List Template

 What is a list template ?

A list template in SharePoint is a predefined list configuration that can be used to create new lists with a similar structure and functionality. List templates are useful for creating lists that have a similar purpose or that share common columns, views, and other settings.

To create a list template, you can create a new list in SharePoint and customize it as needed. Once you have configured the list to your liking, you can save it as a list template by clicking on the "Save as template" link in the "List Settings" page. You can then give the template a name and a description, and choose whether to include the list data in the template.

To use a list template, you can go to the "Site Contents" page in SharePoint and click on the "Add an app" button. In the "Your Apps" section, you will see a list of available list templates. You can select a template and click the "Create" button to create a new list based on that template.

List templates are a useful tool for creating consistent, reusable list configurations in SharePoint. They can save time and effort when setting up new lists, and can help ensure that lists have a consistent structure and functionality across a SharePoint site.

Why do we use list templates ?

List templates are used to create new lists in SharePoint with a predefined structure and functionality. List templates can save time and effort when setting up new lists, as they allow you to create lists with a consistent structure and functionality without having to manually configure each list.

List templates are also useful for creating lists that have a similar purpose or that share common columns, views, and other settings. For example, you might create a list template for a task tracking list that includes common columns such as "Task Name," "Assigned To," and "Status," and views such as "My Tasks" and "Completed Tasks." By using a list template, you can create multiple task tracking lists with the same structure and views, which can be helpful for organizing and managing tasks within a SharePoint site.

Overall, list templates are a useful tool for creating consistent, reusable list configurations in SharePoint. They can help ensure that lists have a consistent structure and functionality across a SharePoint site, and can save time and effort when setting up new lists.

Where do we see list templates ?

In SharePoint, you can see a list of available list templates by going to the "Site Contents" page and clicking on the "Add an app" button. In the "Your Apps" section, you will see a list of available list templates. You can select a template and click the "Create" button to create a new list based on that template.

You can also create your own list templates by creating a new list in SharePoint and customizing it as needed. Once you have configured the list to your liking, you can save it as a list template by clicking on the "Save as template" link in the "List Settings" page. You can then give the template a name and a description, and choose whether to include the list data in the template.

Custom list templates that you create will be available in the "Your Apps" section of the "Add an app" page, along with the built-in list templates. You can use these custom templates to create new lists with the same structure and functionality as the original list.

How to save our list to as a template?

To save a list as a template in SharePoint, follow these steps:

• Go to the list that you want to save as a template.
  
• Click on the "List" tab in the ribbon, and then click on the "List Settings" button.
• In the "List Settings" page, scroll down to the "Permissions and Management" section and click on the "Save list as template" link.
• In the "Save as Template" page, enter a name and a description for the template.
• If you want to include the list data in the template, check the "Include Content" box.
• Click the "OK" button to save the list as a template.

The list template will be saved to the "List Templates" gallery in the "Web Designer Galleries" library on the root site of the site collection. You can use the template to create new lists with the same structure and functionality as the original list.

Note that you will need to have the appropriate permissions to save a list as a template. Only site owners and users with the "Design" permission level or higher can save lists as templates.

Impersonation in list and CSOM?

In SharePoint, impersonation is the process of executing a block of code or a query as if it was being run by a different user. This can be useful when you need to perform actions on behalf of a user who does not have the necessary permissions to perform those actions themselves.

In a list, impersonation can be used to execute a workflow or other action as if it was being run by a specific user. This can be useful when you want to execute a workflow or other action on behalf of a user who does not have permission to do so themselves.

In the client-side object model (CSOM), impersonation can be used to execute a query or update an object as if it was being run by a specific user. To impersonate a user in CSOM, you can use the RunAsUser method of the ClientContext class. This method takes a user identity as a parameter and executes the code or query as if it was being run by that user.

Here is an example of how you can use impersonation in CSOM to update a list item as if it was being run by a specific user:

In this example, the code will update the item with ID 1 in the "My List" list as if it was being run by the user with the specified login name. Impersonation can be useful when you need to perform actions on behalf of a user who does not have the necessary permissions to do so themselves.