Site Columns In SharePoint 2013

Introduction

Site column is one of the good features in SharePoint . You can reuse the column within your site and subsites. Also, you can reuse it within content type in SharePoint.

Example

In college, there are different departments and we have to keep records of all the students in our database. So, we have to create a list with different departments for students.

During registration, we have to keep student details plus parent details in the database; so this time, we have to create a column for Student.

 

Department Name

• Computer Science
• Electronic
• Electrical
• IT

We have to keep student records based on the department. Now, we have to create the columns for dtudents.

List Name - StudentDetailsForComputerScience

Filed Name - First name ,Last name, Mobile No, Age, Parents name, etc.

List Name - StudentDetailsForElectronics

Filed Name - First name ,Last name, Mobile No, Age, Parents name, etc.

List Name - StudentDetailsForElectrical

Filed Name - First name ,Last name, Mobile No, Age, Parents name, etc.

In the above three lists, the columns names are same in all lists . So now, there is no need to create field name three times, We just create a site column for those fields and we should reuse these fileds in all three lists.

Create Site Columns

Step1

Go to "Site settings" in your site collection.



Step2

Look into the Web Designer Galleries section and click on "Site Columns".

Step3

These are the default site columns that already exist in Sharepoint .

Step4

Click on "Create" button to create a new site column.

Step5

You will be redirected to the next page for creating the columns in SharePoint. Please enter the column name and set the DataType.

Next, you should keep your custom column inside a group so you have to choose the group name. In the below image, SharePoint will be asking for group. Threre are two types of groups available.

It depends on you, which group you are choosing, and set the other fields as it required.

Once everthing is completed, please click on "OK" button. Then, it will show in the below custom group.



Use Of site Columns in SharePoint List

Step1

Create a Custom List -> Go to the List Settings.

Step2

Next, click on "Add from Existing Site Columns".


Step3

Select "Custom columns" in the dropdown list.

Step4

Select your column and click "Add".

Step5

Then, click on OK button and go to your list to check if the columns are showing in the List View.


Therefore, you can use the same columns in other lists or libraries within same site collection or subsites .