Third Party Solutions To Enable Html Markup In Sharepoint Calculated Columns

The Need for HTML Markup

Using HTML markup in SharePoint calculated columns provides several benefits for formatting, adding links, displaying images, and more. The out-of-the-box calculated columns in SharePoint have limitations that can be overcome by enabling the use of HTML.

Benefits of HTML Markup in Calculated Columns

• Format text with bold, italics, underlining, font colors, etc.
• Create hyperlinks to documents, sites, or external URLs
• Display images stored in SharePoint libraries or from external URLs
• Add icons and glyphs for visual interest
• Customize column output with CSS styles
• Increase information density with collapsible sections
• Embed rich media like videos and slideshows

Limitations of Out-of-the-Box Calculated Columns

The calculated columns in SharePoint are limited to only displaying unformatted text strings. Some key limitations include:

• Unable to format text with bold, italics, font colors, etc.
• Lack support for hyperlinks and images
• Cannot customize display with CSS
• Limited control over information density and layout

Third Party Solutions

Several third party tools and solutions are available to enable using HTML markup in SharePoint calculated columns. These tools work by intercepting the calculated column rendering process to inject custom HTML.

Popular Third Party Tools

• [Third Party Tool 1] – A popular tool for no-code HTML markup in SharePoint. Provides a GUI for adding HTML without writing code.
• [Third Party Tool 2] – An enterprise-scale solution for enabling HTML in calculated columns. Comes with advanced features like column templates, bulk editing, and governance controls.

Key Features and Capabilities

Some key features provided by third party solutions for HTML markup include:

• WYSIWYG editor – Visually edit calculated columns with an intuitive what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) interface instead of writing code.
• Bulk editing – Batch edit multiple calculated columns to quickly add HTML markup across sites and libraries.
• Column templates – Create reusable templates for formatted calculated columns to maintain consistency.
• Formatting toolbar – Tools for formatting text, inserting links, adding images, tables, etc.
• Code view – View and edit the underlying HTML markup directly for maximum control.
• Governance & policy – Centrally manage formatting standards and restrictions for calculated columns.

Code Examples

The process for adding HTML markup differs across the various third party solutions. Here are some examples of code used:

[Third Party Tool 1] Code Samples

[Third Party Tool 1] uses a proprietary calculated column syntax called [Custom CC Markup] to define the HTML output. Some examples include:

  //Bold text
  [b]This text is bold[/b]

  //Image 
  [img src="image.png"]

  //Link
  [url=http://www.example.com]Example site[/url]

[Third Party Tool 2] Code Samples

[Third Party Tool 2] injects standard HTML into the calculated columns, so the markup uses native HTML tags. Some examples:

  //Bold text
  <b>This text is bold</b>

  //Image
  <img src="image.png">
  
  //Link
  <a href="http://www.example.com">Example site</a>  

Considerations and Best Practices

When implementing third party solutions for HTML markup, keep these best practices in mind:

Performance Implications

• Complex HTML and large images can impact page load times
• Use column and row limits to restrict excessive customization
• Load test solutions under expected production loads

Accessibility

• Ensure text colors and styles meet minimum contrast ratios
• Provide alt text for all images
• Allow end users to customize styling

Cross-Browser Testing

• Validate markup renders correctly on target browser versions
• Normalize CSS to minimize inter-browser styling differences

Maintenance and Upgrades

• Check release notes for any breaking changes after upgrades
• Plan testing effort required for each upgrade
• Consider deprecation policy for end-of-life software

Additional Customization Options

In addition to calculated columns, enabling HTML markup can be achieved with these other approaches:

JavaScript Injection

• Use Script Editor/Content Editor web parts to inject scripts
• Generates markup client-side instead of server-side
• Avoids roundtrips during page loads

Custom Field Types

• Develop custom site columns with rich formatting built-in
• Requires expertise in SharePoint Framework development
• Gives precise control over rendered output

SharePoint Framework Extensions

• Build customizations and app extensions with the SPFx
• Allows overriding out-of-the-box rendered output
• Modern approach but requires advanced JavaScript skills

Conclusion

In summary, enabling the use of HTML markup within SharePoint calculated columns unlocks a wider range of formatting, layout, and customization options not natively available. Solutions from third party software vendors provide intuitive tools to add rich HTML without writing code. When planning an implementation, consider performance, accessibility, testing, and long term governance to ensure success.