Forum Discussion
New Library UI - non-required "Required" metadata
Hi there Eric_H In the new Document Library Experience when a metadata column is set to required and there is no default value set you will get a panel that slides is requesting you to enter the required metadata. See here: http://www.sharepointfocus.com/sharepoint/prompting-meta-data-new-document-library-experience/
Yeah, as Leon stated, I can confirm that content types are not prompted, and this is a major problem. It uploads the file using whatever the default content type is, so the user doesn't even know if the content type is correct without manually investigating. Also, maybe it is my tenant, but I don't experience what you talk about with the detail panel showing itself when required metadata is needed. My test columns do not have a default value, and there is nothing that shows there is a problem to the user. I have to:
- select the file I just uploaded (no files are selected after the upload)
- open the details pane
- Look through the metadata for required fields, and fill in.
It was argued by someone that training my users could help this, but that rarely works. I'm working right now on an extranet solution where there are multiple doc types that need to be uploaded by end users. I can't train these users - it needs to force them to fill in the needed information.
As I mentioned on the Yammer network, I am shocked this is not getting more attention by admins. I really thought that having documents with accurate metadata and content types was a critical part of sharepoint functionality. We're stuck using the old libary GUI still, which is unfortunate.
You aren't prompted to choose a content type when you upload a file to a library with two or more content types added to it though Deleted. This is far from ideal, especially if you've opted to use content types to implement different information management policies for different classes of information.
Eric_H jcgonzalezmartin Now you are not prompted just on the fact that there are 2 or more content types, but if your default content type has a required field and that field does not have a default value then then the information panel will appear on the right when you upload the document.
That panel then allows you to change content type and enter the meta data. Just a change to the way users do it.
I think it's worth adding a quick recap to this thread, starting with the first of two issues:
Classic document libraries
- Users were given the option to choose a content type when the 'Upload' button was used.
- Users were not given the option to choose a content type when 'drag and drop' was used.
Modern document libraries
- Users are not given the option to choose a content type when the 'Upload' button is used.
- Users are not given the option to choose a content type when 'drag and drop' is used.
The second issue (If we ignore 'drag and drop' for a moment) is that:
- Classic document libraries asked users to complete required fields before the file was uploaded
- Modern document libraries ask users to complete required fields after the file has been uploaded
In practice, this means that required fields are in fact optional where modern document libraries are concerned.
- Yeap, it works in the way Leo says and that's not right for many customers that give a lot of importance to fill the right metadata for each document. To me we should have the ability to configure (maybe per library) a setting forcing to choose or not the content type when uploading a documet
