SharePoint On-Prem WebPart Management with PowerShell

SharePoint On-Premises remains a cornerstone of many organizations' collaboration and content management strategies. Among its key features are WebParts, which allow users to customize SharePoint sites with various functionalities. However, managing WebParts in SharePoint On-Premises environments can be complex, especially across multiple farms or servers. Fortunately, PowerShell offers a robust set of tools to streamline the process. In this blog post, we'll explore how PowerShell can simplify the installation, updating, and uninstallation of SharePoint On-Premises WebParts, empowering administrators to efficiently manage their SharePoint deployments.

Installing SharePoint On-Premises WebParts with PowerShell: Automating the installation of SharePoint On-Premises WebParts using PowerShell can significantly reduce administrative overhead. Below is a PowerShell script for installing a WebPart in a SharePoint On-Premises environment:

1Add-SPSolution "C:PathToWebPartFile.wsp"
2Install-SPSolution -Identity WebPartName.wsp –WebApplication <web application url> -GACDeployment
3

This script adds the solution file containing the WebPart to the SharePoint farm's solution store and deploys it globally across the farm.

Updating SharePoint On-Premises WebParts with PowerShell: Keeping SharePoint On-Premises WebParts up-to-date is essential for maintaining security and functionality. PowerShell can automate the process of updating WebParts across SharePoint farms. Here's a PowerShell script to update a SharePoint On-Premises WebPart:

1Update-SPSolution -Identity WebPartName.wsp -LiteralPath "C:PathToUpdatedWebPartFile.wsp" -GACDeployment
2

This script updates the existing solution with the new version of the WebPart file.

Uninstalling SharePoint On-Premises WebParts with PowerShell: When SharePoint On-Premises WebParts are no longer needed, removing them is crucial to maintain system cleanliness and performance. PowerShell offers a straightforward approach to uninstalling SharePoint WebParts. Here's a PowerShell script to uninstall a SharePoint On-Premises WebPart:

1Uninstall-SPSolution -Identity WebPartName.wsp 
2Remove-SPSolution -Identity WebPartName.wsp 
3

This script uninstalls the solution containing the WebPart from the SharePoint farm and removes it from the solution store.

Conclusion: PowerShell is a powerful tool for managing SharePoint On-Premises WebParts, enabling administrators to automate the installation, updating, and uninstallation processes. By leveraging PowerShell scripts tailored to their specific needs, administrators can streamline WebPart management tasks, saving time and reducing the risk of errors. Whether deploying new WebParts, applying updates, or removing obsolete components, PowerShell provides a flexible and efficient solution for SharePoint On-Premises WebPart management.