try
                {
                    SPListItemCollection spHolidays = calendarList.GetItems(query);
                    foreach (SPListItem oItem in spHolidays)
                    {
                        /*
                         * Check if the web language is 1033 - English.
                         */ 
                        if (web.Language.ToString() == "1033") cell.ToolTip = 
						oItem["Title"].ToString();
                        else oItem["TitleInChinese"].ToString();

                        cell.BackColor = Color.FromKnownColor(oParent.calHolidayBackColor);
                        cell.ForeColor = Color.FromKnownColor(oParent.calHolidayForeColor);
                    }
                }
                catch (Exception innerException)
                {
                    // I am not throwing an error here as this is an 
                    // exception on List; don't want to spoil user experience
                    // so I will go ahead and draw the day.
                    CalendarWebPart.LogMessage(innerException.Message);
                }
            }
            catch (Exception e)
            {
                // Now this is a NASTY ERROR, Stop processing and scare the user....
                CalendarWebPart.LogMessage(e.Message);
                throw e;
            }
}

Lists Query

The critical part of the OnDayRender() is the SPQuery.

// SELECT Title, TitleInChinese From HolidayList WHERE 
// Holiday_x0020_Date = Date_of_DayRendered
// This converts to the SPQuery as :
<Where>
  <And>
    <Eq>
      <FieldRef Name='Holiday_x0020_Date'/><Value Type='DateTime'>
	01/01/2010T00:00:00Z</Value>
    </Eq>
    <Eq>
      <FieldRef Name='Location'/><Value Type='Text'>Hong Kong</Value>
    </Eq>
 </And>
</Where>

To build the dropdown with DISTINCT values from the list, create a DataView and convert the listitems to DataTable.

To get the DISTINCT values from a list; use SPListItemCollection.GetDataTable method and convert into a DataTable using System.Data.DataView.ToTable() method.

SPQuery query = new SPQuery();
query.Query = "<OrderBy><FieldRef Name='Location'/></OrderBy>"
query.ViewFields = "<FieldRef Name='Location' />";
// SPListItemCollection.GetDataTable() converts 
DataTable tblUnique = new DataView
	(calendarList.GetItems(query).GetDataTable()).ToTable(true, "Location");
//Now tblUnique contains all the Unique Values from the SharePoint Custom Lists.

Web Part Parameter : Color

The main concern was the look and feel of the entire Web Part, as it had to blend into the current theme. So the easy was to provide the webmaster with a String object where he can enter the #ffffff color code or to provide a drop-down with the color names.

This solution was to use the System.Drawing.KnownColor enum and use the Color.FromKnownColor() to convert the KnownColor to Color.

#region Calendar.Title.BackColor
private KnownColor TitleBackColor = KnownColor.Black;
/// <summary>
/// Title Back Color
/// </summary>
[Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
WebBrowsable(true),
WebDisplayName("Title Back Color"),
WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
Category("Look & Feel"),
FriendlyName("Title Back Color"),
XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
public KnownColor calTitleBackColor
{
    get { return TitleBackColor; }
    set { TitleBackColor = value; }
}
#endregion

Callback from DropDown

The painpoint is to generate a OnSelectionChanged() trigger from the client side so that the webpart can be refreshed. The simplest way is to script out a Java function on client side to callback with the SelectedItemText:

protected override void OnPreRender(EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                base.OnPreRender(e);
                /*
                 * I need to spit out client side code to get an
                 * injection for change in dropdown values.
                 */
                if (!Page.ClientScript.IsClientScriptBlockRegistered("OnChangeDD"))
                {
                    String script = @"function dl_onchange() {  
                    var dl=document.getElementById('" + ddlLocation.ClientID + @"');
                    var url = document.URL;
                    if (url.indexOf('?') > 0) url = url.substr(0, url.indexOf('?'));
                    document.location= url + '?Location='+dl.value;}";
                    Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptBlock(typeof(Page), 
			"OnChangeDD", script, true);
                }
                if (HttpContext.Current.Request.QueryString.Count > 0)
                {
                    this.strLocation = HttpContext.Current.Request.QueryString
					["Location"];
                }

