Templates & Best Practices

SharePoint uses two primary methods for categorizing content. The hierarchy of sites, lists and folders is similar to file systems approach of locating files in appropriate areas; and a metadata approach of using content types and fields to ‘tag’ or classify content so that it can be located through search or filtering. MetaVis Classifier module has been designed to categorize content in bulk by leveraging one or both of these methods. This guide will walk you through the process locating content in specific sites, lists and folders.

SharePoint uses two primary methods for categorizing content. The hierarchy of sites, lists and folders is similar to file systems approach of locating files in appropriate areas; and a metadata approach of using content types and fields to ‘tag’ or classify content so that it can be located through search or filtering. MetaVis Classifier module has been designed to categorize content in bulk by leveraging one or both of these methods. This guide will walk you through the process of intelligently ‘tagging’ content.

One of the key features of MetaVis is the capability to compare and synchronize the metadata structures of multiple sites. Developers can design and test their schemas in one environment and then roll it out to another. Sites can also be compared for compliance and consistency. This guide will walk the user through the process of comparing two or more sites and then updating a target site with changes.

(1)Select sites to compare

One of the key features of MetaVis Architect is two-way synchronization with SharePoint. This works by comparing the model within the application directly to the SharePoint environment or a cached version of it. This guide will walk the user through both options and explain the differences between the two approaches.

(1) Select a site
Select a site that you wish to compare in the navigation pane. The first step in synchronization is to generate a "Compare View". This report itemizes the differences between the model and SharePoint.

SharePoint provides the ability for users to create folders inside many lists and libraries, but these folders do not support metadata. SharePoint does support this feature and this guide provides instructions on how to create folders with metadata fields using MetaVis Designer. Note: This guide assumes that you have already created a list or library that requires folders with metadata. If you have not done so, refer to the guide on Creating SharePoint Lists and Libraries prior to proceeding.

(1) Enable List and Inherited Content Types

Lists and Libraries are used by SharePoint to organize and manage content. Based on the type of List, SharePoint creates specific metadata. This metadata may be expanded and altered. MetaVis Architect can be used to create and maintain lists and their metadata. This guide will walk the user through the process of creating a list or library.

(1) Start the Create List Wizard

Select "List" from the Entities section of the palette and click on the diagram to start the Create List Wizard.

Content Types are used by SharePoint to organize and group metadata. They are associated with Lists and Libraries to categorize and tag content stored there, This guide will walk the user through the process of creating a column.

(1) Identify the parent Content Type

A new content type in SharePoint must be inherited from an existing one. Using the navigation pane, locate the content type that will serve as a parent and navigate to it in the diagram.

Columns are SharePoint containers for metadata and they can be created directly inside a content type or a column group. This guide will walk the user through the process of creating a column.

(1) Identify the Content Type or Column Group for the new coloumn
Using the navigation pane, locate the content type or column group that will receive the new column and navigate to it in the diagram

(2) Create the Column

This guide is designed to walk you through the process of loading your SharePoint environment into MetaVis Designer. The result will create a new diagram object in the navigation tree, which can be expanded to reveal a graphical model of the metadata structure within this site.

(1) Start Load from SharePoint Wizard