Help Creating an Area Template

[ouzojd]

Hi, I've become a little stuck when creating an area template for a 2003 portal (it's my first time at doing it).

I have made a copy of the SPSTOPIC folder on C:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\webserver extensions\60\templates\1033 and renamed it to a customised name, I have then created a file called WEBTEMPSPScustomised name in the XML folder at C:\program files\common files\microsoft shared\webserver extensions\60\templates

It now shows up as a template I can use for an area. I am having trouble with the Onet.xml file. I am trying to remove the Group Listing webpart and replace it with a document library.

Is it just this line of code I have to replace, and what would I need to replace it with?

<AllUsersWebPart WebPartZoneID="MiddleLeftZone" WebPartOrder="0">
- <![CDATA[ <WebPart xmlns="

http://schemas.microsoft.com/WebPart/v2"><Assembly>Microsoft.SharePoint.Portal,

Version=11.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c</Assembly><TypeName>Microsoft.SharePoint.Portal.WebControls.DocumentLibrary</TypeName><Title>Document Library</Title><Description>Shows listings in the portal.</Description><PartOrder>1</PartOrder><FrameType>None</FrameType><AllowMinimize>true</AllowMinimize><AllowRemove>true</AllowRemove><IsVisible>true</IsVisible><DisplayTemplate xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:sharepoint:ListingSummary">TopicsItems</DisplayTemplate><GroupBy xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:sharepoint:ListingSummary">Group</GroupBy><SortOrder xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:sharepoint:ListingSummary">Order</SortOrder><SortDirection xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:sharepoint:ListingSummary">Ascending</SortDirection></WebPart>
]]>
</AllUsersWebPart>

All help appreciated.

 

[canuckeh1]

Where do you get the option of applying a template to an area? Are you aware of the supported vs. unsupported scenarios? This sounds like you're going down the unsupported route. Although I am also a newb and slightly confused about the whole supported vs. unsupported scenario.

 

[ouzojd]

If you go into 'change settings' in an area under the page tab you can select the template the area uses and what all its subareas will use for a template. Doing what I have done so far allows me to select my custom template as the template used by the subareas.

As far as unsupported / supported, yeh I dont know, but its only adding files not changing any existing ones except adding an entry to 1 xml file. I think it would be pretty unlucky if a Service Pack or hotfix caused me grief, plus I have a test environment set up. I could understand unsupported if I was changing stored Procs etc.

I am new to sharepoint, the reason I'm going down this track is because I'm setting up sharepoint to hold the bulk of each depts document libraries in areas on the main portal site which makes browsing to libraries from office a whole lot easier.

I want the users to be able to click add area and automatically have a document library webpart on the page ready to go as I think a lot of people here might find it to much of a hassle to set up otherwise.

Even if it is unsupported I would still like to go down this track so if anyone knows please help me......