Configuring a Document Library in SharePoint Server 2010/SharePoint Foundation 2010

Below are the steps needed to enable the Link to a Document content type for a library in SharePoint Server 2010 and SharePoint Foundation 2010.

1. Navigate to the desired library to contain both links and documents. In the ribbon, click the Library tab and click the Library Settings button (shown in Figure 9-1). This interface should look familiar if you’ve done any configuration of lists or libraries before.

   

   Figure 9-1. Click Library Settings in the ribbon

2. In the General Settings section, click the Advanced settings link (shown in Figure 9-2).

   

   Figure 9-2. Click Advanced settings

   On the resulting page, you’ll be presented with several options. The first option in the list is the area we’re concerned with. The Content Type option says, “Specify whether to allow the management of content types on this document library. Each content type will appear on the new button and can have a unique set of columns, workflows and other behaviors.” This is exactly what we want.

3. Set the toggle to Yes and click OK to save the settings (see Figure 9-3).

   

   Figure 9-3. Toggle Allow management of content types to Yes

   You’ll then be redirected back to the document library settings screen. It will now look different than before because of the additional Content Type section. This is where we want to focus our attention next.

4. Click the “Add from existing site content types” link (see Figure 9-4).

   

   Figure 9-4. Click the “Add from existing site content types” link

   You’ll be shown a page that lists all the existing available content types at the current level of the site collection.

5. Select the Link to a Document content type from the list and click Add, then click OK to save the changes (Figure 9-5).

   

   Figure 9-5. Highlight Link to a Document and click Add

   You’ll now be redirected back to the Settings page for the document library. Now it’s time to put our handy work into action.

6. Navigate back to the document library via the breadcrumbs, the Quick Launch, or via the View All Site Content link. Click the Documents tab. You’ll now see the two content types available within the New Document drop-down list (see Figure 9-6).

   

   Figure 9-6. The new content type is available on the New menu

After adding some content into my library, I get a view that looks like the one shown in Figure 9-7.

Figure 9-7. List view with Type field included

However, modifying the view and removing the Type icon from the display results in a seamlessly blended listing of content (see Figure 9-8).

Figure 9-8. List view with Type field excluded