Highlights of Site Creation Plus

Highlights of Site Creation Plus

SiteCreationPlus.pngGovernance of SharePoint is a real concern for organizations today. In particular, SharePoint’s dynamic site creation capability has become an issue. The adoption of this powerful feature is often stymied by administrators who are reluctant to put it into the hands of end users. The out-of-the-box end user interface for creating a new site requires a user to enter a site name, a description, and the URL path to the new site. They must also select a site template to use and identify the users who will have access to the new site. Finally, they must remember to add the site to a Links list. For many users, this just presents too many choices. For system administrators, the choices can lead to sites created that do not follow company best practices such as URL naming conventions or the use of certain site templates. Many sites also end up missing from the list of site links.

Site Creation Plus provides benefits to both SharePoint users and administrators. It gives administrators the ability to better manage the creation of sites by standardizing URL and user group naming and restricting the site template that users can select. For users, it simplifies the site creation process by reducing the number of choices they must make and by adding new sites to a Links list automatically. This ensures that they complete an important step in the site creation process that is often forgotten.

Create Sites Using a Specific Site Template

Create Sites Using a Specific Site Template

You can use Site Creation Plus to create sites using a specific site template. This saves time by allowing administrators to create site templates for end users, reducing the number of choices end users need to make and adding new sites to a links list automatically, an important step in the site-creation process that is often overlooked.

SiteAdminSite templates can be created from either a new site or an existing site template. You need Design or Full Control permissions to perform these steps.

For a new site:

Step Action Result
1. Select Site Actions > New Site. Enter a title and URL for the template that will help you remember what data is stored in the template. hw28-2010-newsite1.jpg
2. Click Create. hw28-2010-newsite2.jpg
3. Add the lists, libraries and other content that you need to include in your site template.
4. Select Site Actions > Site Settings > Site Actions > Save site as template. hw28-2010-savesiteastemplate.jpg
5. Enter a file name, a template name and a template description that will help you remember what data is in the template. Make sure the Include Content option is selected to ensure that your lists, document libraries and other data are included in the template. hw28-2010-exampletemplate.jpg
Click OK. hw28-2010-exampletemplate2.jpg

From an existing site:

Step Action Result
1. Navigate to the site that you want to save as the template.
2. Select Site Actions > Site Settings > Site Actions > Save site as template. hw28-2010-savesiteastemplate.jpg
3. Enter a file name, a template name and a template description that will help you remember what data is in the template. Make sure the Include Content option is selected to ensure that your lists, document libraries and other data are included in the template. hw28-2010-exampletemplate.jpg
4. Click OK. hw28-2010-exampletemplate2.jpg

Apply the template to a new site:

Step Action Result
1. In the site collection where you want to create the new site, select Site Actions > New Site.
2. Select the site template you created, then give the new site a name and a URL. Click Create. hw28-2010-choosetemplate.jpg
3. Continue to create your site per usual. Note: This template is now the default template. Any new sites that you create will automatically use this template.

For more information and to see a use case, read KB.12469: How to Create a Project Site Template That Includes Additional Columns.

Configuring Site Creation Plus

Configuring Site Creation Plus

Site Creation Plus configuration tool pane has been divided into sections to make it easier for you to locate the specific items you need to learn how to configure. You can always come back to this topic to find the full list of topics.

Other Topics:

Site URL, Description and Template

Step Action Result Image
1. URL Name The URL can be created using either the Title or Description entered by the end user creating the new site. Choose the radio button as your preference.Title.jpg
Description.jpg
If you want to add instructions to the end user on the user interface, see Language Settings for more information.
2. Site Template All Site Templates available in the Site Collection are listed in the drop-down selection menu. Choose the one you want to be used for this instance of the web part. Depending on the site templates that are defined in your environment, you may or may not see all those in the list shown here:SiteTemplates.jpg

Complementary Products for Site Creation Plus

Complementary Products for Site Creation Plus

sharepointsolutions.pngYou will find many of our products complement each other quite nicely saving you the time and trouble to write custom code. With Bamboo at the heart of your SharePoint investment, you gain access to a huge catalog of enhancements, components, and accessories that add the critical functionality your business requires.

The same components can be easily used in future applications and they all come from a single, trusted vendor, ensuring an easy purchase process and support you can count on. That’s the Bamboo Way!