A Windows SharePoint site home page consists of a header and a left and right column. The header includes: the name of the site, a help link, search input, tabs for navigating to child sites and menus for the logged on user and site actions. Options available from the header’s menu vary depending on the permissions of the user. The user menu provides links for editing user settings, signing “out” or “on” as a different user and when on the home page, a link for personalizing the home page. The Site Actions menu also provides a link for personalizing the home page as well as accessing Site Settings and creating new lists, libraries, and pages.
The left column of a SharePoint site’s home page is a Quick Launch menu from which a user can access a site map, documents, lists, team discussions, child sites, people, groups and the site’s recycle bin. The items listed in the Quick Launch depend on the content that has been added to the site. The Documents section links to the site’s document, form, wiki and picture libraries. The Lists section contains links to the site’s calendar, tasks and custom lists.
The right column of a SharePoint site’s home page contains web parts divided into a left and right column. The web parts on a site’s home page can be added and removed by an administrator. The default web parts are the Announcements, Calendar and Links, which can be appended by a user or Contributor and the site image.
