Content query web part: customisation and adding custom fields

Don’t we all love Content Query Web Part in MOSS 2007. Its a powerful tool to display content from other sites.

We do come to a dead end when the requirement is to display fields other than the one’s available out of the box or to show context menu.

It is amazing to see how an ordinary user (doesn’t have to be a developer) can modify the .webpart file to customise it. follow the steps given on microsoft technet site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms497457.aspx

you will notice that CommonViewFields property can be changed easily. you will need to know the type of the column. The list is not given in the article. you can get it here:

Field Name	Description
AllDayEvent	Specifies an all day event.
Attachments	Contains attachments.
Boolean	Contains Boolean values that are stored in the database as 1 or 0.
Calculated	Contains calculated values.
Choice	Specifies a predetermined set of values that can be used to enter data into the field.
Computed	Specifies an abstract field type that depends on other fields for its content and definition.
ContentTypeId	Contains a content type ID.
Counter	Contains an integer used for internal ID fields.
CrossProjectLink	Specifies a link between projects in a Meetings Workspace site.
Currency	Contains currency values formatted based on a specific locale.
DateTime	Contains date and time values.
Error	Contains errors.
File	Contains files.
GridChoice	Specifies a Choice field for a data sheet.
Guid	Contains GUIDs.
Integer	Contains positive or negative integer values.
Invalid	Not used.
Lookup	Contains references to values in other lists.
MaxItems	Contains the maximum number of items.
ModStat	Specifies Content Approval status.
MultiChoice	Contains multiple values per list item.
Note	Specifies a field that can contain multiple lines of text.
Number	Contains floating point numbers.
PageSeparator	Inserts a page break in a survey list.
Recurrence	Specifies a field used in calendars for recurring events and, like computed fields, an abstract field type that depends on other fields for its content and definition.
Text	Contains a single line of text.
ThreadIndex	Contains the ID that indicates the relative position of a message within a conversation thread.
Threading	Specifies a field that is used in the creation and display of threaded Web discussions.
URL	Contains hyperlinks.
User	Specifies users of a SharePoint site.
WorkflowEventType	Specifies a workflow event type.
WorkflowStatus	Specifies workflow status.

Enhanced Content Query Web Part created by my colleague Ishai Sagi is an amazing web part: http://www.codeplex.com/ECQWP

Heather Solomon provides the easy approaches of not just customising the Web Part but to apply custom styles as well. Look for step by step details here: http://www.heathersolomon.com/blog/articles/customitemstyle.aspx

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