Understanding the Modal Dialog Box CSS

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 78 views

Introduction

SharePoint 2013 provides a feature-rich interface for users to interact with various lists and libraries. One of the essential features is the modal dialog box, which allows users to perform actions such as editing or deleting items without leaving the current page. However, the default CSS styling of the modal dialog box may not meet the requirements of all users. In this article, we will explore how to override the modal dialog box CSS in SharePoint 2013.

Understanding the Modal Dialog Box CSS

The modal dialog box CSS in SharePoint 2013 is defined in the following classes:

.ms-dialog
.ms-dialog-body
.ms-dialog-header
.ms-dialog-footer

These classes are used to style the modal dialog box, including its body, header, and footer. To override the existing CSS, we need to understand how these classes are used and where they are defined.

Using the Content Editor Web Part

To override the modal dialog box CSS, we can use the Content Editor Web Part (CEWP) in SharePoint 2013. The CEWP allows us to add custom CSS or JavaScript code to a specific page or list. To use the CEWP, follow these steps:

Go to the list or library where you want to override the modal dialog box CSS.
Click on the "List Settings" or "Library Settings" button.
Click on the "Web Parts" button.
Click on the "Add a Web Part" button.
Select the "Content Editor" web part and click "Add".
Click on the "Edit" button to open the CEWP in edit mode.

Adding Custom CSS

In the CEWP, we can add custom CSS code to override the existing modal dialog box CSS. To do this, follow these steps:

Click on the "Source" button to open the CEWP in source mode.
Add the following CSS code to the CEWP:

iframe .ms-dialog {
    /* Add custom styles here */
}
iframe .ms-dialog-body {
/* Add custom styles here */
}
iframe .ms-dialog-header {
/* Add custom styles here */
}
iframe .ms-dialog-footer {
/* Add custom styles here */
}

Using the !important Keyword

To override the existing CSS, we need to use the !important keyword. This keyword gives the CSS rule higher priority than the existing CSS. To use the !important keyword, add the following code to the CEWP:

iframe .ms-dialog {
    background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;
    border: 1px solid #ccc !important;
}
iframe .ms-dialog-body 
padding 20px !important;
background-color: #fff !important;

iframe .ms-dialog-header 
background-color #333 !important;
color: #fff !important;

iframe .ms-dialog-footer 
background-color #333 !important;
color: #fff !important;

Using the SharePoint CSS Framework

SharePoint 2013 uses a CSS framework to style its UI components. To override the modal dialog box CSS, we can use the SharePoint CSS framework. To do this, follow these steps:

Go to the SharePoint CSS framework documentation.
Find the CSS classes used to style the modal dialog box.
Add the custom CSS code to the CEWP.

Example Use Case

Let's say we want to override the modal dialog box CSS to change the background color and border of the dialog box. We can add the following custom CSS code to the CEWP:

iframe .ms-dialog {
    background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;
    border: 1px solid #ccc !important;
}
iframe .ms-dialog-body 
padding 20px !important;
background-color: #fff !important;

iframe .ms-dialog-header 
background-color #333 !important;
color: #fff !important;

iframe .ms-dialog-footer 
background-color #333 !important;
color: #fff !important;

Conclusion

In this article, we explored how to override the modal dialog box CSS in SharePoint 2013. We used the Content Editor Web Part to add custom CSS code and the !important keyword to override the existing CSS. We also discussed using the SharePoint CSS framework to style the modal dialog box. By following these steps, you can customize the modal dialog box CSS to meet your specific requirements.

Best Practices

When overriding the modal dialog box CSS, keep the following best practices in mind:

Use the !important keyword sparingly, as it can lead to CSS conflicts.
Use the SharePoint CSS framework to style the modal dialog box, as it provides a consistent and maintainable way to style UI components.
Test the custom CSS code thoroughly to ensure it works as expected.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with overriding the modal dialog box CSS, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Check the CEWP settings to ensure the custom CSS code is being applied.
Verify that the custom CSS code is not conflicting with other CSS rules.
Use the SharePoint CSS framework to style the modal dialog box, as it provides a consistent and maintainable way to style UI components.

Customizing the SharePoint 2013 UI
Using the SharePoint CSS Framework
Overriding SharePoint 2013 CSS
Q&A: Override Modal Dialog Box CSS in SharePoint =====================================================

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the best way to override the modal dialog box CSS in SharePoint 2013? A: The best way to override the modal dialog box CSS in SharePoint 2013 is to use the Content Editor Web Part (CEWP) and add custom CSS code to the CEWP.

Q: How do I add custom CSS code to the CEWP? A: To add custom CSS code to the CEWP, follow these steps:

Go to the list or library where you want to override the modal dialog box CSS.
Click on the "List Settings" or "Library Settings" button.
Click on the "Web Parts" button.
Click on the "Add a Web Part" button.
Select the "Content Editor" web part and click "Add".
Click on the "Edit" button to open the CEWP in edit mode.
Click on the "Source" button to open the CEWP in source mode.
Add the custom CSS code to the CEWP.

Q: What is the !important keyword and how do I use it? A: The !important keyword is used to give a CSS rule higher priority than other CSS rules. To use the !important keyword, add the following code to the CEWP:

iframe .ms-dialog {
    background-color: #f2f2f2 !important;
    border: 1px solid #ccc !important;
}
iframe .ms-dialog-body 
padding 20px !important;
background-color: #fff !important;

iframe .ms-dialog-header 
background-color #333 !important;
color: #fff !important;

iframe .ms-dialog-footer 
background-color #333 !important;
color: #fff !important;

Q: How do I use the SharePoint CSS framework to style the modal dialog box? A: To use the SharePoint CSS framework to style the modal dialog box, follow these steps:

Go to the SharePoint CSS framework documentation.
Find the CSS classes used to style the modal dialog box.
Add the custom CSS code to the CEWP.

Q: What are some best practices for overriding the modal dialog box CSS? A: Some best practices for overriding the modal dialog box CSS include:

Using the !important keyword sparingly, as it can lead to CSS conflicts.
Using the SharePoint CSS framework to style the modal dialog box, as it provides a consistent and maintainable way to style UI components.
Testing the custom CSS code thoroughly to ensure it works as expected.

Q: What are some common issues that can occur when overriding the modal dialog box CSS? A: Some common issues that can occur when overriding the modal dialog box CSS include:

CSS conflicts with other CSS rules.
Inconsistent styling of the modal dialog box.
Issues with the modal dialog box not displaying correctly.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with overriding the modal dialog box CSS? A: To troubleshoot issues with overriding the modal dialog box CSS, try the following steps:

Check the CEWP settings to ensure the custom CSS code is being applied.
Verify that the custom CSS code is not conflicting with other CSS rules.
Use the SharePoint CSS framework to style the modal dialog box, as it provides a consistent and maintainable way to style UI components.

Q: Are there any related articles that I can read to learn more about overriding the modal dialog box CSS? A: Yes, there are several related articles that you can read to learn more about overriding the modal dialog box CSS, including:

Conclusion

In this Q&A article, we covered some of the most frequently asked questions about overriding the modal dialog box CSS in SharePoint 2013. We discussed the best way to override the modal dialog box CSS, how to add custom CSS code to the CEWP, and how to use the SharePoint CSS framework to style the modal dialog box. We also covered some best practices and common issues that can occur when overriding the modal dialog box CSS.