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Microsoft SharePoint Blog
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SharePoint Roadmap Pitstop: January 2019

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Mark-Kashman
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Jan 31, 2019

The SharePoint team has been hard at work with great new updates rolled out in January 2019. This is the comprehensive recap for all things SharePoint and related technology, plus the Intrazone Roadmap Pitstop: January 2019 episode – a bonus monthly audible companion to help answer, "What's rolling out now for SharePoint and related technologies into Office 365?" It's all about supporting good change management based on feedback from you, our listeners/readers - so thank you.

 

Listen and scroll below (info, links and screenshots) to stay informed on how the SharePoint team kicks off 2019 - plus a few teasers of what's to come:

 

 

In this podcast episode, I, too, talk with Tejas Mehta (LinkedIn | Twitter), principal program manager on the SharePoint engineering team who focuses on all things SharePoint + Microsoft Teams integrations – better together (thanks to Tejas).

 

All the features listed below began rolling out to Targeted Release customers in Office 365 as of January 2019 (possibly early February 2019). “Buckle up! 2019 is gonna be a rip-roaring roadmap ride!" – Me. 😉

 

Inform and engage with dynamic employee experiences

Events web part now rolls up event items from numerous source sites

Can be configured to show content from various source sites – with choices ranging from “This site” to “Select sites” and “All sites in the hub” etc. This update enables you to choose where the event items come from (one site or many) and how they are to be displayed (Filmstrip or Compact). You can additionally refine how they appear by either entering a category name to filter by and/or selecting a date range – as simple as “All upcoming events” to “Next two weeks” to “Select date range” (where you choose the exact range).

 

The SharePoint Events web part can now roll up event items from across numerous sites, and better control how they appear on the page. Note the teal hyperlinks text showing the site each event is aggregated from.

 

Microsoft Stream mobile app is now available for Android & iOS

This is a great mobile app to watch your org and team videos on the go - and even take them offline with you when you're traveling. Get started with the Stream mobile apps for iOS & Android by visiting the App Store and Google Play.

 

The Microsoft Stream mobile app allows you to find and engage with videos, watch videos offline, and share.

 

Office 365 group-connected team site logo themes appear correct in SharePoint home and SharePoint mobile app

You’ve been asking for this to get updated. This is a color fix for Office 365 group-connected team site logos, and how they are then consistently represented beyond the site itself. When going to change the look and picking a new color for a group with an un-customized logo, the logo color will (NOW PROPERLY) first update on the next page refresh or visit. And then, here comes the real magic of the fix -- it is THE same, consistent color selection that shows in SharePoint home in Office 365 and the SharePoint mobile app; that's the visual coherence people have been asking for.

 

Office 365 group-connected team site logo themes (left) appear correct in SharePoint home and in SharePoint mobile app (right).

Teamwork updates across SharePoint team sites, OneDrive and Yammer

Mac Files On-Demand (FoD) becoming generally available (GA) (aka, the OneDrive sync client for Mac)

First off, Mac Files On-Demand (FoD) works the same way it does on the PC. Now, what is it? This helps you access all your files in OneDrive without having to download all of them and use storage space on your device. And by ALL files, we mean files from your personal library in OneDrive as well as shared libraries in SharePoint in Office 365. New files created online or on another device appear as online-only files, which don’t take up space on your device. The feature will be on by default for new users on macOS Mojave. This feature will be ramped on for existing users over the coming months. Admins continue to have the ability to disable or enable this feature via a preference.

 

The new OneDrive sync client lets you sync files from your OneDrive for Business and even from SharePoint sites to your Mac desktop/Finder.

 

No longer be possible to restrict an entire organization (tenant) to classic mode

Starting April 1, 2019, it will no longer be possible to restrict an entire organization (tenant) to classic mode for lists and libraries. Lists and libraries may still use classic mode using the granular opt-out switches that we provide at the site collection, site, list, and library levels. Additionally, lists that use certain features and customizations that are not supported by modern will still be automatically switched to classic mode. This lays the foundation for numerous features rolling out next month - of which I tease below "What's coming in February 2019 teasers" section below.

Important, related technology

Office 365 for Mac is available on the Mac App Store

We’re committed to delivering the power and simplicity of Office in an experience designed specifically for Mac, and we continue to make significant investments in the platform. We’re excited to announce that Office 365 is now available on the newly redesigned Mac App Store. With one click, Mac users can download the cloud-connected, always-up-to-date version of the Office suite—including full installs of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive.

 

PowerPoint for Mac downloaded from the Mac App Store running a sample presentation on a MacBook Pro laptop.

