Preparing the Template
- Navigate to target library on the SharePoint site.
- Under the title of the library, click + new document (if a document exists in the library, skip this step and proceed to step 3)
- Click Browse and upload a random sample document
- In the next window, you will see the template. Proceed to step 4.
- Next to the document's name, click the elliptical icon (icon w/ 3 dots).
- In the new pop-up window, click the elliptical icon > Edit Properties.
- In the new window, you will see the template. Proceed to step 4.
- Check the current template and make a list of what's necessary/unnecessary.
- Check the contents in every drop-down menu too.
- Check what fields are missing and needs to be added.
- You can just edit an existing unnecessary field instead of creating a new one.
- Determine which fields will need to be required and if needed, optional.
- Screenshot/make notes of them if needed.
- Once finished, don't save any changes and Cancel out of the window.
Editing the Template
- Make sure you are in the same library as above.
- Top left, click the LIBRARY tab > Library Settings
- Select the name of the "Default Content Type" in the middle of the screen, under "Content Types"
- Go down the list under "Columns".
- Select each name. (Refer to the screenshots/notes you have made when you prepared the template)
- In the following page, choose if this field/column is Required, Optional, or Hidden.
- Click Edit column under "Column Name:"
- Make edits here for that field/column.
- When finished, click Ok and Ok again in the next page.
- In the same settings page for the default content type, scroll down and click Column order.
- Arrange the necessary order for all the fields/columns.
- At the bottom of the page under "Update all content types inheriting from this type?", select No.
- When finished, click Ok.
- You will be back at the settings page for the default content type.
- Click Column order again. (the arrangement you made will list the fields/columns in order)
- Take a screen shot of the arrangement for reference for the next steps.
Editing the Columns
- Navigate back to the home page of the target library.
- Under "+new document", you will see the default View "All Documents".
- Click the elliptical icon next to it > Modify this View.
- Using the screen shot from step 4 in Editing the Template for reference.
- Fill or remove the checkmarks for field/column names according to the screenshot.
- Place them in the same order as the screen shot.
- When finished, click Ok.
When all steps are finished:
- Repeat either step 2 or 3 from Preparing the Template.
- Verify your edits.