SP List Description - not visible to list user

[EloiseJane]

Hiya, 

I am using a modern SP list, and I would like the overall SP list description to show under the list name for users to have as guidance on their updates. I have added the description to the list settings, but it doesn't seem to do anything. I have also looked through list settings to see if it am missing something...

Is this possible? what am I not doing? Any help would be appreciated.

[#2]

@EloiseJane Are you talking about this list description settings? 

Unfortunately, this list description is not visible under list name on SharePoint modern experience list views. Also, you cannot customize SharePoint default list view pages to add the description under list names: 

Workaround:

1. Create a site page in your SharePoint site
2. Add Text web part on page to add list description
3. Below text web part, add List web part and select your list to show on the page.
4. You can choose the default list view you want to show on the page. If you don't want users to navigate to default list page, you can hide the see all link from SharePoint list web part.

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[#3]

Hiya,

Yes I was - that's a shame.

Thank you for the workaround though, that has worked.

[#4]

@ganeshsanap Hi, this workaround  is not acceptable. In the previous SP version it was bad enough that you were not able to add a clickable link to the description of a list but without a description at all this field is kind of obsolete because it is not used anywhere.

So how to give the users information about the list? It is so annoying. Users contact me again and again and ask what exactly to do, or even worse, the fill the lists incorrectly. And no, you cannot cover everything in the single filed descriptions, especially because they are not always practical.

Please change that asap and allow links in the description finally!

[#5]

@kzarse Hi, what is the issue with the workaround I suggested?

By default SharePoint does not allow showing list description on list page as well as you cannot edit the default list view pages.

So, I suggested this workaround to create a new site page where you can add description about your list at the top - with plain text, links, images, video (as per your requirements) using different web parts available in SharePoint Online. And then add the list view on site page using Use the List web part.

This workaround should work using SharePoint default capabilities unless you want to develop something custom using SPFx on your own.

Also, if you want to request any new feature or change in the default functionality, you can check with Microsoft by raising a support ticket or by adding feedback on SharePoint feedback portal.

You can also add information about your list or how to submit list form or hyperlink on the list form itself (at the top or bottom of the list form) using JSON formatting. Check:

1. Configure the SharePoint list form using JSON formatting 
2. JSON Header Formatting for Approvals 
3. Send Email to Task owner - List form footer 

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[#6]

Hi @ganeshsanap, thanks for the prompt response.

The issue with the workaround is that we don´t use pages as "list containers" for several reasons. One very simple reason is that you cannot ensure at all the the users go there. In most cases, also driven by notification emails and stuff, they land on the list itself, and then there is no page around.

The JSON approach I did not come across yet. Will have a look. But even if it provides a kind of solution it seems to be an expert way but nothing a regular SP site admin would like or be able to perform.

[#7]

@kzarse Understood your concerns with using site pages.

Related to JSON - Yes, you should have basic knowledge about HTML, CSS, JSON, etc. to understand JSON formatting functionality and customize JSON as per your requirements.

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