Custom Field get wrong display name on custom lists

Question

I've declaratively created around a total of 50 custom fields. They are included in a content type.

The problem is when i create a custom list that uses the content type the fields get a missmatch of the displayname value.

As an example, I have a field with the following:

On Site Column Level and in the Content type:

• InternalName: a
• Guid: 123
• DisplayName: b

On Custom List:

• InternalName: a
• Guid: 123
• DisplayName: c

What I want on my Custom List:

• InternalName: a
• Guid: 123
• DisplayName: b

So to be clear. The problem is on lists when I've added the content type.

I've crosschecked every step that I've done (The the guids, dispName, internalNames are correct in the content types xml.)

Don't have the same issue on the same server when i try with another custom Content Type.

However when I add the custom fields directly on the Custom List I don't get the same results. "It Works"

I've tested with adding manually and through ContentTypeRef in my List Definitions Schema

Answer 1

The problem was related to an automated Visual studio function when adding the Content Type to the List Definition using Visual Studios Interface. Somehow a mismatch was created.

Although recreating the list definition solved my issue it doesn't explain why there was a problem when I add the Content Type to Manually created Custom lists.

Answer 2

If you have Inherits='TRUE' then you may be getting the expected behavior. In this case changes to any of the properties of fields inherited from the base type will be ignored. Also, any attempts to remove fields inherited from the base type will be ignored. As far as I can tell, the only thing you can do when Inherits is true is add additional fields to the type – everything else is ignored.

See Custom Content Types and Inherits in SharePoint 2010 for more detail.