OneDrive - SharePoint

[Onthebrightside]

Grateful for assistance.

So, I understand that OneDrive is a cloud based storage provider. I work virtually and access my bosses files that we both work on via him sharing is OneDrive with me on his company Office 365 account.

He has asked me to set up a SharePoint (which I understand is the big-bruv of OneDrive, more shareable, more constraints can be placed on files/access to specific files etc.).

What I am not sure about is who 'owns - in terms of management and future access' SharePoint once I create it.

If I create it and transfer over the files from his OneDrive, give him access etc. when I leave and my account on his Office 365 is shut down, will the SharePoint disappear (like my OneDrive would), or does it hang around in his Office 365?

With thanks for any help anyone can offer.

 

[fisicx]

Sharepoint is a complex, frustrating and confusing monster. You will almost certainly need professional help setting up and configuring. I worked for a company that used sharepoint for everything and even after paying Microsoft thousands they still couldn’t get it to work properly.

 

[Onthebrightside]

Sharepoint is a complex, frustrating and confusing monster. You will almost certainly need professional help setting up and configuring. I worked for a company that used sharepoint for everything and even after paying Microsoft thousands they still couldn’t get it to work properly.

Thank goodness you have said this. My name OntheBrightSide is indicative of my sunny outlook on life in general - however - having encountered both SharePoint and Cyber Essentials in the same week I did feel like changing it to OntheStupidSide. Thank you for this.

 

[DontAsk]

Sharepoint is a complex, frustrating and confusing monster.

This ^^^

I worked for a large multi-national that insisted we use share point for everything. Engineers quickly found other ways to do things.

 

[Onthebrightside]

What I do not understand is if SharePoint is the main sharepoint of the Office 365 owner, or like OneDrive it is the different on each individuals computer and therefore, if I were to set it up and my account were closed down, would the SharePoint be lost?

 

[AWA Training]

The Open University uses Moodle as a kind of a sharepoint.

 

[DontAsk]

Surely the sharepoints, like OneDrive folders are on a server, not on individual PCs?

 

[fisicx]

What I do not understand is if SharePoint is the main sharepoint of the Office 365 owner, or like OneDrive it is the different on each individuals computer and therefore, if I were to set it up and my account were closed down, would the SharePoint be lost?

SharePoint and OneDrive are not even remotely the same thing.

Start here:

What is SharePoint? - Microsoft Support

Learn what SharePoint is, in its various forms, and where to learn more about it.

support.microsoft.com

Won’t take you long to realise it’s not something you won’t to go anywhere near.

 

[Onthebrightside]

It took 3 hours and 5 Microsoft Office 365 'employees' to finally set this up and now ghosting beside it if a CommunicationS similar thing, the 6th operative couldn't explain it so just told me its always been there. Except - it wasn't there before we started!

Additionally some of the files that came into SharePoint came with my bosses name attached to them as the last person to edit (whereas the rest had my name since I copied them over) and their explanation for that was that he must have just altered them (yes - that's right, whilst he's on holiday with no wifi, within a second of my copying them over he has entered a SharePoint he doesn't yet have access to and altered them - goodness, there you are - that explains things.

I think I may take to drink...

I can here them flicking through the pages of their manuals as we click, click, click click back and forth through the different areas until they finally stumble on something they recognise. I have a feeling that most of the Microsoft assistants simply don't understand it.

 

[Onthebrightside]

Has anyone had any positive results from using SharePoint? Know of a company that does use it successfully? I am just wanting to show some even handedness in my search for results/opinions on it.

 

[Onthebrightside]

Also, if not SharePoint then what other options are there?

 

[fisicx]

There are loads of alternatives. Google ‘alternative to Sharepoint’.

Your choose depends on what it is you want to do. A company I do a lot of work for uses a combination of git and Dropbox.

 

[Excel-Expert]

Sharepoint is a complex, frustrating and confusing monster. You will almost certainly need professional help setting up and configuring. I worked for a company that used sharepoint for everything and even after paying Microsoft thousands they still couldn’t get it to work properly.

