# SharePoint metadata editing tool

Fix messy SharePoint metadata in minutes, not one file at a time, for SharePoint Online and on-premises environments.

## Edit SharePoint document metadata in bulk

SharePoint relies on metadata, such as title, category, status, or yes/no indicators to structure, filter, and locate documents. When those values are missing or inconsistent, a library becomes hard to search and slow to navigate, and features like metadata navigation stop working the way they should.

Editing metadata natively means opening each file's properties one at a time, or using Edit in Grid View, which works for a handful of items but strains across hundreds of files and folders. Larger updates usually fall back to PowerShell, with its scripting, permissions, and maintenance overhead.

ManageEngine SharePoint Manager Plus provides [script-free management features](https://www.manageengine.com/sharepoint-management-reporting/sharepoint-management-tool.html?utm_source=me&utm_medium=wsite&utm_campaign=feature&utm_term=edit-document-metadata) that sets or updates column values in bulk, across the folders and files you choose in a library, from a single console. Import values from a file for large or repeatable updates, or export existing metadata for review, without writing any code.

## Key features that simplify SharePoint metadata editing

### Bulk editing across files and folders

Apply metadata to many documents at once: a whole set of files, selected folders, or an entire library, instead of editing one file's properties at a time.

![Selecting folders and files for bulk metadata editing in SharePoint Manager Plus.](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/sharepoint-management-reporting/images/bulk-edit-metadata-files-folders.png)

*Figure 1: Selecting folders and files for bulk metadata editing in SharePoint Manager Plus.*

### Broad metadata support and templates

Update standard and custom SharePoint metadata columns, including title, single-line and multi-line text, choice, number, hyperlink, and dropdown fields. Also import metadata in bulk using a template or export existing metadata for review and repeatable updates.

![Supported column types in the Set Column Metadata window in SharePoint Manager Plus.](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/sharepoint-management-reporting/images/supported-metadata-column-types.png)

*Figure 2: Supported column types in the Set Column Metadata window in SharePoint Manager Plus.*

### Precise, library-level targeting

Scope each task to a specific site, list or document library, and set of folders or files, so updates display exactly where you intend.

![Selecting the site and library for a metadata task in SharePoint Manager Plus.](https://cdn.manageengine.com/sites/meweb/images/sharepoint-management-reporting/images/select-site-and-library.png)

*Figure 3: Selecting the site and library for a metadata task in SharePoint Manager Plus.*

## Common metadata editing scenarios

### Populating metadata after an upload

Files uploaded in bulk or transferred during a [migration](https://www.manageengine.com/sharepoint-management-reporting/sharepoint-migration-tool.html?utm_source=me&utm_medium=wsite&utm_campaign=feature&utm_term=edit-document-metadata) may have empty metadata fields. Update the missing values across multiple files in a single task instead of editing each file individually.

### Reclassifying documents at scale

When a category, status, or department changes, update that column across every affected file at once without file-by-file edits.

### Standardizing inconsistent tags

Bring a library's metadata into line by overwriting mismatched or free-form values with a consistent set, so filtering and search behave predictably.

### Preparing content for navigation and search

Populate the columns that power metadata navigation and filtered views, so users can browse and find documents by their properties.

## How SharePoint Manager Plus compares with native metadata editing methods

| Capability | SharePoint Manager Plus | Native SharePoint (properties, grid view, PowerShell) |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk editing across files and folders | Update many items in one task, scoped to a library and folders. | Properties panel edits must be implemented one file at a time. |
| Import and export | Import values from a file and export current metadata. | No simple file-based bulk update for arbitrary column sets. |
| No scripting | Point-and-click, with no scripts to maintain. | Large updates typically require PowerShell scripts. |
| Scope control | Select sites, lists or libraries, folders, and files from one console. | Scattered across list settings, views, and scripts. |
| Delegation | Delegate to technicians without requiring native admin rights. | Requires site-level or site collection admin permissions. |
| Environment coverage | Supports SharePoint Online and on-premises (2019, 2016, 2013, Subscription Edition). | Grid view and several methods are SharePoint Online-oriented. |

## How to edit metadata in SharePoint

Using SharePoint Manager Plus, easily update metadata across the files and folders you select in a few steps:

1. Navigate to **Management > Document Management > Edit Document Metadata**.
2. In the **Select Farm/Tenant** dropdown, choose your farm or tenant.
3. Click **+** in the **Select Sites** field and choose the site.
4. Enter a **Task Name**, and add a description if needed.
5. In the **Select List/Document Library** dropdown, choose the library you want to update.
6. Click **Edit metadata**. In the **Set Column Metadata** window, enter a value for each column you want to set, such as Title, choice, number, hyperlink, dropdown, etc., then click **Save**. To handle many values at once, click **Download Sample File**, fill it in, and click **Import**; click **Export** to pull current values.
7. Click **+** in the **Select Folder or Files** field and choose the items to apply the metadata to.
8. Click **Apply**.

## Benefits of editing metadata with SharePoint Manager Plus

- **Fix inconsistent metadata quickly:** Standardize column values across a library in one go, so content stays organized and searchable.
- **Make updates repeatable:** Reuse a sample file to import the same metadata structure whenever new content arrives.
- **Reduce dependency on admins:** [Let technicians run metadata tasks](https://www.manageengine.com/sharepoint-management-reporting/sharepoint-helpdesk-delegation-tool.html?utm_source=me&utm_medium=wsite&utm_campaign=feature&utm_term=edit-document-metadata) without granting them site collection administrator rights in SharePoint.
- **Cross-farm and -tenant scope:** Update metadata across on-premises farms and SharePoint Online tenants from one console.

## Features that complement Edit Document Metadata

If you are managing SharePoint content classification and library hygiene, SharePoint Manager Plus provides several other features that complement the Edit Document Metadata tool:

- [Versioning Settings](https://www.manageengine.com/sharepoint-management-reporting/sharepoint-versioning-settings.html?utm_source=me&utm_medium=wsite&utm_campaign=feature&utm_term=edit-document-metadata): Standardize how versions are created and retained as metadata is updated, so bulk edits don't quietly generate hundreds of unwanted versions.
- [Check In Documents](https://www.manageengine.com/sharepoint-management-reporting/sharepoint-check-in-tool.html?utm_source=me&utm_medium=wsite&utm_campaign=feature&utm_term=edit-document-metadata): Release checked-out files before a metadata update runs, so no items in the target set are skipped because they're locked to another user.
- [Clear Version History](https://www.manageengine.com/sharepoint-management-reporting/delete-sharepoint-version-history.html?utm_source=me&utm_medium=wsite&utm_campaign=feature&utm_term=edit-document-metadata): Trim the version history generated during a large metadata edit, so classification cleanup doesn't inflate storage as a side effect.
- [Permission management](https://www.manageengine.com/sharepoint-management-reporting/sharepoint-permission-management-tool.html?utm_source=me&utm_medium=wsite&utm_campaign=feature&utm_term=edit-document-metadata): Manage SharePoint permissions across libraries in bulk, so the users tagged in ownership and approver metadata columns actually have the access those values imply.

## Frequently asked questions

### 1. How do I edit the metadata of a document?

For a single file, select it in the document library, open the details or properties pane (or use the **⋯** menu, then choose **Properties**), change the column values, and save. To update many documents at once, [SharePoint Manager Plus](https://www.manageengine.com/sharepoint-management-reporting/edit-document-metadata.html#bulk-editing) sets column values in bulk across the folders and files you choose.