Understanding Zones and Zone Indexes

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 93 views

Introduction

SharePoint 2013 has introduced several changes to the layout of web parts on a page. One of the significant changes is the introduction of zones and zone indexes. In this article, we will discuss how to get the layout zone and zone index of a web part in SharePoint 2013 using PowerShell.

Understanding Zones and Zone Indexes

In SharePoint 2013, web parts are organized into zones, which are essentially containers that hold web parts. Each zone has a unique index, which is used to identify the zone. The zone index is a numerical value that represents the order in which the zones are rendered on the page.

Why Use PowerShell to Get Zone Information?

PowerShell is a powerful tool that allows you to automate tasks and retrieve information from SharePoint. In this case, we can use PowerShell to retrieve the layout zone and zone index of a web part, which can be useful for several reasons:

Troubleshooting: If you are experiencing issues with web part layout, you can use PowerShell to identify the zone and zone index of the web part, which can help you troubleshoot the issue.
Customization: If you need to customize the layout of web parts on a page, you can use PowerShell to retrieve the zone and zone index information, which can help you make informed decisions about how to customize the layout.
Automation: If you need to automate tasks related to web part layout, you can use PowerShell to retrieve the zone and zone index information, which can help you automate the task.

Retrieving Zone Information using PowerShell

To retrieve the layout zone and zone index of a web part using PowerShell, you can use the following script:

# Import the SharePoint PowerShell module Import-Module SharePoint $siteUrl = "http://your-sharepoint-site.com"$ credentials = Get-Credential Connect-SPOService -Url $siteUrl -Credential $credentials $webPart = Get-SPOWebPart -List "Your List Name" -Id "Your Web Part ID" $zone = $webPart.Zone$ zoneIndex = $webPart.ZoneIndex

Write-Host "Zone: $zone" Write-Host "Zone Index: $zoneIndex"

How to Use the Script

To use the script, follow these steps:

Install the SharePoint PowerShell module: You can install the SharePoint PowerShell module by running the following command in PowerShell: Install-Module SharePoint
Connect to the SharePoint site: You can connect to the SharePoint site by running the following command in PowerShell: Connect-SPOService -Url http://your-sharepoint-site.com -Credential $credentials
Get the web part: You can get the web part by running the following command in PowerShell: Get-SPOWebPart -List "Your List Name" -Id "Your Web Part ID"
Get the zone and zone index: You can get the zone and zone index by running the following command in PowerShell: $zone = $webPart.Zone and $zoneIndex = $webPart.ZoneIndex
Output the results: You can output the results by running the following command in PowerShell: Write-Host "Zone: $zone" and Write-Host "Zone Index: $zoneIndex"

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are experiencing issues with the script, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Check the SharePoint site URL: Make sure that the SharePoint site URL is correct and that you have the necessary permissions to connect to the site.
Check the web part ID: Make sure that the web part ID is correct and that you have the necessary permissions to access the web part.
Check the zone and zone index values: Make sure that the zone and zone index values are correct and that they match the expected values.

Conclusion

Q: What is the purpose of the script provided in the article?

A: The script provided in the article is used to retrieve the layout zone and zone index of a web part in SharePoint 2013 using PowerShell. This can be useful for troubleshooting issues with web part layout, customizing the layout of web parts on a page, and automating tasks related to web part layout.

Q: What are zones and zone indexes in SharePoint 2013?

A: In SharePoint 2013, web parts are organized into zones, which are essentially containers that hold web parts. Each zone has a unique index, which is used to identify the zone. The zone index is a numerical value that represents the order in which the zones are rendered on the page.

Q: How do I use the script provided in the article?

A: To use the script provided in the article, follow these steps:

Install the SharePoint PowerShell module: You can install the SharePoint PowerShell module by running the following command in PowerShell: Install-Module SharePoint
Connect to the SharePoint site: You can connect to the SharePoint site by running the following command in PowerShell: Connect-SPOService -Url http://your-sharepoint-site.com -Credential $credentials
Get the web part: You can get the web part by running the following command in PowerShell: Get-SPOWebPart -List "Your List Name" -Id "Your Web Part ID"
Get the zone and zone index: You can get the zone and zone index by running the following command in PowerShell: $zone = $webPart.Zone and $zoneIndex = $webPart.ZoneIndex
Output the results: You can output the results by running the following command in PowerShell: Write-Host "Zone: $zone" and Write-Host "Zone Index: $zoneIndex"

Q: What are some common issues that I may encounter when using the script?

A: Some common issues that you may encounter when using the script include:

Incorrect SharePoint site URL: Make sure that the SharePoint site URL is correct and that you have the necessary permissions to connect to the site.
Incorrect web part ID: Make sure that the web part ID is correct and that you have the necessary permissions to access the web part.
Incorrect zone and zone index values: Make sure that the zone and zone index values are correct and that they match the expected values.

Q: How can I troubleshoot issues with the script?

A: To troubleshoot issues with the script, follow these steps:

Check the SharePoint site URL: Make sure that the SharePoint site URL is correct and that you have the necessary permissions to connect to the site.
Check the web part ID: Make sure that the web part ID is correct and that you have the necessary permissions to access the web part.
Check the zone and zone index values: Make sure that the zone and zone index values are correct and that they match the expected values.
Check the PowerShell script: Make sure that the PowerShell script is correct and that it is running without errors.

Q: Can I use the script to automate tasks related to web part layout?

A: Yes, you can use the script to automate tasks related to web part layout. By using the script to retrieve the zone and zone index information, you can automate tasks such as:

Moving web parts to different zones: You can use the script to retrieve the zone and zone index information and then use that information to move web parts to different zones.
Customizing the layout of web parts: You can use the script to retrieve the zone and zone index information and then use that information to customize the layout of web parts.

Q: Are there any limitations to using the script?

A: Yes, there are some limitations to using the script. Some of these limitations include:

Script complexity: The script is relatively complex and may require some technical expertise to use.
SharePoint permissions: You will need to have the necessary permissions to connect to the SharePoint site and access the web part.
Zone and zone index values: The script relies on the zone and zone index values being correct and matching the expected values. If these values are incorrect, the script may not work as expected.