How to disable column edit function but allow API to add file

Question

In SharePoint Online Document library, we have metadata with column 1,2,3,4. A REST API is used to add document to the columns. We want column 2,3,4 read only ( column 1 still editable). I used PnP PowerShell to make column 2,3,4 read only, as below,

$Docs= Get-PnPList -Identity Lists/ByItemID
$Number = Get-PnPField -List "ByItemID" -Identity "Number"
$Number.ReadOnlyField = $true
$Number.UpdateAndPushChanges($true)
$Docs.Context.ExecuteQuery();

but this affects REST API to add document to the columns 2,3,4. i.e. REST API cannot add document to the column 2,3,4. Any solution or suggestion on this case? Thanks

Answer 1

Hi @Leung1975 ,

Rest API can only update field when ReadOnlyField property set to false, please check this similiar thread:

Update readonly field using REST API

A workaround would be using SharePoint Online CSOM to update Read-Only field value:

Add-Type -Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\Web Server Extensions\15\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.dll"    
Add-Type -Path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\Web Server Extensions\15\ISAPI\Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.Runtime.dll"    
    
$siteURL = "https://tenant.sharepoint.com"    
$userId = "user@tenant.onmicrosoft.com"    
$pwd = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter password" -AsSecureString    
$creds = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.SharePointOnlineCredentials($userId, $pwd)    
$ctx = New-Object Microsoft.SharePoint.Client.ClientContext($siteURL)    
$ctx.credentials = $creds    
try{    
    $lists = $ctx.web.Lists    
    $list = $lists.GetByTitle("doc1")    
    $listItem = $list.GetItemById(7)    
    $listItem["Column2"] = "UpdateForReadOnly2"   
    $listItem["Column3"] = "UpdateForReadOnly3"  
    $listItem["Column4"] = "UpdateForReadOnly4"   
    $listItem.Update()    
    $ctx.load($listItem)        
    $ctx.executeQuery()    
}    
catch{    
    write-host "$($_.Exception.Message)" -foregroundcolor red    
}    

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