                // Now that I am about to vomit the HTML 
                // (yup after all its HTML) - Load the DropDown with values.
                this.getListItems();
                cal.RefreshControl(this);            // Same do it for the calendar.
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                // This is a Static Method to log errors in Event Viewer
                CalendarWebPart.LogMessage(ex.Message);
                throw ex;
            }

Putting It Together

There are total three classes in this WebPart:

System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts.WebPart,
System.Web.UI.WebControls.DropDownList
System.Web.UI.WebControls.Calendar

public class CalendarWebPart : System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts.WebPart
    {
        public String strLocation = String.Empty;
        # region -- Source Filter Parameters

        #region Holiday Schedule List Name e.g. Holiday Schedule
        /// <summary>
        /// Holds the name of the list in SharePoint where the holidays are stored.
        /// </summary>
        private string strHolidayScheduleListName = String.Empty;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("List Name: e.g. Holiday Schedule"),
        WebDescription("Please input the holiday schedule list name. 
			(e.g. Holiday Schedule)"),
        Category("Source"),
        FriendlyName("List Name")]
        public string HolidayScheduleListName
        {
            get { return strHolidayScheduleListName; }
            set { strHolidayScheduleListName = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Holiday Lists Field Name e.g. Holiday_x0020_Date
        private string strHolidayDateFilterSiteColumn = "Holiday_x0020_Date";
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Name of the Date Filter Site Column. 
			e.g. Holiday_x0020_Date."),
        WebDescription("Exact site column name."),
        Category("Source"),
        FriendlyName("Date Column Name")]
        public string HolidayDateFilterSiteColumn
        {
            get { return strHolidayDateFilterSiteColumn; }
            set { strHolidayDateFilterSiteColumn = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #endregion

        #region Calendar UI

        #region -- Dimensions
        private int TableHeight = 100;
        /// <summary>
        /// Total Height of the Calendar Control.
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Calendar Height"),
        WebDescription("Enter a value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Calendar Height"),
        XmlElement(ElementName = "calTableHeight")]
        public int calTableHeight
        {
            get { return TableHeight; }
            set { TableHeight = value; }
        }
        private int TableWidth = 250;
        /// <summary>
        /// Total Width of the Calendar Control
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Calendar Width"),
        WebDescription("Enter a value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Calendar Width"),
        XmlElement(ElementName = "calTableWeidth")]
        public int calTableWidth
        {
            get { return TableWidth; }
            set { TableWidth = value; }
        }
        private int CellPadding = 5;
        /// <summary>
        /// Calendar Cell Padding
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Cell Padding"),
        WebDescription("Enter a value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Cell Padding"),
        XmlElement(ElementName = "calCellPadding")]
        public int calCellPadding
        {
            get { return CellPadding; }
            set { CellPadding = value; }
        }

