3. Lists, Document Libraries, and Content Types

In this Chapter

• Lists

• Unique List Features

• Document Libraries

• Common Functionality of Lists and Libraries

• Web Parts

• Site Columns

• Content Types

• Reusing Configurations

When you think of a solution, many times the next thought is, “How many hours will it take me to make this work or can it even be done?” The first step when working with SharePoint is to figure out what is already there; you may not need any customization or development to accomplish the task, and it may take a lot less time than you originally thought. To get started down that path, this chapter covers many of the basic elements, including lists, libraries, Web Parts, site columns, and content types, although a good argument could be made that content types are not that basic. Before you even begin your implementation of SharePoint, understanding and adequately planning for the use of these elements is essential.