About Web Part zones and their properties

Web Part zones are containers of Web Parts that are used to group and organize Web Parts on a Web Part Page. Web Part zones also have a set of properties that serve a dual-purpose. You can use one subset of properties to organize the layout and format of Web Parts on the Web Part Page. You can use another subset of properties to provide an additional level of modification protection (or "lock down") of the Web Parts within the zone.

The Web Part zone properties each have default settings or behaviors. As you add Web Parts to the Web Part page, you automatically set some of these property values. Although these property values are not designed to be edited in the browser, you can modify them by using an HTML editor compatible with Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services, such as Microsoft Office FrontPage 2003.

For additional information on Web Part zone properties, see the Windows SharePoint Services Software Development Kit.

The following Web Part zone properties make it easy to rearrange a Web Part on a Web Part Page if you have appropriate permission.

Title

Specifies the name, such as "Header", "Left Column", "Footer" and so on, of the zone that appears in the browser or HTML editor when you are designing a Web Part Page. This property is pre-defined by the template chosen when you create the Web Part Page.

Orientation

Specifies in which direction the Web Part is placed or stacked in the zone, either vertical (top-to-bottom) or horizontal (left-to-right). This property is pre-defined in the template chosen when you create the Web Part Page.

FrameType

Specifies whether or not to use each Web Part's Frame Style (FrameType) property to determine the type of frame to use. A value of Default means use the Web Part's Frame Style (FrameType) property. A value of None, Title Bar and Border, or Title Bar Only, means use this specific type of frame style for all Web Parts in the zone and override each Web Part's Frame Style (FrameType) property when its value is Default.

ContainerWidth

Specifies the width of the zone if it has a vertical orientation. Web Parts in the zone usually expand to fill the width of the zone. This property is not used in zones with a horizontal orientation. This property is not visible in the user interface of the HTML editor.

A subset of Web Part zone properties can ensure that Web Parts in the zone stay in a specific location (or are "locked down") on a Web Part Page. These properties provide an additional level of protection for the intended design of the Web Part Page author.

For example, a Web Part Page author may want to always keep a Web Part on the page because it is essential for the purpose of the page, or because the Web Part is connected to another Web Part and removing it would break the connection.

The following Web Part zone properties affect the ability to modify a Web Part.

LockLayout

Specifies whether or not Web Parts within the zone can be added, deleted, resized, or moved. The LockLayout property works the same regardless of whether the Web Part Page is in personal or shared view.

If set to True, the specific Web Part properties for each Web Part in the zone that are affected are: Zone (ZoneID), Part Order (PartOrder), Visible on Page (IsVisible), Height (Height), Width (Width), Allow Close (AllowRemove), and IsIncluded (the Close command on the Web Part menu). Other Web Part properties are not affected.

If set to False, the Web Part properties determine whether modifications can be made (along with the appropriate site permissions).

AllowCustomization

Specifies whether or not shared property values of Web Parts within the zone can be modified.

If set to True, users with appropriate permission can make changes to the Web Parts in the zone for all users.

If set to False, users cannot make changes to the Web Parts in the zone in the user interface in shared view. However, changes can still be made programmatically and by using the Web Part Maintenance Page.

AllowPersonalization

Specifies whether or not personal property values of Web Parts within the zone can be modified.

If set to True, users with appropriate permission can make personal changes to the Web Parts in the zone.

If set to False, users cannot make personal changes to the Web Parts through the user interface, unless the Web Part is a private Web Part and they have appropriate permission.