rootWeb.AllProperties[“__InheritsCustomMasterUrl”] = “True”; not working

Question

I am developing a branding project, in this project i have custom master page, i can successfully deploy it and automatically apply to the root web. But i want all the subsites inherit the master page programmatically(From feature event receiver)

But the;

rootWeb.AllProperties["__InheritsCustomMasterUrl"] = "True";

is not working. My master page is not being applied to the subsites. Do you have any ideas why?

Edit: Here is my full code. It still doesnt work

public override void FeatureActivated(SPFeatureReceiverProperties properties)
    {
        var site = properties.Feature.Parent as SPSite;

        if (site != null)
        {
            SPWeb rootWeb = site.RootWeb;

            string serverRelativeUrl = rootWeb.ServerRelativeUrl;
            if (!String.Equals(serverRelativeUrl, ForwardSlash, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                serverRelativeUrl += ForwardSlash;


            string customMasterUrl = serverRelativeUrl + "_catalogs/masterpage/" + DefaultMasterPage;

            bool update = false;

            if (!String.Equals(rootWeb.CustomMasterUrl, customMasterUrl, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
            {
                rootWeb.CustomMasterUrl = customMasterUrl;
                rootWeb.AllProperties["__InheritsCustomMasterUrl"] = "True";
                update = true;
            }

            if (update)
                rootWeb.Update();

            string customSearchMasterUrl = serverRelativeUrl + "_catalogs/masterpage/" + SearchMasterPage;

            foreach (SPWeb web in site.AllWebs)
            {
                if (web.WebTemplate == "SRCHCENTERLITE" || web.WebTemplate == "SRCHCEN" || web.WebTemplate == "SRCHCENTERFAST")
                {
                    if (!String.Equals(web.CustomMasterUrl, customSearchMasterUrl, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
                    {
                        web.CustomMasterUrl = customSearchMasterUrl;
                        web.Update();
                    }
                }
                else
                {
                    web.AllProperties["__InheritsCustomMasterUrl"] = "True";
                    web.Update();
                }
            }               
        }
    }

Answer 1

You are only setting the property on the root SPWeb object, that property is not accessible or propagated down to sub sites.

If you want to apply your master page you will need to write some code in your feature receiver to enumerate child SPWebs and set the property on each child, don't forget to call update on each SPWeb.

Answer 2

On the Site Settings page of the sub-site can you see the "Master Page" option in the "Look and Feel" section?

If not, that means the publishing feature isn't enabled and therefore sub-sites won't inherit the master page.

Answer 3

I would suggest simplifying to a level that works, then add your conditional logic in. Something like:

using (SPWeb rootWeb = site.OpenWeb()) 
{    
    string masterUrl = "/_catalogs/masterpage/" + DefaultMasterPage;     
    rootWeb.CustomMasterUrl = masterUrl; 
    rootWeb.MasterUrl = masterUrl; 
    rootWeb.Update();

    foreach(SPWeb child in site.AllWebs) 
    {
        if (child.Url != rootWeb.Url) 
        {
            child.AllProperties["__InheritsCustomMasterUrl"] = true;
            child.AllProperties["__InheritsMasterUrl"] = true;
            child.Update()
        }
        child.Dispose();
    }
}