Hi Everyone,

I'd like to use Whereabouts list other than under Group Work Site.

When I create a site using Group Work Site template, it will automatically add Whereabouts as default list. I'd like to create the Whereabouts list in other site. Unfortunately the Whereabouts list couldn't be saved as template therefore I couldn't use it as template.

Anyone know anything about this Whereabouts list, or I can download similar template.

Regards,

Tony

Hi Tony,

For a workaround, you can save Whereabouts list as template using PowerShell as below:

Add-PSSnapin microsoft.sharepoint.powershell -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

$site = Get-SPSite http://sp/sites/groupwork
$web =$site.RootWeb
$list = $web.Lists["Whereabouts"] 
$list.SaveAsTemplate("Whereaboutstemplate","Whereaboutstemplate","Test for Whereabouts list!",0)

Then you can see ithe Whereabouts list template in the List Template Gallery.

Best Regards,

Eric

Hi Eric,

I got the error as below:

$site = Get-SPSite "http://mySPSite/"
$web =$site.RootWeb
$list = $web.Lists["Whereabouts"]
$list.SaveAsTemplate("Whereabouts_template","Whereabouts_template","Test for Whereabouts list!",0)

You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
At line:5 char:21
+ $list.SaveAsTemplate <<<< ("Whereabouts_template","Whereabouts_template","Test for Whereabouts list!",0)
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidOperation: (SaveAsTemplate:String) [], RuntimeException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : InvokeMethodOnNull

Any ideal why this happened.

Regards,

Tony

Hi Tony,

It seems that your Group Work Site is not a site collection. Please modify the PowerShell to get your Group Work Site.

Best Regards,

Eric

Hi Eric,

I managed to create template after changed your script to:

$web = Get-SPWeb http://mylistsite
$list = $web.Lists["Whereabouts"]
$list.SaveAsTemplate("Whereabouts_template","Whereabouts_template","Test for Whereabouts list!",0)

And it is appearing under List Template Gallery. But I couldn't see it when I tried to create a new list. It didn't appear as a template.

Any idea why?

Regards,

Tony

Hi Eric,

I don't think you can save Whereabouts to be a template. This is because Whereabouts is part of Group Work Site and it will only work under Group Work Site. I did a test, the system would not allow you to delete Whereabouts list. And each Group Work Site only can have one Whereabouts as well.

Is there anyway you can confirm this is the case?

Regards,

Tony

Hi Tony,

Yes,  it seems that we can use the  template of Whereabouts. For another way, you can backup and restore the whereabouts list.

https://sptechnet.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/splist-backup-and-restore-using-powershell/

http://www.techgrowingpains.com/2011/01/sharepoint-powershell-backup-and-restore-a-list-or-document-library/

By my test, I can restore the whereabouts list in a team site:

Best Regards,

Eric

Hi Eric,

Thanks fro you reply.

I can successful export the Whereabouts list and import into particular site, but if the site was not Group Work Site, it didn't work. I will get the error as below:

In your test, had you tried to add a new item, and the site was Group Work Site or not?

Regards,

Tony

Here is the image:

Hi,

Please export the  Whereabouts list in Central Administration and import it with import-spweb cmdlet.

Reference:

https://sptechnet.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/splist-backup-and-restore-using-powershell/

Best Regards,

Hi Eric,

As I mentioned, I could successful export Whereabouts list, and I can import it into any web site, but it only would work if the site built on Group Work Site. You may do a quick test to confirm this.

Regards,

Tony