SharePoint University

Hey.

 I'm fairly new to sharepoint but I need to create an FAQ type system using lists. My idea was to create something like the issue list, but adapt it as an FAQ type list. The difference I need is that for the "Assigned to" field I need to be able to select from only 2 users rather than the whole user information list - is this possible?

 Any help appreciated.

Not from the Desktop/Client side, that (Assigned To) is a defauted field/column title and can not be deleted in that list in WSS  V2

I would use the Custom list if your version offers that and make my own fields to create a FAQ list, the only thing you would need to change would be the "Title" Column to the Question..as it is defaulted and can be name changed but but not deleted.

Some of these columns are already in use just not displayed....My quess is that you will want a field that IDs all items added, when they are created for filtering or archivieng later, a choice column for grouping the data/FAQs into some funtional areas..depending on your topic.The single line of text question and the multiple lines of text answer field.

Keep in mind depending on the list type you select that it will have defaulted/templated non deleteable columns.

If you need help building it let me know...

Scott

Hey, I'm fine with building up a custom list columns - you're about right with the fields I'd need - ID, Subject, Single Text Question, Multiple Text Answer - just a date asked and a date answered field needed - although these could come out of the automatic "date last created" "date last modified" fields?

The other thing is the "Created By" field needs to be anonymous - I don't know if I could grant anonymous access JUST for creating questions for this list? Is that do-able? The important thing is that the "Created By" field is not viewable by the person answering the question - It's okay if I can see it (admin).

The thing is I want to be able to set permissions on the list based on who the question is assigned to. I don't mind using a custom choice field to create a drop down list of names for the assignment field. However, I need it so that when a question is created, only certain people can fill in the answer field. Is this easily possible? These people would need to be me (admin), plus a few senior members of the company - I could assign them to a new user group (FAQ Answer) or something - would that help? Especially as this ties in with the above point about hiding the created by field.

--"The thing is I want to be able to set permissions on the list based on who the question is assigned to." --  This may be able to done, though it is out side of my scope of how to, if it can be done.. meaning maybe some serious scripting...

 ---"Created By" field needs to be anonymous'--  I know that surveys can do the anonymous thing...based created by not being seen..but I don't think that any other lists can in V2.  I know you can do uncheck those columns you do not want seen in the fill in mode and view mode..and if I remember the created by and created..are not by default displayed for any lists anyway, so that part is fixed up front.

Based on your permissions...yes, you can create your own site group with the unique permsiions you have discussed.  If you do not know, it is under the site settings, go to site admin, then manage site groups...create a new one there.  The one side effect is; this is a site group, so when once created...it will be included at all lists and libraries...So, you do have to do some deleting of the group you create from the other lists/libraries where they are not wanted.

--"I want to be able to set permissions on the list based on who the question is assigned to"--.   For this I would use a column of assigned to and then do a view based on the filter of assigend to, is equal to, [Me]...that way the only logged in to the site and looking will only see those tasks....assigned to them.. Then just make sure that the created by colum is unchecked from all views as it is (by default anyway...I think). 

--I need it so that when a question is created, only certain people can fill in the answer field--.  This one is not possible...as the lowest level of security in a list/Library is the lsit or Library itself  in V2...not down to the individual columns.

Hope this helps..

Scott 

Bah, That last one is a bit of a pain. As that's the most important. I need to be able to have certain people create their questions but others answer it.

 Any ideas how I could add something like this to a sharepoint site through another method? I don't mind coding, but I have little experience with ASP (have done some fairly basic VB, quite a lot of PHP and some Java) so it would need to be fairly obvious - or a nice walkthrough that I can go through. Something I could just adapt would be fine.

Just a last resort guess and I'm sure some one could refine my answer...but if one could use a survey set to anonomous for filling in the questions

save and close...that is part one of you request...

and some how could connect those questions to a list that has the answerable columns... that would give you the part 2 of your request..

then if the lsits could be connected vis one colum...you have a resolve...I think.

Hope someone else can give some internal solutions to this one for you...

Scott

A somewhat related question (I am relatively new to Sharepoint as well).  I have a couple of lists that are serving as Lookup sources for data fields in a view.  Within this view I would like to define a field that allows me to concatenate two fields.  One of the fields has a datatype of lookup.  This seems to cause an issue.  It appears I can only concatenate fields that have ha datatype of text (or something other than Lookup).  Is there a workaround for this?

Your only option that I know of is to open the view in FrontPage and convert it to an XSLT Data View.  You could then build a column that concatenates the two fields.

If this is a viable option for you, I could walk you though the steps, if you want.  It's not too hard.

Steve.

I think I spoke too soon on this.  Converting to an XSLT view allowed me to create the concatenated field ok, but it looks like it is causing problems on the rest of the page.  The "Select a View" and "Actions" options at the left of the page are now pointing to a different list (one of the lists containing the lookup values for one of the fields).

This is very wierd, I need to look at this some more.  Sorry for leading you on like that.  If I figure out what's going on and can get around it, I'll let you know.

Steve.

thanks for looking at this....appreciate it greatly.   Regarding Frontpage, the environment I am working in at my employer does not provide Frontpage or Infopath.  Hence, other challenges to overcome.  If I'm going to get this to work it will have to be w/ native Sharepoint. 

To clarify one point, we are able to successfully concantenate and display the results when both fields are defined w/ a data type ot text.  However, my business partner would like to leverage data already maintained in separate lists.  The goal is to produce an online calendar view report that shows scheduled blocks of time that have been reserved for a defined set of days.  On the bar which spans the range of days reserved, Sharepoint allows you to display ONE field/link that opens the detailed reservation record when you click on it.  The problem in our case is....one attribute, by itelf on the calendar, does not provide enough detail to distinguish one reservation from another.  If we can concatenate two or more fields and display them on the calendar, that would be preferred.

I don't know why they did this, but lookup fields are not created as text fields.  For example, if you export a list containing lookup fields to an Access database, the lookup field will be defined in the generated Access table with a field type of "Memo" instead of "Text".  This makes it impossible to use it in a calculated field.

Your only option (that I can think of, anyway) is to link the view to either Excel or Access and do the concatenation there.  This is a poor option because it would not be automatic, you would have to periodically export and manipulate the data to get the concatenation to show on your view.

 Sorry I couldn't be more help.

No problem.  Thanks for trying to help.  Appreciate it greatly.

I've managed to get something set up now.

I've created some custom forms for "new item", "display item" and "edit item". That way the new item form can have the "answer" field deleted so it won't be filled in. Only people with permissions to edit items will be able to add in the answers. The display item and edit item forms also have the "created by" data removed. That way it can't be seen easily who asked the question.

Overall it works perfectly for what we want.

Thanks.

You said you knew how to concatenate two fields that are both of type text. Could you explain this process to me or show me the CAML code for this process. I am trying to display two fields from a list in a web part but want it to appear as one. For example fields would be like car make and car model but would want to display both together like Honda Accord.

Sorry for not responding earlier (was away for a few days).