So y'all've got a bunch of files nicely arranged in a folder structure sitting on your computer or a network drive that you want to copy up to a SharePoint library and preserve the directory structure. On the surface this is a daunting chore as you can't just give SharePoint your folder structure and tell it to do the work for you, so what are your options.
Option ane: Manually via SharePoint IU
Recreate the binder structure in SharePoint and upload the files via SharePoint UI in batches doing a multiple file upload to ane destination folder at a time. Not much fun for anyone, but it tin be done.
Option two: Commercial Tool
Try a 3rd party tool. Yes they will probably cost you but will become the job washed and probably with a few extra bell's and whistles similar applying metadata to SharePoint columns during the procedure. Some of the central companies to take a wait at would be:
- Metalogix http://www.metalogix.net
- AvePoint http://www.avepoint.com
- Sharegate http://en.share-gate.com
- Thinkscape http://www.thinkscape.com
Option 3: Open Source Tools
At that place are some open source projects going around that claim to handle these types of bulk uploads, here'south a couple that look interesting:
http://spbulkdocumentimport.codeplex.com/
http://spfileupload.codeplex.com/
Option iv: Script information technology Yourself
PowerShell is an awesome mode to get things washed speedily in SharePoint, I've written these scripts in the by that evidence you how to create folders and how to upload documents to SharePoint. With a bit of extension and attempt you could roll your own scripted solution.
https://camerondwyer.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/how-to-import-upload-an-entire-folder-of-files-to-sharepoint-using-powershell/
https://camerondwyer.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/sharepoint-powershell-how-to-create-sharepoint-library-folders-for-loadperformance-testing/
Selection 5: Explorer View
The old 'Open Library in Explorer View' choice in SharePoint may get you out of trouble if the directory structure and number of files is fairly small. But utilize the Explorer View to open the SharePoint library upwards in a Windows Explorer window and so copy/paste or elevate/drib into the Window and the magic will start to happen
Choice six: OneDrive for Business
At present this is my preferred choice for getting the job done, and the reason for writing this web log mail! To reach this one, browse to your library in SharePoint and click on the sync button to take the SharePoint library sync'd via OneDrive to your local machine.
After the sync has completed the SharePoint library (and it's content including whatsoever folder structure) is at present represented every bit a binder structure that you can easily go to through Windows Explorer.
At present it's but a matter of re-create/paste or elevate/drop your local folder construction (that you want to copy to SharePoint) into this folder in Windows Explorer. Hither is my binder structure I want to re-create upwardly to SharePoint.
And so I can just copy the "My Folder Structure" folder and paste it into the SharePoint sync library location. This is super quick because it's only copying betwixt ii locations on your local hard drive.
Now the real goodness happens. OneDrive volition sync the entire folder structure including whatever content files up to SharePoint in the background. You will notice that the folders and files you lot take just pasted have a tiny icon in the left corner. This will display a dark-green tick when the item has been created in SharePoint. This is awesome, your reckoner is nevertheless gratuitous to apply, there'southward no lockup. If you lot demand to shutdown before the sync is finished, it will just pick up from where information technology left off. OneDrive'southward mission in life is to keep your local folder in sync with the SharePoint library, and it will work tirelessly in the background to practice this.
Another powerful advantage this method has over many of the other options I provided before is that information technology will work with Office 365 which you merely tin can't achieve some of those other methods.
At present my disclaimer before I get people throwing virtual rotten fruit at me. I'k not suggesting you use this method to movement an entire network bulldoze to SharePoint. Yes, I advocate you should take the opportunity to clean up the data on your network drives and non just motion the problem to SharePoint. I also believe in the use of metadata to classify content rather than using folders. Having said that, there are valid instances when you exercise need to perform an upload of many files and preserve the folder structure in SharePoint and I retrieve the OneDrive approach is a pretty cool tool to add to your armory.
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