Forum Discussion
How Can Site Collection Admins Adapt to SharePoint Online Development?
I am a Site Collection Administrator currently managing a SharePoint 2016 environment. Over the years, I've honed my skills in using the Content Editor and Script Editor web parts to add custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to .aspx pages across our site collection and its subsites. These techniques have allowed me to develop tailored solutions for our business unit without needing to engage SharePoint farm admins or server-level developers.
However, with our impending migration to SharePoint Online, I am concerned about how these skills and methods will translate. From what I understand, the ability to use these web parts is either non-existent or extremely limited in the SharePoint Online environment. Additionally, I will not have access to PowerShell or higher-level roles such as Global Administrator or SharePoint Administrator.
Given these constraints, I am seeking advice on the following:
- How can I continue to provide development services in SharePoint Online without the use of Content Editor and Script Editor web parts?
- What tools and techniques should I start learning now to prepare for this transition?
- Are there modern alternatives or best practices in SharePoint Online that I can leverage to achieve similar outcomes?
- How can I effectively develop and deploy solutions within the boundaries of the permissions I will have in SharePoint Online?
I want to ensure that I can still deliver value to my business unit by creating custom solutions and maintaining a high level of service. Any insights, resources, or experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated as we navigate this significant change.
wbaer Can you point me to resources to help out?
Thank you for your support and guidance!
3 Replies
- 1. For SharePoint Online Development is done in SPFX and Usually using React
2. Use of Visual studio Code, NPM, React and SPFX:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/spfx/sharepoint-framework-overview
Especially Learn how modern web development works
3. There is PnP Script editor webpart that can be installed, which works similarly as Script Editor in the classic sharepoint
4. Using Graph API and Azure AD to provied it with the correct permissions and then installing it on that specific site. This can be done via Global app catalog and then installed to that site, or a local app catalogNicolasKheirallah With SPFX, do I need access to higher level permissions in order to deploy?
I am not at the farm level. I am at the site collection level.
In SP20XX, admins like me are called "Site Collection Admin" or "SCA". We are limited to what the site permissions allow. But to deploy solutions that require Farm level permissions is not available to us.
One of the workarounds I've used over the years is the Content Editor and Script Editor web parts. This allowed me to develop without these higher level permissions.
- SharePoint administrator is needed for the whole Online. I would recommend getting a dev enviroment to develop in and then sending the finish file to IT/DW Service Owner to deploy, if you can't get the correct permissions
