Connecting Web Parts

Often one of the things that people ask most about is the idea of extending the use of SharePoint and making it easier for the end user. This is something that all organizations are troubled with, so you are not alone.  After watching the threads from #SPC14, it is evident that working solutions are needed for the business.

Connecting web parts is an easy way to allow users to see the benefit of uploading items to a SharePoint Library.  It can allow for a user to actually see the items that are related other items on a different list/library. One of the common connections is to link a Task List with a Document Library. When a user uploads an items, they select the task that the item is related to. 

To do this, there needs to be a common field between the apps. In this case, I will be using the Title field from the task list and I have added a look up to the Task list from the Documents. Yes, the task would need to be created in order for the document to be assigned to the correct task. If you have a great project manager, this will not be a problem.

1.       Identify the column that is common across the apps.

 

 

 

 

2.       Open the Default Display Form on the task list

3.       Add the Documents Web Part. You may need to rearrange the order of the web parts. You can do this by dragging and dropping the web part.

 

4.        Click on the drop-down menu that you would use for editing the web part. Select Connections > Get Filter Values From >Tasks. This will pass the Task Title to the documents and filter the list of documents.

 

5.        Complete the selection of the column names

6.        To test out the connection, save the web part and select the task. These are web parts, so you can edit the appearance how you see fit.

 

For more information about Web Parts, come to my SharePoint Saturday Session on April 5, 2014.  There will be new examples and fun to be had!