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 specific template and the possibility of being able to select certain permissions for the new site.
In this way you can create sites in a semi-automatic manner and this makes easy management possible.
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 any web site where it has been activated.
Once this feature is activated you will find a new option in the site configuration (Site Settings) under the Management site heading (Site Administration)
Through this option you can manage the lists to which you want to link this event. The main screen will show you a toolbar which links the event to. 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" you will access a screen where you can select the list to which you want to link the event.
As you see the list requires at least:
- A text field where the list user will specify the name of the new site
- A hyperlink field where we will store the new created site Url
- A choice field to allow us to choose the templates.
In the absence of these three fields you can't add the event to the list.
As you can see, each of the necessary fields has been identified.When there is more than one text field where you can enter the name of the new site, you can select the one you would prefer to use.
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 has been identified.When there is more than one text field where you can enter the name of the new site, you can select the one you would prefer to use.
In this case as our list has only three fields and only one of each required type, the fields selection will be shown as in the above picture.
Below, we have a section named "Templates".
In this section you build the relationship between the option that the user has chosen and the template that is used to create the new site.
Each of the combined selection lists contains all the templates available in the collection sites, the templates from the system and the templates defined by the user.
The first set of options above, "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 re-associate it.
In the new 1.8 release we are added an option to hide the template field, when this option is checked the template field is hidden in the site list and the first option in the choice field was used as template.
The next set of options will allow you to select how you want the handle the potential errors.
The first option allows you to visualize the error message in the event that this occurs in the field assigned to allocate the Url.
The second option will allow you to deal with the situation when there is already an URL with the same name. In this case, you 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)
Just as when you create a site using the SharePoint Interface, you can indicate if you want the new site to appear on the fast navigation bar. You can also say if you want to retain the top navigation bar.
As we can also see below we can determine the permissions of the new site by the following interface.
You can establish whether the new site will inherit the permissions from the current site (default option) you want to establish new permissions (selecting the unique permissions box)
Regardless of whether or not the new site maintains the inherited permissions you 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 you 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 you can see it and edit it from the administration section.
To disassociate the event from the list you must edit it and click on the button "Delete".
Once the list is disassociated from the event "Site Creation" the field that you can select as Url will be hidden and will disappear from the editing screen;
Now when you create a new element in your list, a site will be created in parallel below the current site that is 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 has been selected.
Sample with error
Sample with name resolution
Installation Requirements
- The SPSProfessional SPSExplorer webparts works in WSS 3.0 and MOSS 2007
- Both WSS 3.0 and MOSS 2007 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.
Version 1.8
- Fix: Dicacritics chars in urls
- Fix: Template field refresh
- Add: Hide template field option
- Add: Show error messages when the required fields are no presents, in the target list.
- SPSProfessional Framework 2.8