^^This

I recently went through an exercise of setting up a SharePoint for a client - skills-wise it is a medium learning curve. The big issue and the steep learning curve is the Microsoft accounts side of things and transferring things to the client afterwards. They will need to set everything up under their own accounts or it will be a complete mess, preventing you from setting up your own SharePoint and other Microsoft services in the future. It is not something to be done by newbie.

If they insist on you doing it, hire someone in to do it under your customer's accounts.

 

[Ilyas Mohammed]

Has anyone had any positive results from using SharePoint? Know of a company that does use it successfully? I am just wanting to show some even handedness in my search for results/opinions on it.

Our customers and ourselves use Sharepoint as our main documents storage we used to setup services and have VPN's to connect from external to access shared documents now eveythins is in the cloud. You can set it up so it looks a like a share on a file server all Docs listed folders. The 1st thing to look at is permission then start the folder structure I can show you a few examples of how it should look. It is very cleaver and changes the way that you work. All our clients love it.

 

[Nicola78]

Also, if not SharePoint then what other options are there?

Samepage and Nuxeo are alternative of SharePoint. Try them.

 

[PugwashEQ]

We use sharepoint in the business as the folder structure for all of our files. For us its brilliant- all our staff can sync whatever they need to their local computers as if it is a "local" drive.

Setting it up was beyond me, so we paid someone a few hundred pounds on upwork to set it up for us. It doesn't have a tonne of automation- but then it doesn't need it!

For how we use it, its brilliant! Of particular benefit is the ease it brings to work on documents together internally!

 

[Atom London]

If I create it and transfer over the files from his OneDrive, give him access etc. when I leave and my account on his Office 365 is shut down, will the SharePoint disappear (like my OneDrive would), or does it hang around in his Office 365?

If you use Sharepoint under his company tenant, it remains until they stop using O365 - personal Onedrive has the general 30 grace period before getting deleted, but Sharepoint is part of their subscription so it carries on. Just ensure that they have correct permissions to administer it if you should stop being part of their organisation.

 

[Gyumri]

I did feel like changing it to OntheStupidSide.

You could also try TheGrassIsAlwaysGreener...

 

[anon328307]

Sharepoint is a complex, frustrating and confusing monster. You will almost certainly need professional help setting up and configuring. I worked for a company that used sharepoint for everything and even after paying Microsoft thousands they still couldn’t get it to work properly.

Oh dear, 3rd post in that I've read of yours, and I find myself disagreeing on each one thus far.

"Complex, frustrating and confusing" in what way? I have no issues using it, or setting it up.

Notwithstanding of course, each to their own; so your alternative recommendation to Sharepoint is what?

 

[Ilyas Mohammed]

Sharepoint is a complex, frustrating and confusing monster. You will almost certainly need professional help setting up and configuring. I worked for a company that used sharepoint for everything and even after paying Microsoft thousands they still couldn’t get it to work properly.

All I can say to that is that the comany that did the work for you didnt know what they were doing you can watch Videos on YT and get a site up and running in 20 mins its already 80% there you just need to add logos and make it look a little better. I dont know what alternatives are as good, you pay £4.50 per month for a Office 365 account you get 2 TB of storage and 100GB of personal Onedrive storage.

 

[anon328307]

I dont know what alternatives are as good, you pay £4.50 per month for a Office 365 account you get 2 TB of storage and 100GB of personal Onedrive storage.

...and you get a whole ton of collaborative software vendors who will hook into 365 API's to make things work. Some of the lesser known alternatives are very isolated in that respect.

 

[Ilyas Mohammed]

...and you get a whole ton of collaborative software vendors who will hook into 365 API's to make things work. Some of the lesser known alternatives are very isolated in that respect.

Oh and dont forget Teams integration on the site Tons and tons of stuff. Why would you go down any other route.

 

[Onthebrightside]

Well, we had the sharepoint set up during a call with the Office 365 people and they seemed to create two accounts, but couldn't explain why. They then advised the other had been there since inception of the account, although it hadn't and then advised that they didn't really know who had access to it from the emails listed on the right hand side of the page.

