SharePoint: Extending the DVWP – Part 16: User-Managed Dropdowns – Loading Data

Author: Jim Bob Howard

Last time, we created two lists and two site columns that give us a view into them. Next time, we’ll relate the two lists/columns together, but first we need to load them with data.

In our example, we’ll be working with Countries (limited to US and Canada for demonstration purposes) and States. The easiest way to load everything we need is to grab a list off the Internet and paste it into a datasheet view. I found a list of US states and Canadian provinces in one place at: http://www.epals.com/search/states/

First, I added ‘USA’ and ‘Canada’ as list items in my Countries list.

Countries – Limiting it to USA and Canada for demo purposes.

Next, I’ll open my States list—still empty—in datasheet view:

Loading the States list

1. Open the link above for a list of US states and Canadian provinces
2. Select all of the US States by clicking to the right of Wyoming and dragging up to the left of Alabama


3. Press Ctrl-C to copy the list
4. Toggle back to the States list in datasheet view
5. Click in the Title cell in the first row. Note: Be sure to only click once. There should be a box around the cell, but no cursor inside it.


6. Press Ctrl-V to paste the list
7. Scroll down to the bottom of the list, and click on the cell below ‘Wyoming’


8. Toggle back to the States/Provinces page
9. Repeat steps 2-4, 6 for the Canadian provinces

You now have all of the respective States/Provinces loaded for these two countries.

Next time: We’ll build the relationship list between the two. The data must live in these two lists before we can load the relationship data. This is all a part of Extending the DVWP.

Author: Jim Bob Howard

Jim Bob Howard is a web designer / webmaster in the healthcare industry. He has been working with SharePoint since March 2009 and enjoys sharing what he has learned. He is a moderator and frequent contributor to Stump the Panel, and answers SharePoint questions on Twitter (@jbhoward) and via email ([email protected]).