“We are excited to welcome Microsoft Office 365 to the all-new Mac App Store in macOS Mojave. Apple and Microsoft have worked together to bring great Office productivity to Mac users from the very beginning. Now, with Office 365 on the Mac App Store, it’s easier than ever to get the latest and best version of Office 365 for Mac, iPad, and iPhone.” —Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

 

Out of box Flow templates in OneDrive

Easily create and run out-of-box Flow templates directly from OneDrive. Just select a document and click on the Flow button in the command bar. You’ll automatically have the options for the Copy as a PDF and Request sign-off Flow templates. Run the Flow, and with one click, you can create a copy of any document for a PDF or send off an approval.

 

Microsoft Flow Integration in OneDrive running a "Copy as PDF" flow on a Word document.

 

SharePoint Migration tool updates

Designed to be used for migrations ranging from the smallest set of files to a large-scale enterprise migration, the SharePoint Migration Tool will let you bring your information to Office 365. This update brings an improved user interface with a new, simplified control service aligned to the visual themes of SharePoint in Office 365. It, too, gives you the ability to start new migrations without having to restart the SharePoint Migration Tool. Finally, you can more easily access and view the settings needed to support your migration scenario with a new simplified interaction flow and review experience.

 

A new, updated SharePoint Migration Tool user interface (UI) aligned with the Office 365 user experience.

 

Updated Office 365 suite header experience for OneDrive and SharePoint

If a user or company has not customized the Office 365 suite header, they will see that the default app color has changed to be “communication blue.” This is important to communicate to customers who have not branded their header. If you prefer not to have the navigation bar appear in the new OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online brand color, or you wish to allow your users to choose their own theme, update the settings for your Organizational Profile by clicking here.  

 

If your user has previously selected an Office 365 theme, this will now appear for them in OneDrive for Business and SharePoint Online. Any other preferences that your users have selected for the navigation bar, like disabling notifications, will be honored in this update. 

 

This update also brings a new help experience – a panel that has a search box, a tip at the top, featured topics in the middle and additional tips. And the SharePoint site settings drop-down is now a right-hand panel. These new experiences just started rolling out to Targeted Release customers.

 

We’ve aligned on a new Fluent design across the Office apps including a coherent product header and navigation, simplified font styles, warmer color palette, thoughtful elevation system and more.

 

New icons (including the new teal SharePoint icon) are coming to the Office 365 app launcher

The existing functionality with the Office 365 app launcher and Office.com will remain the same. The only difference will be the icons for Outlook, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint, Teams, Yammer and Skype will get updated to their new redesigned icons.

 

The new teal SharePoint icon.

 

Yammer Adoption Resources has a new look and updated content

Take your network to the next level with helpful adoption resources. Plan your strategy, prepare for launch, communicate a launch moment, training members, ongoing engagement, and ultimately measure success – these are all the resources available to you as your company grows and expands the business, with everyone connected and working together.

 

The home page of the updated Yammer Adoption Resources website.

 

What's coming in February 2019 teasers

Thing 1 - SharePoint lists & libraries get more modern features:

  • Column totals – You’ll be able to display column totals and subtotals in the footer of a group or a list/library view. [Roadmap ID: 46102]
  • Sticky headers – For large lists and libraries, the column headers will remain visible as you scroll vertically or horizontally in larger lists and libraries. [Roadmap ID: 46103]
  • Add columns between columns – You can insert new columns in-place between existing columns in a modern list or library view. [Roadmap ID: 46104]
  • Column drag and drop – If you need to move a column around in a list or library, just drag the column header to a new location in the view. [Roadmap ID: 46105]
  • Learn more about all and more.

 

Thing 2: Microsoft Stream can have quizzes & polls within the video playback – this is due to integration with Microsoft Forms to seamlessly add quizzes, forms or polling into training videos. Make your videos more engaging and interactive for learners, while giving trainers a way to understand how well the information is being comprehended.

 

Helpful, ongoing change management resources

 

Thanks for tuning in and/or reading this episode/blog of the Intrazone Roadmap Pitstop – January 2019 (blog/podcast). We’re open to your feedback in comments below to hear how both the Roadmap Pitstop podcast episodes and blogs can be improved over time.

 

We had a lot to share and more to come next year - happiest of new years to you and yours. Please stay engaged. Ask questions. Push us where you want and need to get the best information and insights. We're here to put both our and your best change management foot forward.

 

Stay safe out there on the roadmap -- and thanks for listening and reading.

 

Happy now and future trails,

Mark

Updated Mar 11, 2019
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