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User experience on read-only sites (SharePoint Foundation 2010)

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Applies to: SharePoint Foundation 2010

This article describes how the user interface is modified on a Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 site for which the related content database is set to be read-only (a read-only site).

The user experience of a read-only site is characterized by the following:

  • Common tasks that do not require writing to the content database are fully available.

  • Most of the common tasks that require writing to the content database are not available, either because they have been disabled in the user interface or because the user is no longer allowed to apply changes.

  • Some common tasks that require writing to the content database appear to be available, but return errors.

This article describes the common tasks that are not available and the common tasks that return errors on a read-only site.

Common tasks that are not available on a read-only site, and do not return errors

The user interface is modified so that common tasks that require writing to the database are not available and appear dimmed. The elements of the user interface that are not available are listed in the following table.

Object Interface elements disabled on a read-only site

Site Actions menu

Edit page

New Page

New Document Library

New Site

More Create Options

Edit Site in SharePoint Designer

Site Workflows

Library tools tab: Documents

New Document

Upload Document

New Folder

Edit Document

Check Out

Check In

Discard Check Out

Edit Properties

Version History

Delete Document

Mobile Link

Manage Copies

Go To Source

Workflows

Publish

Unpublish

Approve/Reject

Cancel Approval

Library tools tab: Library

New Row

Refresh Data

Create View

Modify View

Create Column

Edit Library

Form Web Parts

Library Settings

Workflows

List tools tab: Items

New Item

New Folder

Edit Item

Delete Item

Attach File

Workflows

Approve/Reject

List tools tab: List

New Row

Refresh Data

Refresh Data

Create View

Create Column

Mobile Link

Connect to Outlook

Create Visio diagram

Open Schedule

Edit list

Form Web Parts

List Settings

Customize Form

Workflows

Calendar Tools Tab: Events

New Event

Edit Event

Delete Event

Workflows

Approve/Reject

Calendar Tools Tab: Calendar

Create View

Modify View

Alert Me

Site Settings: Users and Permissions People and Groups

New

Actions: Remove Users from Group

Settings

Site Settings: Users and Permissions: Site Permissions

Grant permissions

Create Group

User Permissions

Remove User Permissions

Site Collection Administrators

SiteSettings: Users and Permissions: All People

Actions: Delete Users from Site

Settings: List Settings

Some options that are not available on a read-only site appear to be available, but the OK button is disabled on subsequent pages. These pages are listed below.

  • Users and Permissions

    • Site collection administrators

    • Site permissions: Manage access request

  • Look and Feel

    • Title, Description, and Icon

    • Top Link Bar: New Navigation Link

    • Quick Launch

      • New Heading

      • New Navigation Link

    • Tree View

  • Galleries

    • Site columns

    • Site content types

  • Site Administration: Regional settings

  • Site Actions: Reset to site definition

Common tasks that appear to be available in a read-only site, but return errors

Some options that are not available in a read-only database appear to be available in the interface, however users will receive error messages if they attempt to perform these actions. The elements of the user interface that return errors are listed in the following table.

Component or area Type of operation or action Behavior or error message

Site Theme

On the Site Theme page, click Apply.

SharePoint returns the “Error: Access Denied” message.

Site Libraries and Lists

Click Create new content.

SharePoint returns the “An unexpected error has occurred” message.

Sites and workspaces

Click Create.

SharePoint returns the “Error: Access Denied” message.

Customize the Quick Launch

Click Change Order, reset the order of the links on the Reorder Links page, and then click OK.

SharePoint returns the “Error: Access Denied” message.

Site Features

Click Activate or Deactivate.

SharePoint returns the “Error: Access Denied” message.

Delete this site

SharePoint returns the “Error: Access Denied” message.

Recycle Bin

Click any of the following buttons:

  • Restore Selection

  • Delete Selection

  • Empty Recycle Bin

SharePoint returns the “Error: Access Denied” message.

SharePoint Designer Settings

Change any settings, and then click OK.

SharePoint returns the “Error: Access Denied” message.

Help Settings

SharePoint returns the “Error: Access Denied” message.

Custom Commands Ribbon

Click Customize Form.

SharePoint returns the Microsoft InfoPath “Enter your credentials to connect to the following Web service” error.

List Tools Ribbon, List tab

Click Customize Form.

SharePoint returns the error “Microsoft InfoPath 2010 is required to use this feature.”