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Preparing the Template

  1. Navigate to target library on the SharePoint site.
  2. Under the title of the library, click + new document (if a document exists in the library, skip this step and proceed to step 3)
    1. Click Browse and upload a random sample document
    2. In the next window, you will see the template. Proceed to step 4.
  3. Next to the document's name, click the elliptical icon (icon w/ 3 dots).
    1. In the new pop-up window, click the elliptical icon > Edit Properties.
    2. In the new window, you will see the template. Proceed to step 4.
  4. Check the current template and make a list of what's necessary/unnecessary.
    1. Check the contents in every drop-down menu too.
    2. Check what fields are missing and needs to be added.
      1. You can just edit an existing unnecessary field instead of creating a new one.
    3. Determine which fields will need to be required and if needed, optional.
    4. Screenshot/make notes of them if needed.
  5. Once finished, don't save any changes and Cancel out of the window.

 

Editing the Template

  1. Make sure you are in the same library as above.
  2. Top left, click the LIBRARY tab > Library Settings
    1. Select the name of the "Default Content Type" in the middle of the screen, under "Content Types"
  3. Go down the list under "Columns".
    1. Select each name. (Refer to the screenshots/notes you have made when you prepared the template)
      1. In the following page, choose if this field/column is Required, Optional, or Hidden.
      2. Click Edit column under "Column Name:"
      3. Make edits here for that field/column.
      4. When finished, click Ok and Ok again in the next page.
  4. In the same settings page for the default content type, scroll down and click Column order.
    1. Arrange the necessary order for all the fields/columns.
    2. At the bottom of the page under "Update all content types inheriting from this type?", select No.
    3. When finished, click Ok.
    4. You will be back at the settings page for the default content type.
      1. Click Column order again. (the arrangement you made will list the fields/columns in order)
      2. Take a screen shot of the arrangement for reference for the next steps.

 

Editing the Columns

  1. Navigate back to the home page of the target library.
  2. Under "+new document", you will see the default View "All Documents".
    1. Click the elliptical icon next to it > Modify this View.
    2. Using the screen shot from step 4 in Editing the Template for reference.
      1. Fill or remove the checkmarks for field/column names according to the screenshot.
      2. Place them in the same order as the screen shot.
      3. When finished, click Ok.

 

When all steps are finished:

  1. Repeat either step 2 or 3 from Preparing the Template.
    1. Verify your edits.​