Relationship Between Original and Converted Documents

Article
10/16/2013

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 uses document library metadata to track which documents are actually converted copies of other documents. For each converted copy in a document library, Office SharePoint Server 2007 stores additional information in the following two columns:

ParentID A string that represents the name of the original file on which the converted copy is based.
ParentVersionID An integer that represents the version number of the original file on which the converted copy is based.

The original file is not altered in any way, and includes no references to any converted copies generated from it.

These two columns enable Office SharePoint Server 2007 to determine which documents in a library are actually converted copies, and determine the original from which a specific converted copy was generated. For example, Office SharePoint Server 2007 uses this information to list the converted copies available for an original file on that document’s settings page in the user interface.

Users can use this information as well; for example, to create views that filter out the converted copies included in a document library.

Note

The ParentID and ParentVersionID fields are columns that are actually included on each document library in Office SharePoint Server. However, the columns are hidden for document libraries in Web applications that do not have document converters enabled.

The relationship between the original file and any converted copies remains only as long as both the original file and the copy are located in the same document library. It is a one-way relationship; Office SharePoint Server 2007 stores information on the converted copy that references the original document, but includes no references from the original document to any converted copies.

Altering Files After Document Conversion

Changes you make to either the original document or a converted copy may affect the relationship between the files, as described in the following sections.

Moving Files

The relationship between the original document and any converted copies remains intact as long as both files are located in the same document library.

If you move the original file out of the document library, the converted copy remains in its current location. However, the converted copy’s reference to the original copy is no longer valid; therefore, the relationship is severed.

Similarly, if you move the converted file out of the document library, the original file remains in its current location. However, the converted copy’s reference to the original copy is no longer valid; again, the relationship is severed.

Deleting Files

If you delete the original file, the converted copy remains in its current location. However, the converted copy’s reference to the original copy is no longer valid; therefore, the relationship is severed.

If you delete a converted copy, the original file remains in its current location. The original copy never includes references to its converted copies. Any other converted copies for that original file remain unaffected, and retain their reference to the original file.

Copying Files

If you make a copy of the original file, that copy has no relationship to any converted copies of the original file. The reference for the converted copies still points to the original file, rather than to the new copy of the original file.

If you make a copy of a converted file, the new copy does not include a reference to the original file.

Renaming Files

If you rename the original file, the converted copy retains its original name.

If you rename a converted copy, the original file retains its original name. The renamed converted copy retains a reference to the original file.

Versioning Files

If you create a new version of the original file, the converted copy retains its original version number, and still includes a reference to the version of the original file from which it was generated. This includes major and minor versioning.

If you create a new version of a converted file, the original file is unaffected. The new version of the converted file does not include a reference to the original file.

The following figure shows how the relationship between original files and their converted copies are affected by making changes to the documents.

Rules of original and copy documents links

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