SharePoint Site Templates: A Tutorial on Creating and Customizing Them

SharePoint is a powerful platform that allows organizations to create and manage content, collaborate on projects, and streamline business processes. One of the key features of SharePoint is its ability to create and customize site templates. In this tutorial, we will explore the process of creating and customizing SharePoint site templates to enhance your document management and project collaboration.

Understanding SharePoint Site Templates

Before we dive into the process of creating and customizing SharePoint site templates, let's first understand what they are and how they can benefit your organization. SharePoint site templates are pre-designed site structures that can be easily deployed to create new SharePoint sites. These templates provide a starting point for site creation and can be customized to meet your organization's specific needs.

Creating a SharePoint Site Template

Creating a SharePoint site template is a straightforward process that can be done within the SharePoint platform. Follow these steps to create a site template:

1. Go to the SharePoint site where you want to create the template.
2. Click on "Site Actions" and select "Site Settings".
3. Under the "Site Actions" section, click on "Save site as template".
4. Enter a name and description for the template.
5. Select the included content you want to include in the template.
6. Click on "OK" to create the template.

Once the template is created, it can be easily deployed to create new SharePoint sites by following these steps:

1. Go to the SharePoint site where you want to deploy the template.
2. Click on "Site Actions" and select "Create".
3. Under the "Templates" section, select "Custom".
4. Select the template you want to deploy.
5. Enter the necessary information for the new site.
6. Click on "OK" to create the new site using the template.

Customizing SharePoint Site Templates

While SharePoint site templates provide a basic structure for site creation, they can also be customized to meet your organization's specific needs. Here are some ways you can customize SharePoint site templates:

SharePoint App Integration

SharePoint apps are add-ons that extend the functionality of SharePoint sites. By integrating SharePoint apps into your site templates, you can enhance the capabilities of your sites. For example, you can add a document management app to improve document organization and version control. To integrate a SharePoint app into a site template, follow these steps:

1. Go to the SharePoint site where you want to customize the template.
2. Click on "Site Actions" and select "Edit Page".
3. Click on "Add a Web Part" and select the SharePoint app you want to integrate.
4. Configure the app settings and click on "OK" to save the changes.
5. Click on "Stop Editing" to apply the changes to the template.

SharePoint Forms and Workflows

SharePoint forms and workflows are powerful tools that can automate business processes and improve productivity. By customizing your site templates to include pre-designed forms and workflows, you can streamline your organization's operations. To add forms and workflows to a site template, follow these steps:

1. Go to the SharePoint site where you want to customize the template.
2. Click on "Site Actions" and select "Edit Page".
3. Click on "Add a Web Part" and select the form or workflow you want to add.
4. Configure the form or workflow settings and click on "OK" to save the changes.
5. Click on "Stop Editing" to apply the changes to the template.

Enterprise Content Management

SharePoint offers robust enterprise content management capabilities, allowing organizations to effectively manage and organize their documents and records. By customizing your site templates to include enterprise content management features, you can improve document control and compliance. Some of the key enterprise content management features you can add to your site templates include:

• Document libraries with version control
• Metadata and tagging options
• Information management policies
• Records management

SharePoint For Project Management

SharePoint is widely used for project management due to its robust collaboration and document management features. By customizing your site templates for project management, you can create a centralized hub for your project teams to collaborate, track tasks, and manage project documents. Some of the key project management features you can add to your site templates include:

• Project task lists with assigned owners and due dates
• Gantt charts for visual project planning
• Project document libraries with version control
• Discussion boards for team communication

Conclusion

Creating and customizing SharePoint site templates can greatly enhance your organization's document management and project collaboration capabilities. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can create customized site templates that meet your organization's specific needs. Whether you integrate SharePoint apps, add forms and workflows, or incorporate enterprise content management features, SharePoint site templates offer a flexible and powerful solution for improving productivity and streamlining business processes.