In a previous post I linked off to Sahil Malik's blog, where he demonstrated the use of the URL protocol for working with SharePoint's RPC methods to export a list's XML definition. Well, since he let the cat part way out of the bag on one of my oldest and best trick, I figured I'd let it all the way out, showing off perhaps my favorite gem of the SharePoint API.

There is an awful lot you can do with the RPC methods that make up owssvr.dll. For example, Sahil's post shows you how to get the configuration/definition XML. But you can also get the XML representing the values in the list. For example:

http://Server_Name/[sites/][Site_Name/]_vti_bin/owssvr.dll?Cmd=
   Display&List=GUID&XMLDATA=TRUE

So it's that easy to get a dump of list data in XML format, just about perfect for doing client callbacks (AJAX) or using as an alternative to generic handlers (.ashx files). What if you want to set up a link that exports list data to Excel?

http://Server_Name/[sites/][Site_Name/]_vti_bin/owssvr.dll?CS=
   109&Using=_layouts/query.iqy&List=GUID&View=GUID&CacheControl=1

These are just the examples that sit right next to Sahil's Cmd=ExportList example in the SDK. So, the next time you get a chance, crack open the WSS 3.0 SDK and search for "RPC Methods" and "URL Protocol". I'm sure you'll find these tools as handy as I have found them.