SharePoint Document Library "Description" Column

Question

I went into Teams/SharePoint, created a new document library. It's out of the box. Selected new, created a new document with one word -Widget. Saved and returned to the library.

My item is displayed. Meta Data is Name, Modified, and Modified by. Selected edit view. Noticed a field called description. placed a check mark to display and saved. Now my default view displays; Name Modified, Modified By and Description.

Selected the line item to edit the description field. Description is not there, nor is there a way to add it to populate it. Selected grid view, place cursor in the field, it indicates description is read only and won't let me edit.

Question: What is the description field, what data is it supposed to display. Is it read-only for all, or is it something buggered for me only.

Answer 1

Hi TxSteve,

Welcome to community and thank you for sharing the experience with us.

I went through your post carefully and I understand you want to know what the Description column is used for in a document library.

When I follow your steps to add the Description column by editing the current view of the library, I find the Description column is read-only too.

Honestly I don't find any official document mentioning about the introduction for the Description column. Very sorry about it.

In my opinion, it can be used to add description for each document (item) in the document library.

You may follow steps below to make the Description column editable:

1.Click the arrow next to the Description column and click Column settings > Edit.

The Edit column pane will show up.

2.Click More options and turn on Require that this column contains information. Click Save.

3.Then when you go to edit in grid view, the Description column will be editable.

Note: when you try to edit the Description column, make sure the document is not opening, otherwise you won't be able to save the changes.

Have a nice day and stay safe.

Best Regards,

Tina

Answer 2

Requiring data for the field isn't a viable workaround for our scenario. Surely, there must be some explanation for this very odd and annoying behavior....?

Answer 3

Hi,

Try that and then Click More options and turn off Require that this column contains information.

Now it stays editable.

I hope this helps you!

Best Regards,

Juan Zapata

Answer 4

OK, so it sounds like a bug or improvement to be done :)

Answer 5

Hi Chen, many thanks for the reply.

But, this is annoying behavior, Description field should at least be in Create/Edit forms