Custom list definitions with custom forms – changing master page

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As many of you might have experienced when you create your own custom list definition, you can also create your custom forms (DispForm.aspx for example).

In my case, I want the DispForm.aspx to use another master page than it originally does, and so I thought I’d just change the following line of my DispForm.aspx:

From:

<%@ Page language="C#" MasterPageFile="~masterurl/default.master" ... %\>

To:

<%@ Page language="C#" MasterPageFile="/_layouts/zTest/test.master" ... %\>

Problem

Doing this will most likely cause you to receive the following known error message:

An error occurred during the processing of . The referenced file ‘/_layouts/zTest/test.master’ is not allowed on this page.

Solution/Workaround

Instead of changing the MasterPageFile attribute of the Page directive, inject some server-side script in the DispForm.aspx in order to change the MasterPageFile property though code.

In your DispForm.aspx, do the following:

• Keep the MasterPageFile=”~masterurl/default.master” attribute

• Insert the following server-side script directly undet the <%@ Page … %> directive:

• Watch your DispForm.aspx use a new Master Page without getting the error message.

Thanks to

I’d like to shout out to MVP Eric Schupps for giving me this smart tip.