With SharePoint, there’s a feature that helps with source control for document templates. Using Content Types in combination with document libraries we can have a set of document templates that users can choose from, edit and save without over-writing the original document.
Here are the steps to implement this:
1. Create a Document Library
2. Within the site that contains that Document Library, go to Site Actions > Site Settings
3. Under the Galleries section, click on Site Content Types
4. Click the Create link at the top of the list.
5. Give your Content Type a name and description.
6. Under Parent Content Type choose “Select parent content type from: Document Content Types” and “Parent Content Type: Document”
7. If this is the first time you’re creating a new Content Type, then you should choose to place it in a “New Group” and give it a meaningful name.
8. After creating the Content Type, you have the option of customizing some of the settings. Click on ‘Advanced Settings.’
9. Choose to upload a New Document Template.
10. Leave the rest of the default settings and press OK.
Now we’ll have to go back to the Document Library that we had created earlier. Within that Document Library:
11. Click on Settings > Document Library Settings
12. Under the General Settings Section, click on ‘Advanced Settings’
13. If ‘Allow management of content types?’ is set to No, change it to Yes. Leave the rest of the settings, and click OK.
14. Under the Content Types Section, click ‘Add from existing site content types’
15. Now you’ll have the option of choosing the from the menus, the Content Type Group and Content Type that was created earlier. You’ll want to add it to the list of ‘Content Types to add:’
16. Go back to the Document Library, click the arrow next to the ‘New’ button and you should now have a new Document Template to choose from!
11 responses so far ↓
George M // February 13, 2007 at 7:26 am
We are embarking on the Sharepoint journey and are always seeking models to build on.
Thanks for the tip!
Henry // February 13, 2007 at 9:35 am
You’re very welcome!
Information Managers and SharePoint 2007 Content Types « The Art of Evolution // June 7, 2007 at 10:12 am
[...] I previously wrote about using Content Types and Document Templates here: http://blog.henryong.com/2007/02/12/how-to-create-document-templates-for-document-libraries/ [...]
Vijayaraja.P // July 2, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Good one,
Please suggest me for the below requirement.
I have list of templates. I will upload those templates into document library, whenever I open the uploaded template, It opens and making changes to the same template it is not allowing me to saves as document.
How to handle the above situation.
Henry // July 3, 2007 at 10:19 am
Hi Vijayaraja,
If the document library is read only, you will not be able to save a document back to it.
Darren // May 9, 2008 at 11:32 am
Is it possible to have different “New” menu items based on what folder you are viewing in the document library, or do you have to create different document libraries to have different new menus?
Henry // May 12, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Hey Darren, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this demo’ed somewhere. Most likely by a SharePoint MVP….maybe jopx? Not sure.
Paul // June 15, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Thanks for an excellent explanation. It was the most concise one I’ve found and has helped me get up and running with this excellent feature of Sharepoint.
tar // June 26, 2008 at 5:16 am
hi there
i am trying to edit a knowledge based article template . please advice how can i do that?
i just wanna add more textboxes and combo box in it to store information.
Thanks
Dippie.cc » Blog Archive » Sharepoint 2007 Custom Document Templates // June 27, 2008 at 1:24 am
[...] I wanted to have my own templates inside a Sharepoint 2007 Document Library; check this great post! [...]
Mike // July 16, 2008 at 9:12 am
Excellent step-by-step! Thanks!!!
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