Stump the Panel: SharePoint Q&A

I have been working on a rather complex policy and procedure library set up as a sample for a presentation. I have been creating content types and site columns all day. Somewhere along the lines I was creating a custom list off the parent of a Contact list. I wanted to rename the column that defaulted as Last Name to Committee Title. I didn't realize that the 'title' I was actually renaming was THE title column! Is there anyway without server access that I can get Title back? Every new list now uses 'Committee Title' instead of 'Title' - augh~!

I found this: http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/blogs/f ... aspx?ID=15

Please tell me there is another way.... please...help!

Thanks all!
~Kerri

If my question isn't clear, please let me know so I can add more detail. I REALLY need to fix this.

Thanks,
Kerri

Dear Kerri,

Your message is plenty clear; it's just that no one wants to be the one to ruin your day. ;(

Truth is, I've done the same thing twice and had to restore the entire site from backup both times. There is no easy fix.

Once you get it fixed, though:
1. Don't rename Title; either use it as is or
2. Turn Content Types on,
3. In the Item content type, make Title optional
4. Turn Content Types off. Then,
5. Use a workflow or jQuery to set the Title based on other columns entered.

Blessings,
Jim Bob

I've been in that boat and had to delete my site/site collection and start over.

Lately I've just been hiding the title field and setting a default value for it when it's not needed in my content type/list.

There is a method to renaming the Title column, I'll have to double check the steps since the impact can be crippling as you've seen.

Jim Bob and Eric,
Thanks a million for the support, yes, I'm seeing this is a terrible situation I've gotten myself into. Double the fact that my architect is on paternity leave for 2 weeks with his new baby and the only other support I have can't possibly fix it with her access!

I had absolutely no intention of renaming the Title field, I never do, but that contact list tricked me, I thought I was renaming the Last Name only... man was I ill about it, couldn't even eat last night! I have a huge presentation to show the Policy and Procedure committee how to clean up our library and I've done this to myself! Shoot me now! Luckily this presentation is just and example and I have no intentions of saving it so if it goes away after my architect gets back, I can live with that. It isn't even on the main server, so 2 lucky strikes!

SO to restore from backup, does that mean that I loose any new content added prior to this flub up?! Do I need to be warning staff about adding anything new? Or will basic content be okay (adding anything to already established lists seems to using the title field fine). Man have I done it this time. And I wonder why they won't give me Designer?!

Kerri,
Another (easier) option to rename the column back, is as follows:

Get to the page where you can rename the title site column (should be and address with the "/_layouts/FldEdit.aspx" page I think). Save the page to your desktop as web page complete - this is important. Edit the page you just saved in Notepad or some other text editor. Search for, and remove the following code:

if (doesFieldNameConflict(DisplayName))
{
alert(L_alert3_Text);
frm.DisplayName.focus();
return false;
}


Save the file. Open it in IE. Type "Title" for the name of the column and click OK. Your column should be set back to title.

Basically what this does is to bypass the built-in error catching in the page to go ahead and allow the renaming.
I've used it a couple times myself to test the idea (and once to fix a mistake I had made similar to yours), and it seems to work just fine.

Hopefully it'll help your situation so you dont have to restore.

- Dessie

Dessie! You are wonderful. I finally was able to reach my architect (bless his soul he's going to help me while he's on vacation!) I will send him this information. Perhaps he can fix it that way - that would be fabulous. Your instructions were worth the public humiliation of posting my error! Thanks so much!

I'm just glad I could help :). We've all had those situations where we did something inadvertantly that effectively "screwed things up" in some manner...and I think there's quite a few of us (myself included) that have done the exact same as you and renamed the field not realizing what the outcome would be.

The one thing I forgot to mention is that the html file that you'll be saving and editing, you only need it until you do the rename. Afterwards you can just delete it and continue from then on back in the site itself.

- Dessie

I'll post back with the outcome. You guys have been the best. Thanks so much!

Woe is me no more! Dessie - you brilliant soul! Your trick worked like a charm, you saved me an enormous amount in potentially lost work, I am forever indebted!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!