Error creating Workspace based on Custom Template

Adding items to a list (announcements, links etc.) on a sub site (workspace) that has been created using a custom template by a user who is not an Administrator, but instead granted the "Create Subsites" returns the following error

"Error - This form is not available for this list, discussion board, survey, or document library.
Troubleshoot issues with Windows SharePoint Services. "

This is because, contrary to Microsoft documentation, merely granting someone the right to create a subsite isn't enough for them to create one based on a Custom Site Template. The user also needs the following additional privileges
- Add and Customize Pages
- Apply Themes and Borders
- Apply Style Sheets

Also refer to a previous post - Can't view Custom Templates in WSS for more workarounds to get custom Site Templates to work.

Setting Unique Permissions for Lists within Areas

WSS allows you to create document libraries and lists and then set different access rights or permissions from those of the site they are in. However, document libraries or lists within an Area do not have the option to change permissions.

To change permissions in Areas do the following
1. Navigate to the document library or list you wish to set custom permissions on.
2. Click "Modify Settings and Columns"
3. Copy the URL Address - it should be similar to
http://MyPortalServer/_layouts/1033/listedit.aspx?List={xxxxxxxxxx}
4. Save the value in {} in notepad
5. Now replace the url to be
http://MyPortalServer/_layouts/1033/ShrOpt.aspx?obj={xxxxxxxxxx},doclib
If you want to change permissions for a list - change the last bit from doclib to lists

You will now see the standard Permissions Page from WSS but for the list in the Area. Its a workaround (hack) and not supported by Microsoft but seems to work.

Crawl Behaviour and Removal of Content

The following page has a table which describes when and how content is removed from SharePoint Portal Server 2003 site indexes.

http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?AssetID=XT011267331033&CTT=5&Origin=HA012145341033

In some instances, like when a web page in WSS is removed, the content is still returned in searches till the 3rd Full index.

Error Code descriptions are
300 Error codes: Client Request Redirected, further action necessary
400 Error Codes: Client request incomplete including File Not found, Authentication error etc.
500 Error Codes: Server errors including Time Out, Bad Gateway etc

Add more options in Site Creation URL

When you choose to create a new site in a SharePoint Portal Server environment, the "Web Site Address" on the site creation page only has "sites" as an option. The fact that it is a drop down list implies that you can add other items to it. To either change "sites" or to add other values go to "Central Administration" > "Configure virtual server settings from the Virtual Server List page" > Click on your Virtual Server > "Define managed paths".

To add a new item, enter the desired value (say teams) in the "Add a New Path" section, select "Included Path" and click "OK". Now when you choose to create a new site, both "sites" and "teams" will appear in the list.

To remove an existing item, click the check box next to the name and "Remove Selected Paths".

Note that the options appear in the order in which they were created and are not sorted alphabetically. Also, "sites" - or the first item - is always selected by default.

Create a link to External Site in SharePoint Portal Nav

You can include navigation items to external sites on the SharePoint Portal Server main nav (Home, News, Topics etc) by doing the following

1. Click Manage Portal Site
2. Create a New Area, enter title, choose any template and Save. You will only get the option to select a template if you have changed the default properties of the Home Areas to allow Sub Areas to be based on any template
3. Click Save to save your new area.
4. Now click on the properties for your new area and select Edit
5. Click to the "Page" tab. Change the value in "Area Template" to "This Area uses the following page as a template" and enter the url of your choice - http://spsstuff.blogspot.com or http://www.msn.com etc. You might need to experiment with the url as to whether you need to end it with a "/" or not - as SharePoint would add the CatID querystring on click.

And you're done. You now have a link in the SharePoint top nav pointing to whereever you want it to.