Creating custom Content Types in SharePoint 2010
Content Types in Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) allow you to define and group meta-information about SharePoint content. It’s like creating new custom list with some extra fields, so it’s very easy to create and use them.
Creating your custom Content Type
Below there are some steps to follow in order to create a custom Content Type.
In our case we need a document library, where we can add folders with some meta data(or with extra fields). Because SharePoint by default doesn’t allow you to add a folders with custom meta data, we have to create a custom Content Type and use it in the document library.
- First, go to Site Settings under Site Action
- Under Galleries click Site Content Types
- Click Create link button
- Name your custom Content Type (i.e MyFolder)
- Select Custom Content Type from Parent Content Type drop-down list
- Under Existing group drop-down list, select Folder Content Types and click OK button
Now, you have created your Custom Content type and you can find it to Site Content Types under Galleries. If you look now, it has only one field that is Title. In order to add additional custom fields for your content type, click Add from new site column.
Add custom Content Type to Document Libary
Now that you have created your custom content type, you can use it in different libraries or lists. In order to use different content types in a Document Library, you have to Allow management of content types in Document Library Settings. If you do it, you can go to Content Types under Document Library Settings and click Add from existing site content types where you will see a list of content types, click your custom Content Type and add it to Content types to add list and click OK. That’s all, you did it :)
