Convert a standard SharePoint lookup column to a full blown cross site lookup using javascript only


I have updated the tool described in this article with some new functionality.

The functionality i will describe here is the ability to convert a standard SharePoint lookup column to a cross site lookup column using javascript/jquery only!

Download the script from the above referred article. Create a Lookup column in your list and have it point to the actual list it is created from (it is in fact not relevant what list you point it towards). Load the script from the above described article and select your list:

Images

IMG


Select the list
IMG


Modify the web and list association and hit “Save”:
IMG

NOTE: The web selector is only available for site collection administrators.

If you are a non site collection administrator, you may change the list association, but not the web association.

This method requires NO modification to the field schema and is fully compatible with Data sheet view etc.

I have not had the chance to test it in SharePoint 2010 yet, but i can see no reason why it should not work.

Alexander

16 Responses to “Convert a standard SharePoint lookup column to a full blown cross site lookup using javascript only”

  1. SharePoint 2010: Recopilatorio de enlaces interesantes (XIV)! « Pasión por la tecnología… Says:

    [...] Convert a standard SharePoint lookup column to a full blown cross site lookup using javascript only [...]

  2. SharePoint 2010: Recopilatorio de enlaces interesantes (XIV)! - Blog del CIIN Says:

    [...] Convert a standard SharePoint lookup column to a full blown cross site lookup using javascript only [...]

  3. Tobias Says:

    Hi Alexander,
    nice tool and working well.
    On my server it doesn’t recognize the System Account to be a Site Collection Administrator, which was a little disappointing at the beginning but easy to overcome.
    Another requirement is to change also lookup columns pointing to an external list (field type is ‘External’ in this case).
    Any plannings to implement this in future versions?
    Many thanks and best regards,
    Tobias

    • Alexander Bautz Says:

      Hi,
      I haven’t looked into the “External” field type yet so i cannot tell…

      Alexander

  4. Robert Says:

    Hi Alexander,

    I will need your advice on a problem:
    I need to filter a Lookup dropdown field based on an radio button, and another Multiple selection lookup field based on a multiple checked boxes.
    I saw a lot of scripts for cascading dropdowns, but not for something like this. even for filtering radio buttuns based on dropdown, but not otherwise around.

    Do you have any hint regarding this?

    Thanks

    • Alexander Bautz Says:

      Hi,
      Filtering a lookup column is a bit complicated and i do not have a solution to offer right now.

      Alexander

  5. Ken Says:

    Another great tool!

    How difficult would it be to filter duplicates from the lookup list?

    Thanks,
    Ken

    • Alexander Bautz Says:

      This tool does not “interfere” with the values, it only points to which list to use.

      Removing duplicates is a bit tricky as SharePoint does not have any built-in support for this. You could take a look at this one, but it’s not a standard lookup.

      Alexander

  6. bryan Says:

    Can the dropdown tool to select web include all site collections and not just sites within same site collection??

  7. DCH Says:

    Alexander, can this solution be used to restrict the triggering of an alert, or to hide fields that appear in the alert?

    • Alexander Bautz Says:

      Hi,
      I do not quite understand – is this comment made in the right article?

      Alexander

    • DCH Says:

      I was hoping this script could control which columns are included in the email that Sharepoint sends to users who set up alerts. The alert emails include every field, including fields that contain code (like html, or code from your vlookup solution). It would be great if there was a setting to exclude them from appreaing in that email alert. I can send a screen shot if that would help.

    • Alexander Bautz Says:

      Sorry, but this is used to point a lookup column to a list in another site. That’s all it does.

      I have no method of tapping into the alert messages sent by SharePoint.

      Alexander

  8. Mika Says:

    Alex, is this the right link to the javascript to make a standard SP column to be a lookup column?
    http://spjsfiles.com/index.php?dir=SharePoint+JavaScripts%2FChangeListAndFieldProperties%2Fv2.0%2F

    • Alexander Bautz Says:

      It’s the correct link to turn an *existing* lookup column into a cross site lookup column.

      Alexander

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