Required Steps to Create Custom Content Types in SharePoint

09 Jan 2015

One of the most influential & purposeful tools in SharePoint, content type represents a data set in the form of reusable columns. To be very precise, content types are not extra pieces of content; even a document can be referred as a content type. Users can define & group meta-information pertaining to SharePoint content with help of content types.

So, where is the Major Application of Content Types?

Content types may be used for an array of scenarios; however, their typical use lies in  cases where various business-specifc data types require to be defined. Consider for example a business group taking care of a company's policy making; such a group would require something like a "New Policy Template" for effective capturing of the policies.

Similarly, an engineering group would require something like ‘Technical Design Template’ or ‘Functional Specifications Template’. But these content types do differ from the standard lists available in SharePoint. Unlike lists, content types are not location-specific. Actually, content types act as a set of field definitions representing the definition applicable to a list or some other library.

Procedure to Create Custom Content Type in SharePoint

Creating a content type in SharePoint can be confusing at times; especially when you are creating it for the first time. It may seem more problematic if you lack knowledge of custom SharePoint development & its related aspects. Based on the out-of-the-box content, SharePoint provides you with, you can create custom content type very easily. There are multiple ways of creating content types in SharePoint; here we will discuss the method involving WSS/SharePoint Foundation User Interface.

• Login to site collection administrator, then navigate to Site settings
• Select ‘Site Content Types’  given under galleries and select "Create" in Content Type library
• Define the content type; it would include entering details about the name, description, parent content type and group
• Place your content either in a newly created group or the typical group "Custom Content Types". Click OK
• Link the new custom content type to an already existing library; for this, click document library app tile on Site Contents page then click Library tab in Ribbon. Click Library Settings button in Ribbon
• Click Advanced settings in document library settings page
• Under "Allow Management of Content Types" on Advanced settings page, click Yes and then OK
• Click Add from existing content type on Settings page
• Select Custom Content Types from drop down list, then select content type and click OK

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