How to customize edit forms in SharePoint designer 2007

June 23, 2009

Welcome Reader,

I have moved to a new blog site, so you can get same content from below new site URL!!

http://dishasharepointworld.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-customize-edit-forms-in_22.html

Please feel free to post your comments/feedback into new blog, I’ll be more than happy to assistant you.

Sorry for any inconvenience!!

Disha Shah

  1. Tri
    July 30, 2009 at 2:38 pm | #1
    Quote

    Great articles!
    I followed the steps, but UN-success on step number 13.

    I right-clicked on my custom list … chose Properties … clicked on Support Files… clicked on Browsed … and assigned to the new form … OK … Apply … OK

    But it still not change the configuration to the new form

    I, immediately, go over step 13, and saw that it is still pointing to the old form

    I am not sure how to trouble shoot this issue

    Any helps are greatly appreciated

    • dishashah08
      July 30, 2009 at 2:57 pm | #2
      Quote

      Hey,
      Thanks for the comments.

      I think I didn’t write enough information into my article and I missed one important thing over here. Can you please check below things?
      In step # 13,

      1. Click on supporting files.
      2. Choose “Item” option value from the “Content Type specific items” section and then browse to your new form and assigned into NEW/EDIT Item form.

      This is main step, because when we are changing or assigning our new form into supporting files TAB and clicks on OK, it automatically changed to default content type and old form names, we need to first change/select “Item” content type and then we need to change/assigned our new form.

      Please try these steps and let me know if you get success or not, then I’ll add same steps into my article.

      Thanks,
      Disha Shah

  2. Tri
    July 30, 2009 at 4:57 pm | #3
    Quote

    Thank you for such a quick response
    and thank you for the specific information
    I tried it, and it worked

    Have a great day

  3. Harish
    August 18, 2009 at 6:55 pm | #4
    Quote

    Thanks Disha,
    My first idea was to create a custom column type such that all the columns using this type can have such hiding feature in edit item mode and asusual in add item mode but mean while I saw this article and this is great. But I have to repeat each and every list like this. I think this will suit if we are not aware of the task while creating list then afterwards we can do this. Can we create a custom column type that suits this buisiness case?

    Regards,
    Harish

    • dishashah08
      August 18, 2009 at 7:46 pm | #5
      Quote

      Hey Harish,

      By looking at your business requirements, I think below link will help you, after deployment of below solution package, we can hide/display make read only any columns into any list within SharePoint site.

      http://officetoolbox.codeplex.com/

      Codeplex also giving free source code for above utility, so if you would like to modify anything then you can make changes into code and make your own custom utility.

      Please let me know if this fits into your case or not.

      Thanks,
      Disha Shah

  4. Harish
    August 18, 2009 at 11:05 pm | #6
    Quote

    Thanks Disha,
    yes you are right I think the link you provided me will suits my requirement more in fact its giving the user more flexibility. Thanks for the link.
    I am even using Toolbar manager feature provided at http://www.codeplex.com/features to hide the ‘new’menu option in toolbar for some lists.

    • dishashah08
      August 19, 2009 at 2:21 pm | #7
      Quote

      Hi Harish,

      That’s correct about the link which I sent you, user have more flexibility to change look and feel of SharePoint list.

      Codeplex Feature utility is also good.

      Thank you very much for the information.

      Enjoy!
      Disha Shah :)

  5. Gina
    October 14, 2009 at 12:53 pm | #8
    Quote

    The previous steps doesnt work when i want to make (a dropdown list or date or a radio button) on a display mode!!
    It`s Works Only when i change a text box to a display mode.

    • dishashah08
      October 14, 2009 at 8:20 pm | #9
      Quote

      Hey Gina Yeap,YOU are RIGHT…In edit form if we set Controlmode= “Display” for Dropdown and Date controls, it wont work…

      But I have some alternatives to do that

      # 1:

      Let me explain by an example, I have two fields

      1> Status – DropDown Control

      2> StartDate DateTime Control

      When I added Custom List form from Sharepoint Designer 2007 , I got this kind of lines for DropDown Control and DateTime control and You have to replace described like below.

      For Status – *DropDown Control *

      *Replace LINE *

      * WITH*

      For StartDate *DateTimeControl*

      *Replace LINE*

      *WITH*

      # 2: Below is codeplex free tool; see if you can leverage this for your purpose.

      http://officetoolbox.codeplex.com/

      Thanks,

      Disha Shah

  6. ashiena
    October 21, 2009 at 7:49 am | #10
    Quote

    Hye Disha,

    Thank you for posting this useful article.
    I have followed the steps plus the steps 13 from the comment.. and it works! :)

    However, iahve difficulty editing page from one of the Microsoft 40 template (Call Center Template).
    When I changed the edit page, it gives me this error:

    ” An unexpected error has occurred.

    Web Parts Maintenance Page: If you have permission, you can use this page to temporarily close Web Parts or remove personal settings. For more information, contact your site administrator.
    Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services.
    ”

    If you might know where I did wrong. I would be much appreciated.

