Document library columns are missing from forms after performing a move action for a document

Question

SharePoint Server 2016 on-premises. After using the content and structure "move" action document feature, the destination document library is no longer showing the additional metadata properties (on the edit form). The source had less metadata columns compared to the destination. The forms have not changed. The document library still shows the columns. They appear in the views. But they don't appear when using the properties. Some of the columns in the destination were required columns, so they didn't have any values. I created a datasheet view and was able to enter the missing data. Using designer, I was able to see the forms haven't changed and I'm not able to edit the form (it crashes). There is a workflow on the doclib.

Update: I noticed it added a column (sort order) to the destination, so I deleted it. (Same issues) Doclib also requires content approval.

Update2: Although the form dates haven't changed, I have a feeling they did change (or something they use changed). I created a new EditForm and it only has the name column (missing the other columns).

NOTE: Before I realized this issue occurred for all the documents, I saved the document locally, deleted the document, then re-uploaded it.

Thank you for your assistance.

Answer 1

Hi @UnderwoodMarlene-1858,

Thanks for your time in advance. Sorry for the inconvenience. Since the Microsoft Q&A community has a policy that "The question author cannot accept their own answer. They can only accept answers by others." and according to the scenario introduced here: Answering your own questions on Microsoft Q&A, I would make a brief summary of this thread:

[Document library columns are missing after performing a move action for a document]

Issue Symptom:

After moving a document, the DESTINATION library metadata columns property is empty but the missing source columns no longer shows in the form.

Solution:

This is a known issue in the sharepoint currently. We could only create a new document library and upload the files again. It's inconvenience for extensive document and will lose version history. It is highly recommended that you can raise a ticket on customers’ feedback to report the issue.

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You could click the "Accept Answer" button for this summary to close this thread, and this can make it easier for other community member's to see the useful information when reading this thread. Thanks for your understanding!

Answer 2

If the missing columns are the managed metadata column, this should be an expected behavior. Based on my search and test, the values in the column won’t copy over, you will need to fill in the information manually. I found the following threads where it is mentioned that “copy to” and "move to" feature does not copy the value in managed metadata column.

Losing termstore metadata when we move files from library to another (microsoft.com)

Metadata column value is missing when document is copied from one library to another. (microsoft.com)

Managed Metadata is not retained when copying/moving documents - Microsoft Community

Thank you for bringing thing to our attention. We request you consider sending your feedback to SharePoint Feedback Portal and let the related team know about your requirement. This is the best platform to let related team hear from you and make the products and services better for you and others.

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Answer 3

I decided to re-create the document library and download/upload the document to the new one. Luckily, I didn't have a lot of documents, and the version history was not vital.