People Picker and Site Collection User Information List

Question

I was under the impression that the People Picker used to be able to query both the underlying authentication types (Active Directory and FBA repository) as well as the User Information List (in /_catalogs/users on each site collection).

However, it looks like this ability to query the users in the User Information List has been disabled in a SharePoint 2010 Cumulative Update, but I can't confirm this.

More importantly, is there a way (like a hidden stsadm command) to re-enable that ability to query the user information list in the People Picker?

I can see some extranet scenarios where it would be very useful (namely allow external users to only pick AD users you have access permissions to a site collection).

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Raphael.

Answer 1

The People Picker does query the UIL along with authentication resource it is configured against. It will also query the User Profile Service. To restrict users to only pick from users added to the Site Collection, see Peoplepicker-onlysearchwithinsitecollection: Stsadm property