Many users that are new to SharePoint have a difficult time grasping the concept of metadata and letting go of their file folders. This short presentation gives the reader a history about the folder, metadata, and how they are related.

1. From Folders to Metadata –
a short lesson in history
Haniel Croitoru, MSc, PMP, PMI-ACP
J U NE 21 , 20 1 1

2. Haniel Croitoru
• Senior SharePoint consultant with over 15 years of
experience
• Worked in public and private sector verticals including
healthcare, financial services, utilities, and consulting
Scrum Master,
Project Manager,
SharePoint Evangelist
• Since 2003 focusing on SharePoint, delivering solutions
and contributing as Business Analyst and Trainer
• Masters of Science in Computer Science with a specialty
in Computer-Assisted Orthopedic Surgery from Queen’s
University and a Master’s Certificate in Project
Management from the York Schulich School of Business
• Project Management Professional (PMP) since 2007 and
an Agile Certified Practitioner since 2013
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011
2

3. Agenda
• History of the “File Folder”
• What is Metadata?
• The Result
• Final Thoughts
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011
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4. History of the “File Folder”
The graphical (and intuitive) “File Folder”, ca. 1984
Strongbox (the first filing cabinet), ca. 1886
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011

5. History of the “File Folder”
The “modern” filing cabinet, ca. 1900
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011

6. History of the “File Folder”
The electronic “File Folder”, ca. 1981
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011

7. History of the “File Folder”
The graphical (and intuitive) “File Folder”, ca. 1984
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011

8. History of the “File Folder”
Document Library – (metadata but no folders???), Nov 2011
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011

9. What is metadata?
• Data about data
• Traditionally found in the
card catalogs of libraries
• Used as far back as 245BC
by the Greeks
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011

10. The result…
• Using a document library
with meta data to filter
and sort information
• Folders are used only in
specific cases, not as a
general case
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011

11. final thoughts

12. Some Final Thoughts…
 Moving from folders to document libraries using meta data is a
big cultural shift
 It is important to educate the users of the benefits of metadata
-
Search
Views
Taxonomy/folksonomy
…
 Governance is critical
- Naming Convention
- Versioning
-…
From Folders to Metadata – a short lesson in history
6/21/2011

13. Thank You
haniel@vertexpoint.com
ca.linkedin.com/in/hanielcroitoru
@TheSharePointPM
www.thesharepointpm.com