Dynamics Community Forum Thread Details

Hello Inkey Solutions,

You've identified a common usability concern when uploading documents to SharePoint from Dynamics 365. Unfortunately, there is no direct, out-of-the-box setting or configuration to change the default value of the "Overwrite existing files" option to "No" in the SharePoint document grid's upload dialog.

Understanding the Behavior:

Default to "Yes" (Overwrite): The default behavior is for the "Overwrite existing files" option to be set to "Yes", which can lead to accidental overwrites.
No User-Configurable Setting: Dynamics 365 does not provide a setting to change this default behavior.

Workarounds and Potential Solutions (with Limitations):

Browser Extensions (User-Side, Limited Control):
- Concept: Develop a browser extension that intercepts the upload dialog and changes the default value of the "Overwrite existing files" option.
- Limitations:
  - Requires browser extension development skills.
  - Only works for users who install the extension.
  - Not a reliable solution for a production environment.
  - Security concerns.

Custom JavaScript (Unsupported, Potentially Brittle):
- Concept: Use JavaScript to modify the upload dialog's behavior.
- Steps:
  - Create a JavaScript web resource.
  - Add the web resource to the form where the SharePoint document grid is located.
  - Use JavaScript to find the "Overwrite existing files" element and change its default value.
- Limitations:
  - Unsupported: Modifying Dynamics 365's internal UI elements using JavaScript is not officially supported and can break with updates.
  - Brittle: The JavaScript code is highly dependent on the structure of the upload dialog, which can change without notice.
  - Not Recommended: This approach is generally not recommended due to its instability and lack of support.

Power Automate (Limited Applicability):
- Concept: Use Power Automate to implement a custom upload process.
- Steps:
  - Create a Power Automate flow that is triggered when a file is uploaded to the SharePoint document grid.
  - Use the SharePoint connector to check if a file with the same name already exists.
  - If a file exists, prompt the user to confirm whether they want to overwrite it.
  - If the user confirms, overwrite the file; otherwise, cancel the upload.
- Limitations:
  - Requires significant development effort.
  - Adds complexity to the upload process.
  - Still doesn't change the default behavior of the built-in upload dialog.

User Training and Awareness (Recommended, Simplest):
- Concept: Educate users about the default "Overwrite existing files" behavior and instruct them to manually change it to "No" when uploading documents.
- Steps:
  - Create documentation or training materials explaining the upload process.
  - Emphasize the importance of checking the "Overwrite existing files" option.
  - Conduct training sessions for users.
- Advantages:
  - Simple and straightforward to implement.
  - No development required.
  - Supported by Microsoft.
- Limitations:
  - Relies on user awareness and compliance.
  - Doesn't prevent accidental overwrites if users forget to change the option.

Recommendation:

The most practical and sustainable approach is to focus on user training and awareness. While the other workarounds might seem appealing, they come with significant limitations and are not recommended for production environments.

Important Considerations:

Microsoft Feedback: Provide feedback to Microsoft about this usability issue and request a feature to change the default behavior.
Testing: If you decide to implement any custom solutions, thoroughly test them in a non-production environment.

By focusing on user training and providing clear instructions, you can minimize the risk of accidental file overwrites.

If my answer was helpful, please click Like, and if it solved your problem, please mark it as verified to help other community members find more. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.

My response was crafted with AI assistance and tailored to provide detailed and actionable guidance for your Microsoft Dynamics 365 query.

Regards,

Daivat Vartak

Community site session details

Set 'Overwrite Existing Files' to 'No' by Default in SharePoint Uploads via Dynamics 365

Helpful resources

Quick Links

Responsible AI policies

Neeraj Kumar – Community Spotlight

Congratulations to the November Top 10 Community Leaders!

Leaderboard > Customer experience | Sales, Customer Insights, CRM

Featured topics

Product updates