Install in five minutes
- Unzip this download. You need
zen-message-card.sppkgfrom the folder. - Open the SharePoint admin center, then More features > Apps > Open to reach your tenant App Catalog. (No catalog yet? SharePoint creates one the first time you open Apps.)
- Upload
zen-message-card.sppkgto Apps for SharePoint, tick Make this app available to all sites and choose Deploy. - Edit any modern page, choose + to add a web part, and pick Zen Message Card from the Zen Systems group.
- Open the web part settings (pencil icon). Under Data source press Create the list on this site; the list is created with the right columns and sample items. Edit the items to make it yours.
Prefer PowerShell?
Connect-PnPOnline -Url https://<tenant>-admin.sharepoint.com -Interactive -ClientId <your PnP app id>
Add-PnPApp -Path .\zen-message-card.sppkg -Scope Tenant -Publish -SkipFeatureDeploymentRequirements: SharePoint Online (Microsoft 365). No custom scripts, no Microsoft Graph permissions and nothing for an administrator to approve beyond deploying the app.
A rotating message card for a CEO note, a department head's update or any "word from" section. Each message shows the sender's photo, name and role next to the text, with a read-more popup for long messages.
Features
- List-driven carousel. Messages rotate automatically; dots let readers pick one.
- People from Microsoft 365. Pick one or more users and the name, job title and profile photo come from their profile. No user picked? Use the text columns and an image instead.
- Rich text. The message column supports formatting, links and images (sanitised).
- Read more popup. Long messages are previewed and opened in a branded popup, one message or all of them.
- Full message mode. Show the complete message inline with a 25/75 person-to-message split.
- Adjustable photo size. Set the card photo width and height; the popup photo scales with it.
Settings
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| List name | The list that holds the messages (default ZenMessages). |
| Create the list on this site | Creates the list with columns and sample messages. |
| Title (optional) | Heading above the card. |
| Messages to rotate | How many active messages to load. |
| Seconds per message | Rotation interval (paused while the popup is open). |
| Message display | Preview with Read more popup, or full message inline. |
| Preview length (characters) | Where the preview is cut. |
| Read more popup shows | The current message, or all messages one under the other. |
| Photo width / height (px) | Card photo size. |
| Card frame around the web part | White card behind the web part. On by default. |
List columns (ZenMessages)
| Column | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Single line of text | Message heading (shown in the popup when it lists all messages). |
| Message | Multiple lines (rich text) | The message. |
| Person | Person or Group (multiple) | Sender(s); name, title and photo come from Microsoft 365. |
| PersonName | Single line of text | Name when no person is picked. |
| RoleText | Single line of text | Role when no person is picked or the profile has no job title. |
| ImageUrl | Hyperlink | Optional photo when one person is shown. |
| IsActive | Yes/No | Shows or hides the message. |
| SortOrder | Number | Display order, lowest first. |
Attachments enabled; an attached image wins over ImageUrl.
FAQ
Does it need Microsoft Graph permissions? No. Profile photos are read through SharePoint's own user photo service.
Can one message come from two people? Yes. Pick several users; each gets their own photo, name and title stacked on the left.
Need something custom?
Zen Systems builds SharePoint intranets, corporate and department home pages, custom master pages for SharePoint Server, and web parts made to your brief. Visit zensystems.in, use the contact page, or email enquiry@zensystems.in.