#Microsoft365 #Office365 #SharePoint – This is a power user introduction to pages and web parts. I will talk about the pages in the SharePoint Online Communication Site templates and the web parts available. I will not be talking about master pages, page layouts or content placeholders. No HTML5 or CSS3 was hurt in the creation of this blog 🙂

For previous posts in my #Microsoft365Challenge go to the index page.

DISCLAIMER:  I WRITE ARTICLES ABOUT OFFICE / MICROSOFT 365. CONTENT IS ACCURATE AT TIME OF PUBLICATION, HOWEVER UPDATES AND NEW ADDITIONS HAPPEN DAILY WHICH COULD CHANGE THE ACCURACY OR RELEVANCE. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN USING MY BLOGS AS GUIDELINES.

If you saw my previous post, you’ll know I use the analogy of Estates, Complexes and Houses to explain SharePoint “Architecture”. For SharePoint Pages and Web Parts I’ll use walls.

SharePoint Pages

When a Communication Site is built, it creates a Site Pages library by default. In this library you’ll see the Home.aspx page – which is the Home page to your site. You can edit the page from here or directly from the landing page. Just for info, an ASPX file extension is an Active Server Page Extended file that is designed for Microsoft’s ASP.NET framework. And that is as technical as this is gonna get.

You can create a new page and set it as the home page. You can also copy pages which is great if you design a template that is used for services pages etc.

Create new page:

Make page a Homepage:

Copy a page:

Web Parts

Web Parts are the building blocks used for SharePoint pages. This allows you to modify your pages and display the content and business data important to your team or company.

For me, SharePoint Pages are like walls in a house. You can have paintings, graffiti, windows, doors, decorations, posters etc.

Adding text or images to your page is similar to paintings, graffiti, wall stencils or posters. The content only sits on the page and does not reside somewhere else.

Adding Library, List, Power BI, Embedded code etc. would be like adding a window to your wall. This displays content that actually sits somewhere else (room next door so to speak).

When planning your home page and other pages, it’s important to keep in mind what users will be looking for and need to access first thing. The less clicks a user has to get where he/she’s going, the more likely they are to be comfortable using the site.

To see web parts available, put your page in edit mode and click on the “+” in the middle of the page. The easiest way to learn is of course, to play. I suggest you try out each web part to better understand what they offer.

Below is an overview of some of the web parts that can be added:

 

 

Here’s also a great blog on new and updated web parts rolling out, to first release customers towards the end of December 2017. Also read Refine your message and increase your reach with SharePoint communication sites which gives a great overview of the newsfeed and new web parts to come.

Thanks to Microsoft for this blog on Using web parts on SharePoint Online pages which saved me a lot of time as I didn’t have to retype or come up with the descriptions. See resource links with detailed descriptions:

Bing maps

Use the Bing maps web part to add a map to your page. Simply enter an address or a well known name and your map will appear. You can choose a different map type, such as road or aerial. You can also change the zoom level or give your map pin a friendly name. Use the Bing Maps web part on a page.

Divider

Use this to web part to insert a line between other web parts to help break up your page and make it easier to read. Add a line between web parts with the Divider web part.

Document library

The Document Library web part allows you to display a document library and customize it with your own title, view, and even size. Users with appropriate permissions can view or edit files directly from the web part, or can go the full document library by clicking See all. Use the Document Library web part on a page.

Embed

You can display content on your page from other sites like YouTube videos. Depending on the site, you can either use the site’s address or embed code that the site provides. Use the Embed web part on a page.

Events

The Events web part allows you to add and display upcoming events on your page. You can even include a map with location, online meeting information, and more. Use the Events web part.

File viewer

Use this to insert a file on your page. File types you can insert include Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, .PDFs, 3D Models and more. Use the File viewer web part on a page.

Group calendar

The Group calendar web part allows you to put an Office 365 group calendar right on your page so that it is easily visible to your readers. Use the Group calendar web part.

Hero

The Hero web part is a great way to bring focus and visual interest to your page. You can display up to five items in the Hero web part and use compelling images, text, and links to draw attention to each. The Hero web part is included by default on Communication sites, but you can also add the Hero web part to other pages. Use the Hero web part.

Highlighted content

Use this web part to dynamically display content based on content type, filtering, or a search string. You can also set the scope of the search to a site or site collection, and sort the results. Use the Highlighted content web part on a page.

Image

Use this to insert an image on the page, either from your site or your hard drive. Use the Image web part on a page.

Image gallery

Use the Image gallery web part to share collections of pictures on a page. Simply select your images with the file picker or drag them onto the web part. Once you’ve created your collection, you can drag and drop the images to reorder them as needed. Use the Image Gallery web part on a page.

Link

Use the Link web part to add a link to an internal or external page, video, image, or document. Use the Link web part on a page.

List

The List web part allows you to display a list and customize it with your own title, view, and even size. Users can view the list, or go the full list by clicking See all. Use the List web part on a page.

Microsoft Forms

Use the Microsoft Forms web part to create surveys, quizzes, and polls on a page. You can also collect responses to your forms and show form results. Use the Microsoft Forms web part.

News

You can keep your team in the loop as well as engage them with important or interesting stories by using the News feature on your page or site. You can quickly create eye-catching posts like announcements, people news, status updates, and more that can include graphics and rich formatting. Use the News web part on a page.

Office 365 video

Use this to display a video right on the page from your organization’s Office 365 Video portal. Learn how to use the Office 365 Video web part on a page.

People

The People web part allows you to display a selected group of people and their profiles on your page. It can be used for contact information, team information, presenters, and more. Use the People web part.

Power BI report

The Power BI report web part allows you to easily embed an interactive Power BI report on your page. The embedded reports are fully secure so you can easily create secure internal portals. Use the Power BI web part on a page.

Quick chart

Use the Quick chart web part to add simple charts to your page. Enter your data points, add labels, pick your chart type — column or pie — and publish. Use the Quick Chart web part on a page.

Quick links

Using this web part, you can “pin” items to your page for easy access. Use the Quick Links web part on a page.

Site activity

This web part automatically shows recent activity on your site, such as files uploaded, edits made, lists and libraries created, and so on. Just add the web part, and the latest activity is pulled in automatically. Use the Site Activity web part on a page.

Spacer

This web part allows you to control vertical space on your page. Add vertical space to a page with the Spacer web part.

Stream

This web part allows you to display a video right on your page from your organization’s Microsoft Stream video portal. Use the Stream web part.

Text

Use the Text web part to add paragraphs to your page. Standard formatting options like styles, bullets, indentations, highlighting, and links are available. Add text to your page with the Text web part.

Yammer feed

If your organization has an active Yammer network (for example: http://www.yammer.com/contoso.com), you can enhance collaboration by embedding a Yammer feed on your page. Use the Yammer Feed web part on a page.

 

Purpose of this blog challenge:  I will write 365 blogs in 365 days around Microsoft 365. I did a similar challenge with Office 365, blogs can be found here. I won’t just be talking about the new Microsoft 365 subscription model. I will be sharing any news, tips and tricks around Office / Office 365 / Windows / Mobility and Security. And let’s not forget all the great new Apps & services available.  A lot of what I’ll share on Office and SharePoint will also be applicable to none “Office 365” versions.