Set the Default Value for the Field in SharePoint 2010 using ECMAScript

Introduction

In this article you will see how to set the default value for the field in SharePoint 2010 using ECMAScript. I have a list named "List Request" which has the following fields (Navigate to the list, click on List tab in the ribbon interface. Click on List Settings button).



I am going to set the default value for the column named "Description" using ECMAScript.

Steps Involved

Step 1 : Navigate to the SharePoint site (I have a site page created in my site where I am going to add the content editor web part).

Step 2 : Go to Site Actions, click on Edit Page.



Step 3 : Click on the Insert tab in the ribbon interface and then click on Web Part button.



Step 4 : Select Media and Content in the Categories section and then click on Content Editor.



Step 5 : Click on Add.

Step 6 : The Content Editor web part will be added to the site page.

Step 7 : Click on the down arrow and then click on Edit Web Part.



Step 8 : Click on "Click here to add new content".



Step 9 : Click on Format Text tab in the ribbon interface and then click on HTML drop down.



Step 10 : Click on Edit HTML source.

Step 11 : The HTML source window will pop up.



Step 12 : Copy and paste the following script.

<script language="ecmascript" type="text/ecmascript"> 
        var fieldCollection;
        var field;
        var list;
        function fieldDefaultValue() {
            var clientContext = SP.ClientContext.get_current();
            if (clientContext != undefined && clientContext != null) {
                var webSite = clientContext.get_web();

                this.list = webSite.get_lists().getByTitle("List Request");
                this.fieldCollection = list.get_fields();
                this.field = fieldCollection.getByTitle("Description");
                this.field.set_defaultValue("Default");
                this.field.update();
                clientContext.load(this.field);
                clientContext.executeQueryAsync(Function.createDelegate(this, this.OnLoadSuccess),
Function.createDelegate(this, this.OnLoadFailed));
            }
        } 
        function OnLoadSuccess(sender, args) {
            alert(this.field.get_defaultValue());
        } 
        function OnLoadFailed(sender, args) {
            alert('Request failed. ' + args.get_message() + '\n' + args.get_stackTrace());
        }
</script>
    <input id="btnFieldDefaultValue" onclick="fieldDefaultValue()" type="button" value="Field Default Value" />

Step 13 : Click on Ok.

Step 14 : In the ribbon interface click on the Save & Close button.



Step 15 : In the content editor web part you can find a button named "Field Default Value"; click on that button.



Step 16 : An alert will pop up which displays the default value for the field.



Reference

1. SP.Field.defaultValue() Property - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee547636.aspx
2. SP.Field.update() Method - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee659278.aspx

Summary

Thus in this article you have seen how to set the default value for a field in SharePoint 2010 using ECMAScript.