Web Part Feature | Step Bi Step

Developing a simple web part (.wsp) using WSPBuilder

Posted by Rajanihanth in SharePoint 2007, Webpart, WSP Builder on May 28, 2012

Before we started the development, we have to install the WSPBuilder (SharePoint WSP tool), an extensions for Visual Studio. Just download the latest version here and install it. It is pretty easy steps.

Step 1: Create a new project on visual studio and then select the project type WSPBuilder under C# programming language (I am using Visual Studio 2008).

Step 2: This is will create the following structure in the solution explorer.

Step 3: Right click on the project (WSPBuilderStepBiStep) and then add a new Item.

Step 4: This will give the following dialog box and then select WSPbuilder and Web Part Feature template. Enter the name and click Add button (I have given WebPartStepBiStep here)

Step 5: We will get the following dialog box and asking for the scope for this Web Part. I just modified the description and select the scope and then click OK.

Step 6: The solution explorer will look like this. Under the 12 hive folder you can see the Template and Features sub folders.

Step 7: Double click on the WebPartStepBiStep.cs file and add your custom code on the right place. I just modifed the property like this:

public string MyProperty
        {
            get
            {
                if (_myProperty == null)
                {
                    _myProperty = "Hello Step Bi Step!";
                }
                return _myProperty;
            }
            set { _myProperty = value; }
        }

If you wanna to add a label rather than using this LiteralControl just replace the following code

this.Controls.Add(new LiteralControl(this.MyProperty));

with this

System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label label=new System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label();
label.Text = "Hello StepBiStep!";
this.Controls.Add(label);

Step 8: After replacing the code, the CreateChildControls() method will look like this:

        protected override void CreateChildControls()
        {
            if (!_error)
            {
                try
                {
                    base.CreateChildControls();
                    // Your code here...
                    System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label label=new System.Web.UI.WebControls.Label();
                    label.Text = "Hello StepBiStep!";
                    this.Controls.Add(label);
                }
                catch (Exception ex)
                {
                    HandleException(ex);
                }
            }
        }

Step 9: To build the project, just right click on the project name (WSPBuilderStepBiStep –> Build) and click Build.