#Microsoft365 #Office365 #MicrosoftTeams The current ongoing #LTC18 LearnTeamsConference is a reminder to me that there’s still lots to learn, and also to keep on sharing to help other people, like I’ve been helped over the years. Today we’ll take a look at the relationship between the channels you create in Microsoft Teams and the folders it creates in the SharePoint Document Library.

For previous posts in my #Microsoft365Challenge go to the index page.

DISCLAIMER:  I WRITE ARTICLES ABOUT OFFICE / MICROSOFT 365. CONTENT IS ACCURATE AT TIME OF PUBLICATION, HOWEVER UPDATES AND NEW ADDITIONS HAPPEN DAILY WHICH COULD CHANGE THE ACCURACY OR RELEVANCE. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN USING MY BLOGS AS GUIDELINES.

Microsoft Teams

This of course is an app that we use to bring together all the tools and resources that we use when working in Teams. For previous posts that I’ve written on Teams, click here.
One of the great things about Teams, is that all documents that you share in conversations (in a specific channel) ends up in folder in a library.

This is why the way you build your Team and the Channels you add are important. When a Team is created, a SharePoint site is created automatically in the background. Any documents shared in your Teams will be saved to the document library on this SharePoint Site. Keep in mind that documents shared in direct chats will be stored in your OneDrive.

Channels > Folders

When you go to the Files Tab in one of your Channels, you’ll notice the ability to open this library in SharePoint:

The SharePoint site will then open on the specific folder (Channel) where you opened it from. For example. If you were standing in the General Channel and clicked on Files, and then opened SharePoint from there, it will open the Document Library in the General folder.

This is because each Channel in your Team has a corresponding Folder in SharePoint Document Library. Each new Channel you create – creates a Folder in the Document Library.

Below you’ll see a screenshot of my Microsoft Team as well as the full Document Library on SharePoint:

Good to know:

  1. When I create new folders in the Document Library on SharePoint IT WILL NOT create a new channel in my Team.
  2. You can create sub folders in the main Channel folders, but when you share documents in a conversation, it will always be saved in the root of that channel (folder).
  3. If you want to use sub-folders, first upload to the correct folder under the Files Tab, then share (attach) it in the conversation by pointing to your recent items in Teams
  4. Deleting a Channel in the Team DOES NOT delete the Folder on SharePoint
  5. Deleting a Folder on SharePoint DOES NOT delete the Channel in the Team, however, once a document is shared in that Channel again, it will automatically recreate the folder on SharePoint.
  6. Remember that you can cc email a channel, click on the ellipses to get the address. Attachments that are emailed will be saved in a Folder in that Channel called “Email Messages”

Hope you’re enjoying Teams as much as I am, and remember, learn as you go. Things are updated and added daily, keep your eye on the help files in the T-bot under Chat. Times have changed, you are now responsible to keep on learning and evolving. Don’t wait for someone else to do it for you. 

Purpose of this blog challenge:  I will write 365 blogs in 365 days around Microsoft 365. I did a similar challenge with Office 365, blogs can be found here. I won’t just be talking about the new Microsoft 365 subscription model. I will be sharing any news, tips and tricks around Office / Office 365 / Windows / Mobility and Security. And let’s not forget all the great new Apps & services available.  A lot of what I’ll share on Office and SharePoint will also be applicable to none “Office 365” versions.