Stump the Panel

SharePoint QA

Stump the Panel » Site Managers and Site Collection Managers

1. 

   Smilehunter
   Member

   I didn't want to use the default title column in most lists, so I enabled content types, and chose to hide this field.

   So I was very happy, the title field was hidden, and all my other columns where humming along.

   Until I discovered that it wasn't possible anymore to open an item. The telephonelist displays the information, but it isn't possible to open an item and view the rest of the details.

   This is only possible by selecting: title (linked to item) in the view, but that field is now hidden.

   Does anybody know a way to change the "linked to item field"? So when people click on the field "name" the item opens with details.

   Otherwise I'll have to change all my lists back to incorperate the titlefield... Just renaming them seems to be a very bad idea from stories I read on the net.

   Posted 3 months ago #
2. 

   jbhoward
   Moderator

   There are a couple of other ways to link to the item:

   1. Edit (link to edit item) (links to EditForm), and
   2. Type (icon linked to document) (links to DispForm)

   Give one of those a shot and see if they'll work for your implementation.

   I regularly rename the Title field to something that makes sense for my implementation (which is my way of "chang[ing] the 'linked to item field'"). I think hiding it makes for a bigger challenge than renaming it.

   I've love to hear from others on the panel and/or see some links that discuss the alleged challenges with renaming Title. Often, knowing the caveats helps informed users know when it's OK to break with the norm.

   Blessings,
   Jim Bob

   Posted 3 months ago #
3. 

   eric
   Moderator

   I've done it both ways, hiding via content types and renameing the column.

   Hiding I've found is great for lists where you really only need to edit an item so hiding the title field and using the edit button will work fine.

   For document libraries you need to do more things from the drop down menu so this is where I would usually rename the title field.

   Posted 3 months ago #
4. 

   jbhoward
   Moderator

   Any caveats on renaming in a list even if you "really only need to edit an item" ?

   Blessings,
   Jim Bob

   Posted 3 months ago #
5. 

   eric
   Moderator

   I haven't run into any issues yet. I imagine there could be problems when using them in lookup fashion.

   Posted 3 months ago #
6. 

   Smilehunter
   Member

   Thanks for your thoughts on this. The edit button would have been an option, but I need people without edit rights to be able to open a contact in a list, and view the details. I guess I'll re-enable the title field and rename them (and hope I dont break anything with it).

   The source below has a very detailed description about hiding the title column, and warns that you should never rename them (he doesnt mention any reason though). Also I read about some people having problems with the columns not showing while restoring a backup. Next to that he does not give a solution to the problem described here.

   Seems to be a typical SharePoint "missing feature" and I hope they fix it in the next release. Sometimes it gives me the feeling I'm working with an unfinished project...

   http://www.dlocc.com/sharepoint-main-menu/customization-category/46-how-to-remove-the-qtitleq-column-from-a-sharepoint-list.html

   Posted 2 months ago #
7. 

   amfas
   Member

   hi, have you considered sticking a calc in the title column in order for it to display the field you want to use as a lookup?

   Posted 2 months ago #
8. 

   EndUserSharePoint
   Key Master

   > hiding the title column, and warns that you should never rename them (he doesnt mention any reason though).

   Couple problems to consider.

   If you rename a column from "Title" to something else, you can NEVER change that column back to "Title", since it is a reserved word/column name in SharePoint.

   The major problem is that some people, and I won't name names but could have been me in a prior life, have changed the "Title" column name at the site column / site collection column level and overwritten every title column in the site collection. Oh... was that really me who did that? No... couldn't have been.

   -- Mark

   Posted 2 months ago #
9. 

   EndUserSharePoint
   Key Master

   Amfas - Nice idea, but you can't change the data type of the title column to a calculated column, so you're stuck with a single line of text. -- Mark

   Posted 2 months ago #
10. 

    Smilehunter
    Member

    I must admit that a prior life like that sounds a bit familiar -_-

    Seeing that we don't have the same document libraries just yet, I'm refraining from editing any contenttypes. At the moment I just change things at list level *I feel safer then*

    Thanks for all the anwers, I think I fully understand the implications now. And for now all my title columns are renamed and in use again. And my SharePoint still works!

    Posted 2 months ago #
11. 

    petermc
    Member

    Mark you now have me worried. I renamed the Title column (in WSS) a while back to Heading and just changed it back to Title. It seems to be behaving. What errors should I expect?

    Posted 2 months ago #
12. 

    Dessie Lunsford
    Moderator

    "If you rename a column from "Title" to something else, you can NEVER change that column back to "Title", since it is a reserved word/column name in SharePoint."

    Mark (and all), there is actually a way to rename the column back to "Title" and bypass the silly little warning that pops up stating you cant.

    In the list settings, go into the edit screen for the column (where you would be changing its name).

    In your browser's menu, save the page as a "web page complete" (to your desktop or other location).

    Open the html file (should be named "change column.html") with notepad (or "Text" editor of your choice).

    Search for the section "doesFieldNameConflict" (minus the quotes), and delete the following:

    
if (doesFieldNameConflict(DisplayName))
{
alert(L_alert3_Text);
frm.DisplayName.focus();
return false;
}


    After deleting the section, hit save then open it in your browser.

    Change the column name to "Title" click "OK" (no warnings now), and you're done.

    One doing all this, you can delete the file you saved (not needed anymore) and enjoy your newly renamed "Title" column back as it once was.

    - Dessie

    Posted 2 months ago #
13. 

    amfas
    Member

    hi sorry for lag in reply, been away, but with regards to changing Title to a calc data type, you can, it's a standard setting in the title settings at the bottom, under default value.
    apologies if this is amoot point

    Posted 2 months ago #

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