How to Disable the Default Out-of-Box site definitions in SharePoint 2007?

Hi All,

May times we are required to create a site from site templates.

But there are certain scenarios where you do not want creators to create any site that are based on default site definitions. You forcefully make user create site from your own site definition.

Here is a way how you can remove built-in site definitions.

But before doing this make sure that you take backup of the following files that you are going to change or remove.

We will work with this path:

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\web server extensions\12\TEMPLATE\1033\XML\


WEBTEMP.XML - This will remove Collaboration and Meeting sites and tabs
WEBTEMPSPS.XML - This will remove templates for the Publishing Tab
WEBTEMPSRCH.XML - This will remove Search Templates
WEBTEMPOFFILE.XML - This will remove Records Center
WEBTEMPBDR.en-us.XML - This will remove Document Center

Change 'Hidden = False' with 'Hidden = True' for the definition you would like to hide.

Site creators are now forced to create new sites based on one of the template that you have customized for them