SPContentType.Update Method (Boolean, Boolean)

Updates the content type definition that is stored in the database, optionally updates all content types that inherit from this content type, and optionally throws an exception when it encounters a child content type that cannot be modified.

Namespace:  Microsoft.SharePoint
Assembly:  Microsoft.SharePoint (in Microsoft.SharePoint.dll)
Available in Sandboxed Solutions: Yes
Available in SharePoint Online

Syntax

'Declaration
Public Sub Update ( _
    updateChildren As Boolean, _
    throwOnSealedOrReadOnly As Boolean _
)
'Usage
Dim instance As SPContentType
Dim updateChildren As Boolean
Dim throwOnSealedOrReadOnly As Boolean

instance.Update(updateChildren, throwOnSealedOrReadOnly)

public void Update(
    bool updateChildren,
    bool throwOnSealedOrReadOnly
)

Parameters

• updateChildren
  Type: System.Boolean

  true to push the changes made to the content type down to content types that inherit from this content type.

• throwOnSealedOrReadOnly
  Type: System.Boolean

  true to throw an exception when this method encounters a content type that cannot be modified because it is sealed or read-only; otherwise false.

Exceptions

Remarks

As you make changes to a site content type through the object model, your code is actually making those changes to the in-memory representation of the site content type. Only when you call the Update method does SharePoint Foundation make those changes permanent, by committing them back to the content type definition that is stored in the site database.

For more information, see Updating Content Types.

When you make changes to a site content type, you can choose to propagate, or push down, changes made to the parent content type to its child site and list content types.

For more information, see Updating Child Content Types.

Examples

The following example is a console application that enumerates all content types in the site collection, looking for references to a site field named “Owner.” If one is found, the application attempts to delete the SPFieldLink object from the site content type and all child content types. The application reports exceptions by printing messages to the console.

Note that the application chooses not to throw an exception if the update encounters a child content type that is sealed or read-only.

Imports System
Imports Microsoft.SharePoint

Module ConsoleApp
    Sub Main()
        Dim site As SPSite = New SPSite("https://localhost")
        Try
            Dim web As SPWeb = site.OpenWeb()
            Try
                Dim fldName As String = "Owner"
                Dim id As Guid = GetFieldId(fldName, web.Fields)
                ' Try to delete links to the field from site content types.
                Dim found As Boolean = False
                For Each ct As SPContentType In web.ContentTypes
                    Dim fldLnk As SPFieldLink = ct.FieldLinks(id)
                    If fldLnk IsNot Nothing Then
                        found = True
                        Console.WriteLine("Content type {0} links to field {1}.", ct.Name, fldName)
                        ct.FieldLinks.Delete(id)
                        Try
                            ' Do not throw an exception if child is readonly or sealed.
                            ct.Update(true, false) 
                            Console.Write("Field deleted from the site content type and all children ")
                            Console.WriteLine("except those that are sealed or read-only.”)
                        Catch ex As SPException
                            Console.Write("Update failed. ")
                            Console.WriteLine(ex.Message)
                        End Try
                    End If
                Next ct
                If Not found Then
                    Console.WriteLine("No site content type links to field {0}", fldName)
                End If
            Finally
                web.Dispose()
            End Try
            Finally
                site.Dispose()
            End Try
        Console.Write(vbCrLf + "Press ENTER to continue...")
        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub

    Function GetFieldId(ByVal name As String, ByVal fields As SPFieldCollection) As Guid
        Dim id As Guid = Guid.Empty
        Dim fld As SPField = Nothing
        Try
            fld = fields.GetField(name)
        Catch ex As ArgumentException
            Console.WriteLine("Exception thrown by a call to {0} with argument '{1}'", ex.TargetSite, name)
        End Try
        If fld IsNot Nothing Then
            id = fld.Id
        End If
        Return id 'Might be Guid.Empty
    End Function
End Module

using System;
using Microsoft.SharePoint;

namespace Test
{
    class ConsoleApp
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            using (SPSite site = new SPSite("https://localhost"))
            {
                using (SPWeb web = site.OpenWeb())
                {
                    string fldName = "Owner";
                    Guid id = GetFieldId(fldName, web.Fields);
                    // Try to delete links to the field from site content types.
                    bool found = false;
                    foreach (SPContentType ct in web.ContentTypes)
                    {
                        SPFieldLink fldLnk = ct.FieldLinks[id];
                        if (fldLnk != null)
                        {
                            found = true;
                            Console.WriteLine("Content type {0} links to field {1}.",
                                              ct.Name, fldName);
                            ct.FieldLinks.Delete(id);
                            try
                            {
                                // Do not throw an exception if child is readonly or sealed.
                                ct.Update(true, false); 
                                Console.Write("Field deleted from the site content type and all children ");
                                Console.WriteLine("except those that are sealed or read-only.");
                            }
                            catch (SPException ex)
                            {
                                Console.Write("Update failed. "); 
                                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
                            }
                        }
                    }
                    if (!found)
                        Console.WriteLine("No site content type links to field {0}", fldName);
                }
            }
            Console.Write("\nPress ENTER to continue...");
            Console.ReadLine();
        }

        static Guid GetFieldId(string name, SPFieldCollection fields)
        {
            Guid id = Guid.Empty;
            SPField fld = null;
            try
            {
                fld = fields.GetField(name);
            }
            catch (ArgumentException ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Exception thrown by a call to {0} with argument '{1}'", ex.TargetSite, name);
            }
            if (null != fld)
                id = fld.Id;
            return id; //Might be Guid.Empty
        }
    }
}

See Also

Reference

SPContentType Class

SPContentType Members

Update Overload

Microsoft.SharePoint Namespace