Content
types are the base of everything in SharePoint, and in earlier
articles we have explained how content types work and can
be used.
In the demo below Peter Kalmstrom, CEO and Systems Designer
of kalmstrom.com Business Solutions, shows how to modify
list web parts using content types.
Peter uses a content type to design an entry form for a
tasks list, and in that form he hides several of the form
fields so that only the fields that are important at task
creation are shown. When the work on the task starts, the
full form can be selected in a dropdown.
The switch to the other form can also be done automatically
with a workflow. In the second demo below, Peter explains
how to create such a workflow.
Please refer to our earlier articles, if you need to learn
more about
content types and
workflows.
Create a Form using a Content Type
Open the Site Settings.
Click on the 'Site content types' link in the Web
Designer Galleries group.
At Show Group, select List Content Types.
Click on Create to create a new content type.
Give the content type a name and select the parent
content type to be fetched from List Content Types.
Then select Tasks as the parent content type.
Add the new group to an existing or new group. Peter
creates a new group and gives it a name.
Click OK.
Open each column that you want to modify. As Peter
wants to create a simple task entry form he chooses
to hide several of the columns.
In the list where you want to use the new form,
go into the List Settings and click on the Advanced
Settings link and allow management of content types.
Click OK and then open the List Settings again.
It now has a new Content Type group.
Click on 'Add from existing site content types'
and select first the content type group and then the
newly created content type.
Click OK and then open the List Settings again.
It now has a new content type in the Content Type group.
Click on the link 'Change new button order and default
content type' and set the new content type as number
one.
Click OK.
Now, when you create a new task, it will open with the new
content type. Next time you open the same task, you can
select to instead use the earlier content type.
The demo below shows how to create a workflow that automatically
switches content type after a new task has been created.
This means that the task first has the newly created content
type form and then the original task form.
Create a Workflow that switches Content Type
Open the list in SharePoint Designer.
Create a new SharePoint 2013 workflow and give it
a name. Click OK.
At Transition to stage, end the workflow by entering
'go to End of Workflow'.
Set the Start Option to 'Start the workflow automatically
when an item is created'.
Select the Action 'Set Field in Current Item'.
Select the field 'Content Type ID' and set the value
to the content type you wish to switch to.
Content
types are the base of everything in SharePoint, and in earlier
articles we have explained how content types work and can
be used. 