        private int CellSpacing = 2;
        /// <summary>
        /// Calendar Cell Space
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Cell Spacing"),
        WebDescription("Enter a value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Cell Spacing"),
        XmlElement(ElementName = "calCellSpacing")]
        public int calCellSpacing
        {
            get { return CellSpacing; }
            set { CellSpacing = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.BorderColor
        private KnownColor BorderColor = KnownColor.White;
        /// <summary>
        /// Border Color
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Border Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a Color value"), 
        Category("Look & Feel"), 
        FriendlyName("Border Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calBorderColor
        {
            get { return BorderColor; }
            set { BorderColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.BorderWidth
        private int intBorderWidth = 1;
        /// <summary>
        /// Border Width
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Border Width"),
        WebDescription("Enter the border width in unit"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Border Width"),
        XmlElement(ElementName="calBorderWidth")]
        public int calBorderWidth
        {
            get { return intBorderWidth; }
            set { intBorderWidth = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Title.BackColor
        private KnownColor TitleBackColor = KnownColor.Black;
        /// <summary>
        /// Title Back Color
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
         WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Title Back Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Title Back Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calTitleBackColor
        {
            get { return TitleBackColor; }
            set { TitleBackColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Title.ForeColor
        private KnownColor TitleForeColor = KnownColor.White;
        /// <summary>
        /// Title Fore Color
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Title Fore Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Title Fore Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calTitleForeColor
        {
            get { return TitleForeColor; }
            set { TitleForeColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Title.NextPrevBackColor
        private KnownColor NextPrevBackColor = KnownColor.Black;
        /// <summary>
        /// Title Fore Color
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Next Previous Back Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Next Previous Back Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calNextPrevBackColor
        {
            get { return NextPrevBackColor; }
            set { NextPrevBackColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Title.NextPrevForeColor
        private KnownColor NextPrevForeColor = KnownColor.White;
        /// <summary>
        /// Title Fore Color
        /// </summary>
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Next Previous Fore Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Next Previous Fore Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calNextPrevForeColor
        {
            get { return NextPrevForeColor; }
            set { NextPrevForeColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Day.HeaderBackColor
        /// <summary>
        /// Header Back Color
        /// </summary>
        private KnownColor DayHeaderBackColor = KnownColor.White;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Day Header Back Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Day Header Back Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calDayHeaderBackColor
        {
            get { return DayHeaderBackColor; }
            set { DayHeaderBackColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Day.HeaderForeColor
        /// <summary>
        /// Header Fore Color
        /// </summary>
        private KnownColor DayHeaderForeColor = KnownColor.Black;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Day Header Fore Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Day Header Fore Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calDayHeaderForeColor
        {
            get { return DayHeaderForeColor; }
            set { DayHeaderForeColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Today.BackColor
        private KnownColor TodayBackColor = KnownColor.Blue;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Today Back Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Today Back Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calTodayBackColor
        {
            get { return TodayBackColor; }
            set { TodayBackColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Today.ForeColor
        private KnownColor TodayForeColor = KnownColor.Red;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Today Fore Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Today Fore Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calTodayForeColor
        {
            get { return TodayForeColor; }
            set { TodayForeColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Day.BackColor
        private KnownColor DayBackColor = KnownColor.LightGray;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Day Back Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Day Back Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calDayBackColor
        {
            get { return DayBackColor; }
            set { DayBackColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Day.ForeColor
        private KnownColor DayForeColor = KnownColor.Red;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Day Fore Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Day Fore Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calDayForeColor
        {
            get { return DayForeColor; }
            set { DayForeColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.RestDay.BackColor
        private KnownColor RestDayBackColor = KnownColor.Black;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Other Days Back Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Other Days Back Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calRestDayBackColor
        {
            get { return RestDayBackColor; }
            set { RestDayBackColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.RestDay.ForeColor
        private KnownColor RestDayForeColor = KnownColor.Black;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Other Days Fore Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Other Days Fore Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calRestDayForeColor
        {
            get { return RestDayForeColor; }
            set { RestDayForeColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Weekend.Backcolor
        private KnownColor WeekEndBackColor = KnownColor.Black;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Weekend Back Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Weekend Back Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calWeekEndBackColor
        {
            get { return WeekEndBackColor; }
            set { WeekEndBackColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Weekend.Forecolor
        private KnownColor WeekEndForeColor = KnownColor.White;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User), 
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Weekend Fore Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Weekend Fore Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calWeekEndForeColor
        {
            get { return WeekEndForeColor; }
            set { WeekEndForeColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Holiday.Backcolor
        private KnownColor HolidayBackColor = KnownColor.BurlyWood;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Holiday Back Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Holiday Back Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calHolidayBackColor
        {
            get { return HolidayBackColor; }
            set { HolidayBackColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #region Calendar.Holiday.Forecolor
        private KnownColor HolidayForeColor = KnownColor.White;
        [Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.User),
        WebBrowsable(true),
        WebDisplayName("Holiday Fore Color"),
        WebDescription("Enter a color value"),
        Category("Look & Feel"),
        FriendlyName("Holiday Fore Color"),
        XmlElement(typeof(System.Drawing.KnownColor))]
        public KnownColor calHolidayForeColor
        {
            get { return HolidayForeColor; }
            set { HolidayForeColor = value; }
        }
        #endregion

        #endregion

        #region -- Private Objects
        private DropDownList ddlLocation;
        private MyCalendar cal;
        private String strHref = String.Empty;
        #endregion

        /// <summary>
        ///  Constructor.
        ///  <remarks>
        ///  Allows to export all parameters of this webpart.
        ///  </remarks>
        /// </summary>
        public CalendarWebPart()
        {
            this.ExportMode = WebPartExportMode.All;

