List Template

  • Article

Applies to: SharePoint Foundation 2010

List templates define how to provision particular list types and the content types associated with them, and include the following files:

  • Feature.xml file that identifies the list.

  • Elements file that defines the list template.

  • Schema.xml file that contains the list definition.

  • Any supporting files that are referenced by Schema.xml.

List Schema Definitions

A list schema definition constitutes a base definition of a list and defines the fields, views, forms, and toolbar for the list, as well as specifying the content types associated with the list schema.

Content type definitions cascade to all subsites beneath a site; for example, a list at http://Top_Site/sites/Site/Subsite can refer to a content type declared at a higher level parent site in the collection. Lists can either be bound to a single content type, thereby creating a traditional Microsoft SharePoint Foundation schema–bound list, or to multiple content types, which creates a heterogeneous list. Regardless of its binding, you should declare the schema in a content type that is stored externally to the list. Because forms are associated with content types, they are declared within content type definitions.

Possible scopes:

  • Farm: No

  • Web Application: No

  • Site Collection: Yes

  • Web Site: Yes

Activation

When a feature that contains a list template is activated, lists that use that template are available for creation within the site or site collection. When a custom list template is uninstalled, the lists of that type will not render on the page. These lists can be deleted through the List Settings page or by using a tool such as Microsoft SharePoint Designer.

For more information about the file format of Schema.xml files, see List Definition (Schema.xml) Files.