How to create Custom SharePoint 2010 List Column using Visual Studio 2010

In this article we are going to create custom column using visual studio 2010.

Steps Involved:

Creating Empty SharePoint Project:

• Open Visual Studio 2010.
• Go to File => New => Project.
• Select 2010 from the installed templates SharePoint and choose Empty SharePoint Project.
• Name it as CustomColumn.
  
  
  
  
• Click Add.
• Enter the SharePoint server farm URL.
• Select 'Deploy it as a Farm Solution".
• Click Finish.

Adding an Empty Element:

• Right click the Solution Explorer and select Add a new item.
• Select Empty Element from the installed templates SharePoint and name it as CustomColumn.
  
  
  
  
• Double click the Elements.xml file.
  
  
  
  
• Replace the code with the below one.
  
  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
  <Elements xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/">
            <Field ID="{4678C6A2-F296-432C-A4CA-8C4D96DA6B46}"
                   Name="CustomColumn"
                   DisplayName="Custom Column"
                   Type="Text"
                   Group="Custom Columns">
            </Field>
  </Elements>
• In the above code, we are adding a custom column with the Type "Text" and with the group name as "Custom Columns".
• Build the solution.
• Deploy the solution.

Testing:

• Go to the SharePoint site.
• Go to Site Actions => Site Settings =>Galleries =>Site Columns.
  
  
  
  
• You will see the custom column that we have created in the group "Custom Columns".