    Thanks again..

    • dishashah08
      October 21, 2009 at 8:36 pm | #11
      Quote

      Ashiena

      It is good to hear that it helps you.

      There are lots of possibilities to occur “An unexpected error has occurred” error.

      To know the specific error, please refer this and try to get more detail about error description and please send me same details, I will try my best to solve that.

      http://dishashah.wordpress.com/2009/08/08/how-to-display-detailed-error-messages-into-sharepoint-page/

      Thanks, Disha Shah

  7. Suresh
    October 22, 2009 at 4:47 am | #12
    Quote

    Hi Disha,

    This is Suresh, working as a sharepoint developer past 2 years. I have only experience in SharePoint development using sharepoint designer. Now I’m learning object model. If possible help me to learn more about Object Model Programming.

    Thanks in Advance.

    Rgds,
    Suresh.

    • dishashah08
      October 22, 2009 at 6:53 pm | #13
      Quote

      Hey Suresh

      It’s good to hear from you that you need to start programming in SharePoint Object Model. Yeah if you stuck anywhere during SharePoint Object Model Programming then let me know I will try my best to help you.

      If you know any programming languages like .NET or anything then you can speed up SharePoint Object Model very well, same like all languages it’s giving classes, methods into SharePoint APIs.

      Good link to start with: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb687949.aspx

      Thanks, Disha Shah

  8. pratik
    October 26, 2009 at 6:02 am | #14
    Quote

    hi disha. this is pratik here. How are you? what’s up? Good to see you blogging. Keep it up. I suggest you to Put your Twitter as well as facebook ID so that anyone can follow.

  9. Gina
    October 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm | #15
    Quote

    Sorry ,,Could you please explain this steps agian
    For Status – *DropDown Control *

    *Replace LINE *

    * WITH*

    For StartDate �*DateTimeControl*

    *Replace LINE*

    *WITH*
    i couldnt got what you say !!
    Thanks inadvance.

    • dishashah08
      October 29, 2009 at 1:49 pm | #16
      Quote

      Hey Gina

      I don’t know that somehow code lines didn’t display correctly, I write down that reply one more time.

      Yeap,YOU are RIGHT…In edit form if we set Controlmode= “Display” for Dropdown and Date controls, it won’t work…
      But I have some alternatives to do that

      # 1:
      Let me explain by an example, I have two fields
      1> Status – DropDown Control
      2> StartDate – DateTime Control
      When I added Custom List form from Sharepoint Designer 2007 , I got this kind of lines for DropDown Control and DateTime control and You have to replace described like below.

      For Status – DropDown Control
      Original LINE :–
      SharePoint:FormField runat=”server” id=”ff3{$Pos}” ControlMode=”Edit” FieldName=”Status” __designer:bind=”{ddwrt:DataBind(‘u’,concat(‘ff3′,$Pos),’Value’,'ValueChanged’,'ID’,ddwrt:EscapeDelims(string(@ID)),’@Status’)}”

      Change like this –>
      xsl:value-of select=”@Status”

      For StartDate –DateTimeControl
      Original LINE–>
      SharePoint:FormField runat=”server” id=”ff8{$Pos}” ControlMode=”Edit” FieldName=”StartDate” __designer:bind=”{ddwrt:DataBind(‘u’,concat(‘ff8′,$Pos),’Value’,'ValueChanged’,'ID’,ddwrt:EscapeDelims(string(@ID)),’@StartDate’)}”

      Change like this
      xsl:value-of select=”ddwrt:FormatDate(string(@StartDate), 1033, 5)”

      # 2: Below is codeplex free tool; see if you can leverage this for your purpose.
      http://officetoolbox.codeplex.com/

      Thanks,
      Disha Shah

  10. Cliferd Menezes
    November 20, 2009 at 1:40 pm | #17
    Quote

    Thank you for this very useful info.

    How do we change programming language from javascript to vb in designer 2007?

    Thank you very much.

    Cliferd

    • dishashah08
      November 20, 2009 at 3:40 pm | #18
      Quote

      Cliferd

      Thank you very much for compliments.

      You can change the to but not to VB. If you want to make/change page to VB then that SharePoint page must be a custom page. Change the page language at the top of the page.

      SharePoint Designer 2007 does not support code-behind -> http://www.andrewconnell.com/blog/archive/2006/08/03/3293.aspx

      One recommendation here – In-line Client-side script is not allowed in site pages by default (Security reasons). For thing which you are trying to do, you have to create a custom content page in Visual Studio and reference the master page and install page it in _layouts folder.

      I hope that I understood your question correctly and give you proper answer.

      Thanks
      Disha Shah

  11. Syed
    January 5, 2010 at 3:08 pm | #19
    Quote

    Hi Disha,

    I would like to implement same thing for Document Library.
    But the problem is according to step 6 I am unable to find Insert SharePoint Controls -> Custom List Form.
    Custom List Form option is disabled.

