Introduction:

Location based metadata defaults manages the default values of metadata fields based on location and applies them so that they are available when the user edits a document. SharePoint 2010 allows setting the default metadata values to the document library, folders and sub folders, so that users do not have to enter the metadata values when they upload the documents in the document library. Please refer http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee557925.aspx for location-based metadata defaults on columns that support setting defaults, in a hierarchy of folders.

Description:

I have a document library "Shared Documents" which has folders and sub folders as shown in the following figure.

Shared Documents

I have created one metadata column in Shared Documents which will be used for setting metadata defaults for the folder and sub folders. Refer http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/anavijai/4349/ for creating Managed Metadata Column in SharePoint 2010. My Metadata column contains the following terms.

Metadata Column

Shared Documents has the following columns

Shared Documents columns

In this article we will be seeing how to set metadata defaults to the folders and sub folders.

Configuring Metadata Defaults:

  1. Go to Shared Documents.

  2. In the ribbon interface, go to Library Tools => Library => Click on Library Settings.

  3. Go to General Settings and then click on Column default value settings.

    General Settings

  4. Go to General Settings and then click on Column default value settings.

  5. Click on Finance Folder.
    Finance Folder

  6. On the right hand side you could see all the columns that could be used for setting metadata defaults.

  7. Click on Default Metadata Value.

    Metadata Value
  8. Select Use this default value option and then click on Browse for a valid choice option to select the default value.

  9. Select the value that you want to apply a default value.

    default value
  10. I have selected Finance as a default value for Finance folder.

  11. Click on Ok.

    select default value

Testing:

  1. Go to Shared Documents.

  2. Click on Finance folder => click on Finance - Bangalore folder.

  3. Add a new document to the document library.

    document library
  4. It will take the default metadata value as "Finance" even if the document is uploaded in the sub folder (Please refer http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee557925.aspx for hierarchy of folders for location-based metadata defaults on columns that support setting defaults, in a hierarchy of folders).

  5. Similarly we can set the metadata defaults to the documents library, folders and sub folders.