We recommend you add menus or shortcuts to your application pointing to the default.aspx page. This makes navigation easier and ensures that application will be opened properly. Default.aspx has special functionality which allows your application to properly load menus and the master page.
To add a shortcut to your deployed application:
Step 1: Open Site Settings and click on ‘Top link bar’ menu:
SharePoint 2010:
SharePoint 2007:
Step 2: Add a new tab with an appropriate URL pointing to your application, e.g.:
http://qa-sharepoint:34318/_layouts/MyApp1/default.aspx
You will see this tab after submitting your changes:
SharePoint 2010:
SharePoint 2007:
Step 3: (Optional) Add a link to your application to the quick launch menu. Click the Quick Launch menu under the ‘Top link bar’ menu and configure new menu:
SharePoint 2010:
SharePoint 2007:
After submitting your changes, the Quick Launch menu will look like:
SharePoint 2010:
SharePoint 2007:
Locating application files on the SharePoint server
Changing Code Access Security (CAS)
Adding navigation to your application
Uninstalling (retracting) a SharePoint solution
Using Microsoft Access databases in SharePoint applications
SharePoint master page options