Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites

While I'm on this support kick, here's another useful nugget...

People commonly ask if they can use the Content Query Web Part (CQWP) in non-Publishing sites. Not surprising as it is one of the most powerful, performant and flexible Web Parts out there. I'd venture so far as it's in a neck-&-neck race with the Data View Web Part (DVWP) in terms of being the most useful. While the CQWP has the DVWP on performance, the DVWP excels in the fact it is included in WSS 3.0, is easy to configure & customize via SharePoint Designer 2007 and that it has a multitude of data connection options. But back to the CQWP...

First, you need to have MOSS installed on the server to get the CQWP as its located in the Publishing namespace. The CQWP leverages some XSLT files that are provisioning into the /Style Library when Publishing sites are created... more specifically when the Publishing Features are activated. There are ways to get around this though.

OK, so you've got a Publishing site collection created and within that site collection you've got a Team Site. It is on this Team Site you want to use the CQWP. You'll quickly see it works for the most part, but a few things break down. Specifically RSS feeds on the CQWP's result set don't work as expected... in fact they error out.

While you can get it to work sometimes (arguably most of the time), know that MSFT does not support using the CQWP in a site that does not have the Publishing Features activated.

Technorati Tags: microsoft,moss,wcm,publishing site,content query web part,cqwp

posted on Monday, May 19, 2008 10:56 AM

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# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 12/10/2008 10:33 PM Sameer Dhoot

I have posted detailed info on how users can enable CQWP on team site template

http://intellects.in/2008/12/07/running-cqwp-on-team-site-without-publishing-infrastructure-feature-enabled-moss-2007/

Sameer.

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 12/10/2008 10:44 PM AC [MVP MOSS]

Sameer-
So you show how to save the Style Library, which works... you really just need the XSL files not the whole library. The problem is that there are plenty of things that don't work in a non-Publishing site on the CQWP like RSS.

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 1/22/2009 2:08 PM michelle

I randomly get an error "Unable to display this Web Part. To troubleshoot the problem, open this Web page in a Windows SharePoint Services-compatible HTML editor such as Microsoft Office SharePoint Designer. If the problem persists, contact your Web server administrator." I believe it is related to a publishing web part on a non-publishing site. It seems if I logon as admin, then the web part magically appears again even for all the users. At some point it breaks (may be a change to the web part or page) then I frequently get get the error. Thanks.

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 1/22/2009 10:38 PM AC [MVP MOSS]

michelle-
The Content Query Web Part is not supported outside of a Publishing site and I don't recommend it be used in that manner.

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 1/23/2009 9:44 AM michelle

Thanks so much! How can I tell if a site is non-publishing? If it is a non-publishing site, can it be changed to publishing. I see our top level site has a publish button but not one of the sub-sites. Thanks for your help.

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 1/24/2009 12:20 AM AC [MVP MOSS]

Michelle-
From the Site Actions menu, do you see "Create Page" ? If not, that's not a Publishing site. I suggest you read this page: http://www.andrewconnell.com/blog/articles/WcmTerminologyExplained.aspx

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 1/29/2009 10:31 AM michelle

Thanks for the information and your help. I re-created the site as a publishing site but I still get the error if any changes are made by someone other than the admin. When I login as the admin and do anything including cancel checkout, the error goes away. Here are the steps:
1) Login as a user with full control
2) edit page; get error that I cannot make changes
3) return to page; see error message on web part
4) refresh/publish; still see error
5) close browser; login as admin
6) Cancel checkout; error goes away.

Any ideas

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 3/19/2009 6:04 PM Oliver Rose Jr

Thanks for the fix Sameer. Good post Heather.

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 3/26/2009 5:40 PM Allan

Hi Michelle - I am having the same problem. Did you find any solution of how to fix this?

# re: Using the Content Query Web Part in non-Publishing sites 11/4/2010 5:12 AM css

Looks like this page is not complete. How to use the CQWP in non-publishing site?

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