If it were really that easy and worked that well and seamlessly one might expect the 365 operatives to know how it worked and why they had accidentally set up to, additionally be able to advise who had access.

Additionally, a couple of week later some of the files went missing and there was the longest phone call in the world to office 365 to find out why and they advised they didn't know but could reinstall them - we currently now have 5, yes people that is FIVE sharepoint sites showing and the 365 operatives have NO IDEA WHY.

Clearly then it's only fine when it instantly works well and when it goes wrong it is really and nasty little monster that difficult to understand and control. In fact two of the operatives of Office 365 advised me that once it started to go wrong it went "to hell in a handbasket" and was "more difficult to resolve than a war".

 

[fisicx]

In fact two of the operatives of Office 365 advised me that once it started to go wrong it went "to hell in a handbasket" and was "more difficult to resolve than a war".

Yup. Which is why sharepoint should be avoided at all costs.

 

[Onthebrightside]

Yup. Which is why sharepoint should be avoided at all costs.

AND the problem we now have is that it is such a mess, none of the 365 operatives who have looked at it since have done anything other than make it worse. If fact, it is my belief that one of them deleted the files by mistake by stumbling around in it and download a product called MOVER which then deleted itself in front of us!

OFFICE 365 itself is a bit of a poo of a tool in regard to assistance, since most of the operatives can't assist you with anything other than the basics and can be heard leafing through the pages trying to discern what it is they should be doing. So the idea that they sell you a product monthly that now comes with expert 'back-up" assistance isn't really the case since most of the operatives I have spoken to seem to have only the most basic knowledge of what makes this thing tick and in some cases I have had to guide them or stop them from making the mistake of deleting all of our files. It's quite a nonsense actually and a poor idea for file storage and back facilities for any business looking to sign up for cyber security.

One of the 365 operatives sent a message saying he would be in contact within 15 minutes, then phone me (TWO AND HALF HOURS LATER) advising he could not help the delay, he had to go and get his dinner!!! He then proceeded to repeat everything I said and fail to complete any task or sort out any of the problems. Can you believe he then had the audacity to ask me to fill out a positive form since he had been on the phone to me discussing it!

I am sorry, but if you really feel this is an option for small businesses I think you are deluded - I feel that small businesses really need to get an IT company on board to not only set this up but monitor it for the cyber security purposes.

 

[anon328307]

AND the problem we now have is that it is such a mess, none of the 365 operatives who have looked at it since have done anything other than make it worse. If fact, it is my belief that one of them deleted the files by mistake by stumbling around in it and download a product called MOVER which then deleted itself in front of us!

OFFICE 365 itself is a bit of a poo of a tool in regard to assistance, since most of the operatives can't assist you with anything other than the basics and can be heard leafing through the pages trying to discern what it is they should be doing. So the idea that they sell you a product monthly that now comes with expert 'back-up" assistance isn't really the case since most of the operatives I have spoken to seem to have only the most basic knowledge of what makes this thing tick and in some cases I have had to guide them or stop them from making the mistake of deleting all of our files. It's quite a nonsense actually and a poor idea for file storage and back facilities for any business looking to sign up for cyber security.

One of the 365 operatives sent a message saying he would be in contact within 15 minutes, then phone me (TWO AND HALF HOURS LATER) advising he could not help the delay, he had to go and get his dinner!!! He then proceeded to repeat everything I said and fail to complete any task or sort out any of the problems. Can you believe he then had the audacity to ask me to fill out a positive form since he had been on the phone to me discussing it!

I am sorry, but if you really feel this is an option for small businesses I think you are deluded - I feel that small businesses really need to get an IT company on board to not only set this up but monitor it for the cyber security purposes.

I'm a little perplexed by this whole thread to be honest.

You started out by indirectly admitting you were clueless when it comes to all things O365, and have seemingly only taken onboard the views of one individual whose 'expertise' in the field is also questionable.

