In our article Automatic translation of SharePoint pages with Azure, we already discussed how to set up SharePoint to help us translate documents automatically. It goes without saying that SharePoint is a tool designed by Microsoft for document management and teamwork. It includes collaboration features, methods to automate processes and search, and a document management platform.
Using the delivery of permissions for the accesses, it allows:
Likewise, it has other functionalities for teamwork such as:
From the outset, it is important that you understand some concepts of SharePoint Online, such as its storage method. The base unit, the document libraries, are a safe place to host, create and update files, such as: Word, Excel, Pictures, etc. Plus, they can be shared with other team members, worked on together, and accessed from any device at any time.
It’s a lot like the Microsoft OneDrive service. The main difference is that OneDrive is intended for personal use, and SharePoint is intended for team file storage.
Document libraries are created within the SharePoint team site. By default, this site includes a document library, but you can create as many as you need.
Each document library features a list of files, folders, and important information (for example, who created or last modified a file).
In a document library, you can perform the following actions:
At the top left of the site content page is the options bar. When clicking on New and selecting Document Library, in the Create Document Library window we must write a name and add an optional description.
We have 3 differential elements:
After creating a document library, you can add content, either creating it from scratch or uploading it from your computer. Also, it can be synced with the OneDrive service.
Under New, you can create anything from a folder to Office 365 documents to a link to a particular item outside of the document library.
From Upload you can post files or folders saved on your computer. Just tap on its namesake button at the top of the document library and select files or a folder.
The Quick Edit option displays the list of uploaded files in table format. To exit this view, tap Exit Quick Edit.
In addition, SharePoint offers us other options:
At the top of the page you can switch the document library view between list or tile view, you can even customize the view and display the columns you want.
You can add new columns to have more information at a glance, by clicking on + at the end of the Add column header.
You can access the Details Panel for a specific file, folder, or document library link to view properties, who has access, recent activity, and other supplemental information.
With a single click on the name, we access the folder or open the file. If we click on another place in the strip other than: the name, the sharing icon or the ellipses, what we do is select the element. Several elements can be selected to perform joint actions on them (for example, download them to our local computer).
The element path is used to move backwards in the folder tree.
The information panel can also be viewed by clicking Details when a file or folder is selected.
When a file or folder is selected, different actions can be performed on it.
If you are in the list view, you have to click on the ellipsis that appears next to the name or from the top menu.
Among others, this three options will appear:
If it’s a file, you’ll also have:
Using the SharePoint Framework together with a model of web parts and pages, you can create custom actions for items in a list or document library.
Enabling version control on a document library allows you to track documents chronologically and retrieve older versions if necessary.
When you enable and configure it, you will be able to keep the different versions of a document every time a modification is made. In addition, you can give access to all versions to the entire organization or to certain users.
To do this, click Settings, and then go to Library Settings.
In Library Settings click on the Version Settings option
Once you enable versioning, you can access the version history of a selected document.
In order to configure access permissions, you need to have the role of administrator or owner of a document library.
By default, all libraries in a site collection inherit the permission settings of the site directly above them in the site hierarchy. At the document library level, we can customize those permissions for each element, and these will be inherited in turn by everyone who “hangs” from it.
There are several ways to manage permissions:
The Stop Sharing button only appears when the item has ever been shared and removes all access except for the owners.
At the top we see the links created with the Copy button. We also have a Share button. The 3 points open another panel where we can delete the link and configure who to share it with.
In the part entitled Direct access, the groups or people who already have access are listed. By clicking on the arrow we can change the type of access.
Deleting a library removes the documents’ metadata, version history, its settings, and any specific permission levels defined within it.
To delete a document library, go to the Library Settings. Once there, select the Permissions and administration option and click Delete this document library.
If you accidentally delete a library or change your mind, depending on how the site is set up, you can restore it from the Recycle Bin.
Deleted items are kept in the recycle bins for a set amount of time. In SharePoint, the retention time is 93 days. It starts when you remove the item from its original location. When you delete the item from the site’s recycle bin, it is included in the site collection’s recycle bin. It stays there for the rest of the 93 days, and then it’s permanently deleted.
You can restore a library, file, or version of a file to its original location, as long as you haven’t already deleted its parent. A file cannot be restored if the library it belonged to has been deleted. You must first restore the library, and then restore the file to the library.
Many years ago we began to lose the habit of keeping thousands and thousands of physical files with hundreds and hundreds of different printed documents. SharePoint Online is the evolution of that whole process, but much more comfortable. No need to print and set up a shelf or have to get too organized to keep track of changes in a single document.
In short, it is important to learn to use SharePoint Online, and to master all its features and tools because it is simply the next step towards digitizing your company (something that is increasingly necessary) and, at the same time, it is simply a “simulation” of something you’ve been doing all your working life.