Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

Currently doing a lot with the pages in a SharePoint list. I'm trying to improve the discussion list functionality (going quite well!). One of the problems is that the discussion list contains 288 items, and that I'm trying to modify XSLT data views, converted from initial list views (in CAML) using FrontPage which takes ages even in “code“ view of FrontPage. Seems like it's trying to rerender all 288 items on typing each character! It would be great if it was possible to modify the data view web part using the web interface, like you can do in “normal” SharePoint pages. And yes... this is possible after adding some “magic code”.

Change the following code in the view pages (AllItems.aspx, ...):

....<SPSWC:RightBodySectionSearchBox runat="server" SearchResultPageURL="SEARCH_HOME" FrameType="None" WebPart="true" __WebPartId="{D3BCAB36-897B-4BAF-A947-1C71A63112F3}"/></td></tr> <tr style="padding-right:1px">......

To

...<SPSWC:RightBodySectionSearchBox runat="server" SearchResultPageURL="SEARCH_HOME" FrameType="None" WebPart="true" __WebPartId="{D3BCAB36-897B-4BAF-A947-1C71A63112F3}"/></td></tr>
   <tr> <td nowrap align="right" class="ms-vb"><WebPartPages:SettingsLink runat="server"/> </td> </tr>
   <tr style="padding-right:1px">

Change the following code in the item pages (DispForm.aspx, EditForm.aspx, NewForm.aspx):

...<SharePoint:ListItemProperty Property="Title" MaxLength=40 runat="server"/></a><!-- --></td> </tr></table>...

To

...<SharePoint:ListItemProperty Property="Title" MaxLength=40 runat="server"/></a><!-- --></td> </tr> 
<tr> <td nowrap align="right" class="ms-vb"><WebPartPages:SettingsLink runat="server"/> </td> </tr>
</table>...

And now add &mode=edit after you URL of the list page and you get the well none “Modify Shared Page” functionality and you can add extra web parts and configure the existing web parts like you are used to.

You need to add these modifications using FrontPage or directly in the list pages in the list template.

Published Friday, May 14, 2004 2:16 AM by svdoever
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Comments

Friday, May 14, 2004 1:50 AM by Dustin Miller

# re: Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

Pardon the confusion, but this wouldn't let you edit XSLT Data Views in the web browser, would it? That seems to be quite impossible, since it's FP-side behavior.

Now, it DOES seem to allow the placement of other web parts on the page. List forms are web part pages, after all.
Friday, May 14, 2004 3:27 AM by Serge van den Oever

# re: Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

Dustin, see http://weblogs.asp.net/soever/archive/2004/05/14/131698.aspx for more info on data views and FrontPage.

And yes, list form and list view pages are just web part pages. Might be a good idea to add the described SettingsLink tag initially to all list templates, so every page is editable when needed!
Friday, May 14, 2004 9:48 AM by Dustin Miller

# re: Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

I know quite a bit about the dataview web part and FrontPage. ;) I think I should re-state the observation/question a little better.

What I'm saying is: You appear to be making two different points. The code change you point out above does nothing but add the web part page settings link to the resultant HTML. What does that have to do with the XSLT Data View web part? You say: "...possible to modify the data view web part using the web interface...this is possible after adding some 'magic code'." The magic code you are placing has nothing to do with the Data View, it's just the page settings link. :)

Regarding your other post, it doesn't mention anything about changing the properties of a data view in the browser.

While the DVWP exists in the OM, it exists in a way that is configured specifically for FrontPage 2003. There is no toolpane for it (that I'm aware of). Not trying to be contradictory here, just trying to understand what your post is all about. :)
Friday, May 14, 2004 9:55 AM by Dustin Miller

# re: Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

Forget the "no toolpane" part of my post. ;) The rest of it's the same. :)

Now if you can find out how to add the DataView to a SharePoint site without using FrontPage, you'll have something unique on your hands. ;) While you could create a .DWP with the stub code required to insert a DVWP (we've done this, it's certainly possibly), editing the XSL, the query, and the rest of the DVWP parameters is an exercise in futility when you're not using FrontPage. When I say "You can't edit a data view in the browser", I should clarify: "You wouldn't want to edit a data view in a the browser." :)
Friday, May 14, 2004 11:22 AM by Serge van den Oever

# re: Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

Dustin, the settings link has nothing to do with the DVWP, and yes, you can save a stub dwp fiel for DVWP, but this not the way you want to build DWVP's. But... my point was: if you create a DVWP with frontpage on a list view page and you don't want to use FP (because with items in the list it gets sloooooooow), you can edit the web part through the DVWP toolpane if you add this code to the list view page.
Friday, May 14, 2004 2:56 PM by Dustin Miller

# re: Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

I get it. I just didn't see a reason for a DVWP on a list view page; I always create new web part pages for them. :)
Friday, May 14, 2004 2:58 PM by Dustin Miller

# re: Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

By the way, nice blog. Subscribed in my SharpReader client, and I look forward to your posts. :)
Sunday, May 16, 2004 3:09 PM by Serge van den Oever

# re: Make SharePoint List pages editable through web interface...

Hi Dustin, just back from 3 days volleybal, so a bit late with my response. Great you like my blog... comments like yours make me write more! There is so much to write about, I only need to get some nice responses to keep myself going!

About adding web parts on list view pages: for example ion the discussion list I now have the thread you respond on visible next to my edit box... now you know what you are sponding on instead of having just an empty input box!

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