Onenote: Cannot copy Notebook when sync location not available

Question

I need to put one of my OneNote notebook in a new location but it is not allowing me to copy or export because it says it needs to synchronize first, but it can't do that because the original sync location was in Sharepoint and is no longer available.

The situation is that I had a local OneNote Notebook that I needed to share and did that by sharing via Sharepoint, it worked fine. I had presumed that my local copy would remain where it was and and be synchronized (I now know better).

A few months ago my company upgraded Sharepoint and froze existing content under an Archive branch in the new Sharepoint installation but I was able to keep editing the content which I thought would be OK to hold locally and not sync as by then I did not need to share it. 

I now want to move to OneDrive but I cannot find a way to detach it from Sharepoint, and OneNote will not allow me to copy or Export it because it says it needs to sync first, which it cannot do.

Is there a way to get the content of the no-longer-syncing OneNote Notebook into a new local OneNote Notebook?

Answer 1

Hi Cliff,

Thank you for your questions and followup. I do need further help but unfortunately I have not been able to respond with the details requested promptly, but I will in a day or two.

Graham

Answer 2

Hi Graham,

Please let us know your updates at your convenience if you need further help.

Thanks,

Cliff

Answer 3

Hi Graham,

Thanks for your updates.

For troubleshooting, could you confirm and provide the following?

1. What notebook do you make changes on and move to the OneDrive for Business library/the personal OneDrive online place, the notebook saved locally or the notebook saved in SharePoint Online?

a. If you make changes in the notebook saved in SharePoint Online want to move it, about that it is read-only, how do you edit it? If you edit it in the OneNote client, check if you can edit it in OneNote Online. If yes, I suggest you create a new notebook in the OneDrive for Business / the personal OneDrive online place directly and then copy the content of the notebook in SharePoint Online into the new notebook to make the notebook synced in another place with no issues.

b. If you make changes in the notebook saved locally and want to move it, the issue is related to the OneNote client. When does it become read-only? What do you do before the issue happens? Could you list some reproducing steps here? Firstly, I suggest you restart your computer to see the outcome.

2. About that I can’t copy all the content and the notebook is read-only, provide us with some related screenshots.
3. Upload a full screenshot showing the version information of the OneNote client via File>Account.

Thanks,

Cliff

Answer 4

Hi Cliff,

Thanks, you described what I want to do perfectly.

The problem is that OneNote will not let me copy the content of the existing notebook (which I presume is in the local cache), at any level, Notebook, section or page, because it is not synced to the existing 'master' in the old Sharepoint, and that 'master' is not available to be synced because the location has changed and it is read-only.

So I am trying to find out how I can copy all the content of my local view of the Notebook which I have been updating extensively for 4 months in this situation.

Regards,

Graham

Answer 5

Hi Graham,

From your description, it seems that you first create a notebook locally and use the Share button to upload it onto SharePoint Online. Now you want to move it to the OneDrive for Business library/ the personal OneDrive online place and keep it be synced in the place.

If yes, firstly, when you use the Share button to upload the notebook onto SharePoint Online, the notebook is saved in SharePoint Online not locally. So the changes you make in the notebook will be synced to SharePoint Online not locally.

Next, as the OneDrive for Business / the personal OneDrive online place is another place different from SharePoint Online, to make the notebook synced in another place with no issues, you may need to create a new notebook in the OneDrive for Business / the personal OneDrive online place directly and then copy the content of the notebook in SharePoint Online into the new notebook to see the outcome.

Thanks,

Cliff