Forum Discussion
Metadata 'compulsory input'
Short answer: no.
Long answer: Even when columns are required then users can upload documents without being forced to enter values for these columns in the modern view.
Alternatives:
a. educate users
The users need to see the benefit of adding the metadata and they need to be disciplined. This will not always be the case. Expect part of the documents to end up without metadata.
b. use apps that support required fields.
i.e. the user must enter values as part of the uploading.
See https://directory.collab365.com/office365-sharepoint/best-document-management-tools-for-sharepoint/%20 and browser-based apps (https://directory.collab365.com/listing/slim-companion-explorer/).
c. Make use of the metadata present within the images.
Images may contain metadata in the files. Example.
You can check for the presence of metadata using online tools (https://www.metadata2go.com/).
d. Check if the automatic metadata extraction from Microsoft offers sufficient information
{"media":{"title":"BUSH"},"photo":{"width":400,"orientation":1,"height":398},"tags":[{"name":"person","localizedName":null,"confidence":0.99857801198959351}]}
This metadata column is present in the background and not exposed via the standard views. So you will have to use Power Automate or something similar to transfer it to a column that is visible.
e. stop using the metadata functionality
This will result in less productive staff and even result in questions about the usefulness of the system because users cannot find items or it takes too long.