Datasheet

Chapter 1: Exploring SharePoint Designer

The collection of files that is treated as a project unit in SharePoint Designer is called a sit e or web . (This

nomenclature is independent of what the corresponding structures may be called on the target server.

SharePoint sites have a similar naming structure, which is detailed in chapter 3.) The Open Site , Close

Site , and Recent Sites menu items are for working with an entire site. The plain Open and Close items,

as well as Recent Files, Save, and Save As, are for working with individual component files within a site.

When you open an existing file - type item, the containing site (if any) also opens.

With SharePoint Designer, you are usually working against a live (though not necessarily production)

environment. When combined with the duality described above, this has the result that certain changes

have immediate effect, while others aren ’ t visible unless or until you save the component you are

working on. In general, changes to overall site structure (such as renaming, deleting, or moving a file)

are immediate, while you need to save changes within a page or graphic file to see them on the site.

In a source - controlled or content - managed environment, your file(s) may need to go through a check - in

and approval process before certain changes become visible.

The major elements of the SharePoint Designer workspace include the menu, various toolbars, the

design surface (usually containing the Page Editor), the status bar, and a wide array of task panes. The

workspace is quite customizable. Other than the design surface, which will resize itself based upon

the remaining available space, virtually every workspace component can be resized, shown, hidden, set

to float, or docked. Menu and toolbar items can be added or removed.

The menu bar cannot be hidden, but it can float and be dragged offstage, like toolbars and task panes.

The rest of this chapter describes these workspace elements in detail.

Figure 1-2

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