Read, edit, or delete a document in a document library

About document libraries

Document libraries are collections of files that you share with team members. For example, you could create a library of common graphics for a project or a collection of Microsoft Word documents containing your monthly status reports.

A document library appears on a page that lists each file and its properties, as well as a hyperlink to the file. The page also includes commands for adding files, sorting and filtering files, switching to a different view of the library, and changing the design of the library. You can also subscribe to be notified of changes to the library from this page.

When you add or remove a file from a document library, SharePoint Team Services updates all hyperlinks to it in your team Web site.

By default, your team Web site comes with a built-in document library named Shared Documents, which is listed on the Quick Launch bar as well as on the Document Libraries page.

Kinds of documents

You can store any kind of file in a document library. However, there are some advantages to using document libraries in conjunction with SharePoint Team Services-compatible client programs, such as Microsoft Office XP:

• By using a Web folder or Network Place, you can save a document to a  document library as easily as you can save it to a folder on your hard drive.

• You can set up a template that automatically starts the appropriate program and formats documents consistently when team members create new documents. For each document library, you can specify a template as the basis for all new documents.

• You can open and modify your documents from within SharePoint Team Services-compatible client programs as if the documents resided on any other network place or local drive.

Custom properties

When you create a document library, you can specify the information authors must provide when they add a file to the library.

For example, if you have a document library of product plans, you can require authors to enter the title, comments about the content, and the document's status (such as preliminary or approved).

Folder view

By default, document libraries include a Folder view that enables you to work with files in the library similar to how you work with files in the Microsoft Windows Explorer. Using Folder view you can:

• Delete files

• Rename files

• Copy and paste files from your desktop

• Select multiple files to delete, move, or copy

Note   To use Folder view, you must have a SharePoint Team Services-compatible client program, such as Microsoft Office 2000, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later installed.

1. On the top link bar, click Documents, and then click the name of the document library you want.

2. Do one of the following:

   Read a document

   • On the page that displays the library, click the name of the file.

   Edit a document

   Note   To edit the document from within the library, you must have a SharePoint Team Services-compatible program, such as Microsoft Office XP, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later installed.

   1. In the row where the name of the document appears, click Edit .

   2. Click Edit in... to open the program that was used to create the document.

   3. Edit the document as desired, and then save it.

   Edit information about a document

   1. In the row where the name of the document appears, click Edit .

   2. Edit the information as desired, and click Save and Close.

   Delete a document

   1. In the row where the name of the document appears, click Edit .

   2. Click Delete.