Create Cross-Site Data Source

We use a Site Directory list from the root site collection as the master listing of all sites and it would be handy to be able to reference this directory from the various site collections throughout the web application. OTB, you can’t reference a list from one site collection to another. We used to use the script built from Cross-site List Snapshot Version 2.0, but lately we’ve been experiencing issues with it. This is how to create a data source in Designer and modify the data-view web part to use it.

First, create the view in the list that you’ll want to display on the sub-site.

Open the list in SharePoint Designer. Get the GUID for the list (copy it into notepad.)

Open the view of the list:

Click on the “WebPartPages:SXLTListView” to get the Tag Properties. This will give the View Guid. Copy and save this out to notepad as well.

Now, open the child site in designer. Select “Data Sources” and “SOAP Service Connection”. Enter a login for a service account that will have rights to read the list.

On Source, in the Service description location put “/_vti_bin/lists.asmx” and Connect Now.

Change Operations to “GetListItems” and enter in the saved GUID for listName and viewName:

In the General Tab, name the SOAP data source.

Select OK:

Open the page for the directory. Insert > Data View > SOAP Services:

Remove the extra columns:

To fix the hyperlink, select the cell (not the header, the first cell with data in it,) right-click, and Format Item as > Hyperlink:

Change “Text to display” to: {substring-after(string(@ows_URL),’, ‘)}

And “address” to: {substring-before(string(@ows_URL),’,’)}

Save and publish (if required.)