Forum Discussion
Is there any way to update SharePoint library metadata without updating modified columns?
I would like to make some housekeeping on some of our document libraries. Adding or changing a lot of metadata.
Of course I would like to do do this without changing modified and modified by columns. Otherwise we would have a mess with a bunch of old files surfacing as newly updated (simultaneously burying those who are actually new or updated).
As I understand this was possible on on-prem SharePoint using SystemUpdate, but also that this is not possible with SharePoint Online.
So, is there any way to achieve this?
5 Replies
I got no answers but would like to bring this up again - there must be some kind of workaround!?
I believe Microsoft have created a library maintenance disaster by making it impossible to update metadata without changing modified/modified by columns.
What can I do?Erik Wettergren
Have a look at validateupdatelistitem (link)We use this to change metadata in bulk (https://www.slimapplications.com/product/bulkmetadatamanager/). It allows for setting metadata and manipulating the modified field. Most likely you can also manipulate the modified by field.
// get modified and modified by for the existing SharePoint item
// generate a request to set the metadata and set the modified and modified by fields
// execute the requestPaul | SLIM Applications
Hi Paul_HK_de_Jong and thanks for these links and suggetions.
However, it seems like at least validateupdatelistitem is for on-prem SharePoint only. I need this for Online.
