Making changes to a SharePoint page can be tricky, especially when editing web parts. A small mistake can disrupt your layout or remove important content. That’s why my #1 tip when editing web parts is to always duplicate them first. This simple trick ensures that if something goes wrong, you can easily revert back without losing your original setup.
Why Duplicate Web Parts?
Duplicating a web part before making edits gives you a safety net. If you don’t like the changes or something breaks, you can simply delete the edited version and keep the original intact. No more struggling to remember what settings you had before!
How to Duplicate a Web Part in SharePoint
Follow these steps to duplicate a web part before making any changes:
1. Edit the Page
- Navigate to the SharePoint page that contains the web part you want to edit.
- Click Edit in the top-right corner.
2. Duplicate the Web Part
- Hover over the web part and click the Duplicate Icon.
3. Edit the Duplicated Web Part
- Now, make your changes to the duplicated version while keeping the original as a backup.
4. Delete the Web Part You Don’t Want
- Once you’re happy with the changes, delete the web part you no longer need.
5. Save and Publish the Page
- Click Publish to save the page with your final version.
Why This is Better Than Using Page Versions
While SharePoint pages are version-controlled, meaning you can always restore a previous version, duplicating a web part is a much easier and faster way to work. Instead of searching through past versions of a page to find the right one, you can simply keep both versions on the page and remove the one you don’t need. This saves time and eliminates unnecessary hassle.
Final Thoughts
This quick tip saves time and prevents frustration when modifying SharePoint pages. By duplicating web parts before editing, you always have a backup to fall back on. Give it a try next time you’re updating a page!
