Error importing a data view web part

Question

I am using SharePoint Server 2007 Enterprise with Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, and I am using publishing portal template. I am using SharePoint Designer 2007 to import a list to a web page by using Data View -> Insert Dataview,

• I find when the list is from the same site, it is ok;
• I find when the list from child site, there is error like (I drag the list directly to get all the content, no additional sub-filter on the list),

The server returned a non-specific error when trying to get data from the data source. Check the format and content of your query and try again. If the problem persists, contact the server administrator.

Any ideas what is wrong?

Answer 1

This is one of those wonderful errors that could be caused by many things. The first place I would look is in your ULS logs, you may be able to suss out a more definitive error message there that could point you in the right direction. I have seen this happen when permissions are not set correctly (visitor, sometimes causes this) and also when there are a lot of items in the list you are attempting to display. If you can do a little further research and let me know more about the list you are attempting to use, how many items, and also any errors that you might see in the logs, I'll be glad to research further.

Answer 2

George:

I'm not sure how you are able to drag a list from another site into the DVWP, but that won't work. What you need to do is add a connection to the other site as follows:

• Open the Data Source Library by clicking Data View / Manage Data Sources.
• At the bottom of the pane, click on "Connect to another library..."
• Add the connection using the ensuing dialogs

Once you have done this, you can use the lists and libraries from the other site just as you would use lists and libraries in the current site. They will be listed separately under the name of the site in the Data Source Library.

M.