SharePoint Site Templates: A Tutorial on Customizing and Reusing Them

SharePoint is a powerful platform that allows organizations to create customized sites for various purposes. One of the key features of SharePoint is the ability to use site templates, which provide predefined structures and settings for different types of sites. This tutorial will guide you through the process of customizing and reusing SharePoint site templates for your specific needs.

Understanding SharePoint Site Templates

SharePoint site templates are prebuilt site structures that can be used as a starting point for creating new sites. These templates include predefined lists, libraries, and settings that are commonly used for specific purposes, such as project management, document management, or collaboration. By using site templates, you can save time and effort by not having to create these components from scratch.

Types of SharePoint Site Templates

SharePoint offers a variety of site templates that cater to different business needs. Some of the commonly used site templates include:

• Team Site: A template for collaboration and document sharing within a team.
• Project Site: A template for managing projects, tasks, and timelines.
• Document Center: A template for centralized document management.
• Community Site: A template for building online communities and forums.
• Publishing Site: A template for creating and publishing web content.

Customizing SharePoint Site Templates

While SharePoint site templates provide a good starting point, you may need to customize them to fit your specific requirements. Here are some common customization options:

1. Modifying the Site Structure

You can modify the site structure by adding or removing lists, libraries, and web parts. For example, if you are using a project site template but don't need the default task list, you can remove it and add a custom list to track project milestones. To modify the structure, navigate to the site settings and use the built-in options to add or remove components.

2. Customizing Site Navigation

Site navigation plays a crucial role in the user experience. SharePoint allows you to customize the site navigation by adding or removing links, creating drop-down menus, or rearranging the order of links. You can access the navigation settings by going to the site settings and selecting the navigation option.

3. Changing the Look and Feel

SharePoint provides various options to change the look and feel of your site. You can choose different themes, fonts, and colors to match your corporate branding. Additionally, you can customize the site logo and add a custom banner. To change the look and feel, go to the site settings and select the "Change the look" option.

Reusing SharePoint Site Templates

Once you have customized a SharePoint site template, you can save it as a new template and reuse it for future sites. This can be particularly useful if you have specific requirements that are not covered by the default templates. Here are the steps to save and reuse a customized site template:

1. Save the Customized Site as a Template

To save the customized site as a template, go to the site settings and select the "Save site as template" option. Provide a name for the template and choose whether to include the content or just the structure. Click on the "OK" button to save the template.

2. Create a New Site Using the Custom Template

To create a new site using the custom template, go to the site creation page and select the "Custom" tab. Choose the custom template from the list and provide the necessary details for the new site. Click on the "Create" button to create the new site based on the custom template.

Conclusion

SharePoint site templates provide a convenient way to create customized sites for various business needs. By understanding how to customize and reuse these templates, you can save time and effort in creating new sites. Whether you need a project management site, a document management site, or a collaboration site, SharePoint has the right template for you. Take advantage of these templates and customize them to fit your specific requirements.