Sharepoint: Moving library and list items within your library or list

In this post we will be talking about moving SharePoint library and list items within a library or list.

One great feature of ShaprePoint libraries and lists is that you can edit the library or list settings to allow you to create sub folders. I use this functionality for project management, general information management, etc.

Using the "Site Content and Structure" page found under "Site Settings" and "Site Administration", if you want to move an item within a library or list to a different folder within that library or list, SharePoint will give you the error "An error was encountered performing this operation". For some reason you cannot move items around within a list or library. There is no problem though moving items to different libraries or lists as long as they are the same type as the one you are working with.

Workaround: Since you can move items to different libraries and lists but not within, under your main site, create a new library or list called something like "Temp: Project Task" or "Temp: Document Library". When you have an item in a library or list that you want to move within to a different folder, first move the item to your temp library or list you created and then move the item from there to the desitnation you want.

Hope this helps.