        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Process the server requests before rendering controls.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="e">Server Object</param>
        protected override void OnPreRender(EventArgs e)
        {
            try
            {
                base.OnPreRender(e);
                /*
                 * I need to spit out client side code to get an 
                 * injection for change in dropdown values.
                 */
                if (!Page.ClientScript.IsClientScriptBlockRegistered("OnChangeDD"))
                {
                    String script = @"function dl_onchange() {  
                    var dl=document.getElementById('" + ddlLocation.ClientID + @"');
                    var url = document.URL;
                    if (url.indexOf('?') > 0) url = url.substr(0, url.indexOf('?'));
                    document.location= url + '?Location='+dl.value;}";
                    Page.ClientScript.RegisterClientScriptBlock
			(typeof(Page), "OnChangeDD", script, true);
                }
                if (HttpContext.Current.Request.QueryString.Count > 0)
                {
                    this.strLocation = 
			HttpContext.Current.Request.QueryString["Location"];
                }

                // Now that I am about to vomit the HTML (yup after all its HTML) - 
                // Load the DropDown with values.
                this.getListItems();
                cal.RefreshControl(this);               // Same do it for the calendar.
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                CalendarWebPart.LogMessage(ex.Message);
                throw ex;
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// WebPart method to create objects.
        /// </summary>
        protected override void CreateChildControls()
        {
            try
            {
                ddlLocation = new DropDownList() ;
                ddlLocation.ID = "myDropDown";
                ddlLocation.Attributes.Add("onchange", "dl_onchange();");
                this.Controls.Add(ddlLocation);
                cal = new MyCalendar();                 // Create my calender
                this.cal.ID = "calCalendar1";
                this.Controls.Add(cal);
            }
            catch (Exception e)
            {
                CalendarWebPart.LogMessage(e.Message);
                throw e;
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// RenderContests event
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="writer">HtmlTextWriter</param>
        protected override void RenderContents(HtmlTextWriter writer)
        {
            try
            {
                //base.RenderContents(writer);
                EnsureChildControls();
                ddlLocation.RenderControl(writer);
                cal.RenderControl(writer);
            }
            catch (Exception e)
            {
                CalendarWebPart.LogMessage(e.Message);
                throw e;
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Internal method to build the drop down from the list.
        /// </summary>
        private void getListItems()
        {
            try
            {
                if (this.HolidayScheduleListName == null || 
			this.HolidayScheduleListName == String.Empty)
                {
                    ddlLocation.Items.Clear();
                    ddlLocation.Items.Add("Configure WebPart");
                    return;
                }

                SPSite siteCollection = SPContext.Current.Site;
                SPList calendarList = siteCollection.RootWeb.Lists
					[HolidayScheduleListName];
                SPQuery query = new SPQuery();
                query.ExpandRecurrence = true;
                query.Query = "<orderby><fieldref name="Location"></orderby>";
                query.ViewFields = "<fieldref name="Location">";
                DataTable tblUnique = new DataView
		(calendarList.GetItems(query).GetDataTable()).ToTable(true, "Location");
                ddlLocation.Items.Clear();
                foreach (DataRow row in tblUnique.Rows)
                {
                    ddlLocation.Items.Add(row[0].ToString());
                }
                if (ddlLocation.Items.Count > 0)
                {
                    if ((this.strLocation == null) || 
			(this.strLocation == "")) this.strLocation = 
				ddlLocation.Items[0].Text;
                    else ddlLocation.Items.FindByValue(this.strLocation).Selected = true;
                }
                tblUnique = null;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                CalendarWebPart.LogMessage(ex.Message);
                throw ex;
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Write Events in custom error logs.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="errormsg"></param>
        public static void LogMessage(String errormsg)
        {
            SPSecurity.RunWithElevatedPrivileges(delegate()
            {
                if (!EventLog.SourceExists("calCalendar"))
                {
                    EventLog.CreateEventSource("calCalendar", "Application");
                }
                EventLog.WriteEntry("calCalendar", errormsg, EventLogEntryType.Error);
            });
        }
    }

So there it is, a simple WebPart to display ToolTip Text from a SharePoint Custom Lists "Title" column.

History

17^th September, 2010: Initial post

SharePoint Custom Calendar