Document Library

A document library is a compilation of documents which have been uploaded to that specific library. One of the most important thing about document libraries when you are first starting is that documents may be moved by using the explorer option in SharePoint, but other than that information becomes more complex to move. When you are creating a document library, it is important to remember that simplicity is the name of the game. It becomes less useful to have many embedded document libraries within document libraries. This requires many clicks to reach the end of the road for which someone may be searching. In other words, avoid creating a document library within a document library. A way around this is the use of views or document sets. A new view will allow you the same security by disallowing individuals access to view certain documents with the ease of navigation. If you need a group of documents together, just use a document set within the document library.

To create a document library, access the add an app button which was given before. This brings up the Noteworthy apps as was given before. Document library is listed there as before.

                      

A document library has custom columns which are already applied upon creation. These are generic columns just like those which were included in SharePoint 2010. One of the added perks of SharePoint 2013 is the "drag and drop" option which simplifies the process of uploading documents to the library. You may still add the documents as usual by accessing the ribbon or clicking the "add document" by the library name.

Either method does the same thing, but the document set option is only available when using the ribbon to add documents. The document set option is not enabled when you start your SharePoint site. In order to activate this tool, you need to access site collection features under site collection administration. If you do not have access, contact your site administrators and have one of them activate documents sets.

After you have done this, you need to access your document library settings and add from existing content type. Since document sets are a content type, it will be listed in the add box and after you add it will become available to you.

Since views are a interesting topic to cover, I will do this more completely in a different blog post. That will allow me to more fully the topic. In general, for now, views may be adjusted to individuals or groups to only allow certain documents to be seen based on some filter. This is a much simpler way to organize your SharePoint site.