I have little doubt that the whole thing was set up completely wrong from the outset, and then it was 'fiddled' with some more, the expectation was then that the "365 Operatives" (who were employed by who, Microsoft?) could fix it, but are being blamed for not fixing something which had been wrecked by previous interference. And yes, sometimes, things really can't be fixed when they are so FUBAR'd! So, because it all went horribly wrong, it just has to be the products fault, despite it being a hugely utilised system that works flawlessly for millions around the world?

You very clearly do not understand what you were doing, by your own admission, but somehow it is now everyone else's fault there's a problem?

Sharepoint, and the entire O365 suite is an amazing business tool that - when setup and managed correctly - can transform the workflow for business.

You also need to remember, that it is also a product that may not be suitable for certain types of business. Doing some homework, taking professional advice and weighing up the options before blindly digging oneself a massive hole should be part of the planning process.

 

[Onthebrightside]

- THAT is the point, I know little about it and was guiding the people from O365 who purport to know it inside out. I don't know anything about it, but can read a warning sign when it comes up (which is apparently more than the O365 people could).

- Your assumption is incorrect - No one set it up at our end - it was set up by the O365 people, but didn't work and THEY had to then fiddle with it and still don't have it working properly.

You seem to be very good at living in the land of perfect Office 365, not so good a taking on-board factual accounts of problems with the service - instead wishing to portray the users as, well, what is your suggesting? We are liars, we are responsible for something we didn't sell or set up? Our complaints are invalid because they don't match your wish to portray the service as usable?

What nonsense you talk, you have now dreamt up a scenario that didn't even happen to back up your comments. Our planning was to consult with O365 BEFORE going anywhere near it - they dug it into the hole and are now unable to get it out - which I think is the point being made here that you don't want to hear.

 

[Onthebrightside]

We are currently getting quotes off IT companies to sort this out and ensure it meets (along with the rest of our systems) the standards needed to pass Cyber Security.

Having spoken to the different IT companies it's clear that many people are falling foul of O365 and the problems associated with Sharepoint, Back-Up and recovery. It's also clear that the 'assistance' offered by O365 is of an exceptionally poor standard.

Additionally, O365 (rather like your good self) also tried to deny their setting up of our SharePoint as they tried to distance themselves from the obvious cock-up. They denied even having a record of any conversations regarding the set up of the SharePoint by them - it's handy then that I kept the emails confirming my original request for them to assist with setting it up and subsequent requests for them to put it right In fact, at one point they even refunded us some money because of the issues!

Perhaps, if you follow the thread also, you will see I came on here first, followed advice given and contacted O365 to set it up for me because it was apparently such a nightmare to set up - then the problems started.

 

[anon328307]

- THAT is the point, I know little about it and was guiding the people from O365 who purport to know it inside out. I don't know anything about it, but can read a warning sign when it comes up (which is apparently more than the O365 people could).

- Your assumption is incorrect - No one set it up at our end - it was set up by the O365 people, but didn't work and THEY had to then fiddle with it and still don't have it working properly.

You seem to be very good at living in the land of perfect Office 365, not so good a taking on-board factual accounts of problems with the service - instead wishing to portray the users as, well, what is your suggesting? We are liars, we are responsible for something we didn't sell or set up? Our complaints are invalid because they don't match your wish to portray the service as usable?

What nonsense you talk, you have now dreamt up a scenario that didn't even happen to back up your comments. Our planning was to consult with O365 BEFORE going anywhere near it - they dug it into the hole and are now unable to get it out - which I think is the point being made here that you don't want to hear.

In your opening post you implied it was you who set things up, and your questions thereafter strengthened the position that you were in some way responsible for the situation you found yourself in. I thought about apologising for the misunderstanding, but I decided not to given your subsequent comments.

Thus I was answering based on the information YOU provided. Hardly surprising then I answered in the way I did - and as for my comments, some I will withdraw within the context of the misunderstanding, but not all.

The accounts you have given are sparse and without in-depth detail. ALL of your posts implied your involvement, and that you went to others for help AFTER the event.