    Please let me know if there is any other way to achieve this in Document Libraries.

    Thanks for such a nice article.

    Syed

  12. Syed
    January 6, 2010 at 4:15 pm | #20
    Quote

    Hi

    Please ignore my previous comments. I am able to implement it.

    Thanks once again for the beautiful article.

    Regards,
    Syed

    • dishashah08
      January 6, 2010 at 4:28 pm | #21
      Quote

      Hi Syed

      Thanks for appreciation and comment.

      I have one request, if you would like to share your solution with the problem that you faced and resolved, it will be really very grateful for other people too

      Thanks
      Disha Shah

  13. Syed
    January 7, 2010 at 3:40 pm | #22
    Quote

    Hi Disha,

    The requirement was to make a multiple line textbox to read only and this was in Document Library.

    I was facing problem when I remove the default web part in the newly added EditForm2, I was unable to see the EditForm if when do so.
    And if I don’t remove the default web part it was displaying the newly created EditForm2 with the default web part. So, I was seeing two forms at a time.

    To overcome this I have just gone to the code part in SP designer and commented the code of default Web part and it worked. The problem was when I was deleting the default web part it was deleting the some other xml tag.

    Disha I have one question can’t we delete the default EditForm?

    Thanks,
    Syed

  14. Robert
    February 23, 2010 at 11:03 pm | #23
    Quote

    I’m having a problem finding where to do Step 13. Where do I find the “List Properties”? Is this in SharePoint (webpage) or in SP Designer? I found this screenshot on the web, but where is this on my PC (SharePoint or Designer)? Please help as I am so close!

    • dishashah08
      February 24, 2010 at 3:29 pm | #24
      Quote

      Hi Robert

      You need to do step #13 in Sharepoint Designer. You can find all your lists in Wesite Panel. and Right click on that List , you will find properties.

      Best Regards
      Disha Shah

  15. sha
    March 10, 2010 at 5:42 am | #25
    Quote

    Hi
    I am new to sharepoint.I need to create a approval workflow in sharepoint designer.I created a custom list for the user to fill his request,then created a task to manager to approve or reject the request.then given coditions to according to manager decision.workflow is working but i want to display some data filled by user in his request to task of manager(name and id) .can u please help me in this scenario

    thnks

    • dishashah08
      March 12, 2010 at 1:48 am | #26
      Quote

      Hi,

      By looking at your requirement, it seems that you need to do some type of trade-off between your requirement and the tool which you are going to use, I mean you can’t display filled data into user request form from designer workflow, I am guessing that you have used “Collect Data from User” activity and need to add some more fields which are already there into your list, right? As per my understanding “Collect Data from User” activity into designer workflow is giving limited functionality and features.

      Here you can do two things.
      1> You can create approval workflow into visual studio and create task edit form, in which you can put any data you want …

      2> In designer workflow, you can create one more extra activity called “send email” before collecting data from user, in email activity you can passed all the data which already there into your custom list then you can assign task for the user, in these way user already got email with all the details before working on any task, you can get more idea from this link http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointdesigner/HA102390421033.aspx

      Let me know if you find some different approach about your requirement.

      Hope this Helps!!!
      Best Regards
      Disha Shah

  16. sindhuja
    April 7, 2010 at 7:34 am | #27
    Quote

    Thanks a Lot this really helped me.
    But there is a small issue When is tried to replace the existsing file the Link didn’t work it started giving “Invalid page URL” message (page was opening when the URL is typed). To Handle this Error please refer the below Website.
    http://chanakyajayabalan.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/invalid-page-url-new-item-in-sharepoint/

  17. Ashraf H
    July 10, 2010 at 9:26 am | #28
    Quote

    Hello Disha,
    Your article was a great help for me. Thanks for your endeavor.

  18. Deepak Virdi
    August 17, 2010 at 12:23 pm | #29
    Quote

    Hi Disha,
    Is there any solution to enable attachment on NewForm.aspx of a custom list.
    My requirement is a getting some values from user, it may include attachment and then its status should be approved b4 it can b displayed.

    I’m using your approuch to hide status column from user and I want status column to b visible only by approver.

    Is there any possible and better way to meet the requirement.

    • dishashah08
      August 17, 2010 at 3:30 pm | #30
      Quote

      Deepak

      When you customize the form at that time you can also attach the document to that new item.

      If it gives mesasage like “This form was customized not working with attachment” .
      Please refer this link Microsoft has released the solution for that.
      http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;953271&sd=rss&spid=11373

      You can add one javascript to check that weather that person is from “Approvers” group or not
      Please go through this link
      http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/sharepoint2010customization/thread/c9bfad37-2367-408b-8f50-73f349fd85e2

      Depends on user you can make it visible or hidden.

      you can write a new webpart where all functionality is there depends on security.
      Add that webpart to new Customized form for NewItem and set that page when users click on new item .

      Hope this helps!!
      Disha Shah

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