The Cross-Connect™ web part, introduced in the Summer 2006 release, allows you to display the contents of two related SharePoint lists at once, one defined as the parent list and one defined as the child list, that share at least one column of common data. For example, you could have a cross-connect that displays the contents of a customer list (the parent) and a products list (the child). All of the products that a particular customer has purchased would be indented and displayed below each customer item. The two lists can exist anywhere, as long as they are on the same virtual server as the Cross-Connect.
When identifying the lists to include in the Cross-Connect, you identify the column to join on in each list, as well as the native SharePoint view to reference in each list. The view determines the columns to be displayed, the sort order, and any filters to apply. The results are displayed in a grid interface.
Users can expand and contract each section of the display to show and hide the related child items below each parent item. A link is also available to add a new item to the child list. When this link is used to add a new child item, the parent record’s key is automatically assigned to the new child item. Cross-Connects can also be action-enabled. Any action that can be executed against an item in a roll-up can also be executed against an item in a Cross-Connect.
NOTE: If you are interested in viewing the help for this component running on the Workplace Suite Winter 2007 for SharePoint 2007, click here.
Last Modified: July 07