One of the most requested features by our customers has been the possibility of creating sub-sites automatically linked to a list, so that when you create an item in a list a certain Web site is created, with a determined template and the possibility to select certain permits for the new site.
In this way you can create sites on a semi-automatic manner, quickly, allowing easy management.
There are different ways to solve this problem; in SPSProfessional we have created a solution that will completely suit your needs.
Usage
Our solution has been implemented as a feature that can be displayed on any Web. This feature will allow you to add the event to any web site list wherever it has been activated.
Once this feature is activated you can find a new option in the site configuration (Site Settings) under the Management site heading (Site Administration)
Through this option we can manage the lists to which we wish to link this event. The main screen will show us a toolbar to link the event to a new list and below this the list of names that currently have the creation events sites activated.
By clicking on "Attach new list" we will access to a screen to select the list to which we wish to link the event.
As you will see the list requires at least three fields:
A text field where the list user will specify the name of the new site, a field hyperlink where we will store the new created site Url and a choice field to allow us to choose the templates.
In the absence of these three fields we won’t be able to add the event to the list.
For the purpose of illustrating this manual we have created a list that contains all three required fields, a text field to enter the name of the new site, a field hyperlink to store the new site created Url, and a choice field with the three options by default. We have named this list "Site Creation" and we have selected it.
As you can see each of the necessary fields have been identified, in the event that there is more than one text field to enter the name of the new site, you can select which one you would prefer to use.
In this case as our list has only three fields and one of each required type, the fields selection will be shown like the above picture.
Below, we have a section named "Templates".
In this section we can build the relationship between the option that the user has chosen and the template to be used to create the new site.
Each of the combined selection lists contain all the templates available in our collection sites, templates from the system and templates defined by the user.
In the event that you have more than three options do not worry, you will see them here.
This first set of options that we have seen, "Fields" and "Templates" cannot be modified while the event is associated with the list. If you want to modify these you must disassociate the event from the list and associate it again.
The next set of options, will allow us to select how we have to manage the potential errors.
The first option allows us to visualize the error message in the event that this occurs in the field assigned to allocate the Url.
The second option will allow us to confront the situation when there is already an URL with the same name. In this case, we can force the event to create a numbered site. (In other words, if there is a site http://server/web/newweb it would create a new web at the url http://server/web/newweb0 and so on)
As when we create a site using the SharePoint interface, we can indicate if we wish that the new site appears on the fast navigation bar as well as if we wish to maintain the top navigation bar. Here we will see some more available options that we have.
As we can also see below we can determine the permissions of the new site by the following interface.
We can establish whether the new site will inherit the permissions from the current site (default option) or if we wish to establish new permissions (selecting the unique permissions box)
Regardless of whether or not the new site maintains the inherited permissions we can establish through the "Permissions" box and, following a given syntax , a set of groups that will be added to the new site once this new site is created.
Finally we can establish whether the created site is deleted when the item is deleted from the list.
Once the event has been associated with the list we can see it and edit it from the administration section.
To disassociate the event from the list we must edit it and click on the button "Delete".
Once the list is disassociated from the event "Site Creation" the field that we have selected as Url will be hidden, disappearing from the editing screen;
Now when we create a new element in our list in parallel a site will be created below the current site based on the template that the user has selected with the permissions and navigation options that were previously set. Once the new site is created the URL from this site will appear in the field that we have selected.
Sample with error
Sample with name resolution
Installation Requirements
- The SPSProfessional Site Creation Feature works in WSS 3 and/or MOSS 2007
- Both MOSS and WSS 3 require SP1 (Service Pack 1)
- SharePoint Administrator Account to install and activate the Feature
- Site Administrator Account to configure the Feature for the Libraries
- SPSProfessional Configuration Manager
Installation
See: Install SPSProfessional Solutions
Feature Activation
After completing the installation and deployment procedures, the Feature must be activated in the web. Using a Site Administrator Account, go to Site settings – Site configuration – Site Features and activate the SPSProfessional Site Creation Event.