Folders in Lists

[This topic is pre-release documentation and is subject to change in future releases. Blank topics are included as placeholders.]

Folders, one of the popular features from document libraries in , is now also available in lists. Folders allow further segregation of content within a single list, adding another level of versatility.

Folder Metadata

One of the interesting features of folders is the ability to assign metadata to a folder. This creates a rich content holder that contains child content, while appearing as more than a container. Essentially, this allows the folder to function as a separate, but fully functional, item type. An example of this can be seen in Windows SharePoint Services discussion boards. Each top-level discussion is, in fact, a folder with metadata, containing one to n child objects. By modifying the appearance of the folder, a user can visualize the folder as another list item rather than as a container. You can use this model in custom lists to create a dynamic parent/child list.

Developer Scenario

Many business applications require rich container objects, for which a parent object has both important data concerning itself, and one to n children with similar data. Normally, you handle this challenge by using lists in which a parent, or master, list selection drives the display of a child—or detail—list. Because you can now assign metadata to folders in a SharePoint list, you can achieve similar functionality with a single list.

For example, consider an Orders list. You could provision a folder as an order, and then assign metadata to it, such as order number, customer, and shipment ** method. By doing so, you can make the folder mimic the master list functionality. You can then fill the folder with order items list items, each with its own metadata, such as ** item number, description, and price. Now you have the rich functionality of a master/detail list within a single list.