Update created by field using share point web service only

Question

I want to update the created by field in sharepoint using sharepoint web services. I tried to do it using List web service's UpdateListItems method but that did not work. Can some one tell me how to do this?

Answer 1

If I understand you correctly, you are trying to update created by column of an existing list item in a web service call right? If yes, I am afraid that is not possible. Created by field is a calculated column and can only be entered when a list item is created. Created by column takes the current user context in which the code runs and only when a new item is created.

Answer 2

If you observe the schema of Created By field, it is a read only field. So, in order to update the Created Byfield using web services, you first need to remove read only restriction on it and update the list using UpdateList operation

var removeReadOnly = '<Fields>';
removeReadOnly += '<Method ID="1"><Field  ID="{1df5e554-ec7e-46a6-901d-d85a3881cb18}" ColName="tp_Author" RowOrdinal="0" ReadOnly="FALSE" Type="User" Name="Author" DisplayName="Created By" StorageTZ="TRUE" SourceID="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/v3" StaticName="Author" FromBaseType="TRUE" Version="3" ShowInNewForm="FALSE" ShowInEditForm="FALSE" /></Method>';
removeReadOnly += '</Fields>';

See this for more information: http://sharepointnadeem.blogspot.com/2011/08/modifying-created-by-field-in.html