Posted on by givenscj

Content Type Publishing – Rare Answers to Common Questions

At our SanSpug.org meeting for August I had some very intelligent questions asked of me.  Ones I didn't know the answer too, until now!  Here's the questions:

  • What happens to a list that has been assigned a content type that was content published when we change and republish the content type.  Is it business as usual in that the content type will update across the lists?
  • What happens to a list that has been assigned a content type and we move that list to another site? 

Very interesting questions, and my default answer would be to say that publishing is nothing more than automating the "Creation" of content types, and therefore, all previous rules will apply here.  Let's take a look at the basics.

Basic #1:  Does a list get updates of a content type?

  1. Create a new content type
  2. Assign it to a list
  3. Create a new item based on the content type
  4. Update the content type
  5. Review if the content type gets the updated columns/settings

ANSWER:  A list will only get the items updated if you set the "Update all content types inheriting from this type?" radio button to TRUE!

Basic #2:  Does an exported list to a new site collection keep the content type?

  1. Create a new content type
  2. Assign it to a list
  3. Create a new item based on the content type
  4. Export the list with contents as a template (.stp)
  5. Restore to a new site collection
  6. Review if the content type is created/attached

 ANSWER: Yes!  The content type will in fact move to the new site collection and be assigned to the newly created list!

 CTHub #1:  Does a list get updates of a content type via a Managed Content Hub?

  1. Create a new Managed Hub
  2. Configure the MMS to point to the hub
  3. Create a new content type in the hub
  4. Publish the content type
  5. Wait for the content type to be published
  6. Assign it to a list
  7. Create a new item based on the content type
  8. Update the content type
  9. Wait for the publish
  10. Review if the content type gets the updated columns/settings

ANSWER: 
Yes!  This implies that the "Update all
content types inheriting from this type?" radio button to TRUE!

CTHub #2:  What happens if you create a list template and move the list to another site collection, then update the Content Type in the hub?

ANSWER:  The newly created list WILL get the updates from the hub as long as the site collection is located inside the same web application.

 CTHub #3:  What happens when you publish a content type with the same name as one already existing?

ANSWER:  The content type will not be updated, the Content Type Publishing logs will display an "Exists" error.

Enjoy!
Chris

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