Noted that you feel I 'talk' nonsense. In context, I would disagree; I answered based on the details you'd provided.

Here's some facts for you.

I've worked in IT for over 30 years. I have helped hundreds of businesses, globally, with IT Consultancy, on the ground work, support, networking, security, infrastructure and many other aspects.

I do NOT live in any perfect world of O365. I work in IT. I know from experience it is far from perfect.

Many business users are, in the main, clueless. Utterly. That's why I do what I do. It's why I am very good at what I do, because I am not clueless, and I don't talk nonsense. I help people. But It's also why I don't fly commercial airliners, because I am clueless as to how to do that, or fix cars, I am also clueless with that skill too. But what I DO know, is to not start something over which I am clueless. I have no desire to be at the bottom of a very big hole that I dug.

It seems to me that you have been talking to the wrong people. Who have you actually been talking too, out of interest? And if you say "O365", I will walk away, because O365 isn't an organisation, or a team, it is a product. If you have been talking to Microsoft themselves, that was also a big mistake, but not your fault. You should employ a partner, an MSP or Consultant, someone who deals with this stuff on a 24/7/365 basis, someone who could understand your business at the coal face.

If you want to talk facts, provide details. If you want to listen to a certain individual in this forum about products that they really shouldn't be getting involved with, or don't understand, please do. That persons advice thus far is the real nonsense here. At a personal level, infuriatingly so. Perhaps my frustration at another individuals response was reflected in my responses to you.

Let me just say, web designers design. And in some cases, it seems, not very well. It is highly unlikely they'll have had the right exposure to offer advice on products about which they know so little.

O365, as I said, is an amazing business tool that can transform the workflow for business. It is however one of many, and all options should be explored. It is neither a monster, nor confusing.

I'm 100% satisfied my advice is not nonsensical in any way. If you choose to take it, or not, is up to you. I'm here offering my advice for free, remember that.

 

[anon328307]

Additionally, O365 (rather like your good self) also tried to deny ...

Please do enlighten me as to what I have attempted to deny? I got involved here to help you, now I'm the bad guy?

You are talking to all the wrong people, and they are echoing what they think you want to hear.

This tells me so:

"many people are falling foul of O365 and the problems associated with Sharepoint, Back-Up and recovery."

No, many people are not. Absolutely.

You are telling these people that you have had a bad experience, and to try and secure your business, they are agreeing with you.

Question.

What is it that the business is trying to achieve?

Actually... answer that for someone else. I'm talking nonsense and in denial. My consultancy time is no longer free. Good luck.

 

[Onthebrightside]

LOL - you don't strike me as someone who has ever apologised for his tone or attitude in his life, otherwise you would re-read your own comments back before attacking people

My original post asked the question. Having got the information I need, - that SharePoint is a nasty little animal not to approach on your own (from users whose comments I have known to be extremely accurate throughout the years I have used the forum). I choose not to approach it on my own, but get the O365 people involved in setting it up and then detailed my experience here, providing feedback to other users who might latch onto the thread and read it because they had similar problems. Because this is a help and advice forum That sort of feed back is useful when you reading through the strands - I know, because I have used it.

I don't care if you have 30, 40, 60 or 100 years in the field - it doesn't mean your always right.

Over the years I have always found people on this forum to be useful, informative, and kind - until you crept up. This forum is so kind that when I got cancer 4 years ago and had to go on a learning curve to build a WordPress website people offered to build it for me free! When I said I would like to try to build it myself, they sent me emails with tons of advice in them, phone me and guide me through processes and sent me links to useful information in regard to getting the marketing work. So I love the forum, but it needs to be able to express the opinions of those of us who may not have had to experience with O365 that you have had, because it creates an even balance for people to make decisions.

In return, whenever I could, I helped others when they were setting up retail shops etc. with information on the downfalls, best fits and where to go to get help. I didn't snipe at the advice already given by others or assume that my own advice was the only viable advice.

Thank you for your wishes, but I believe you create your own luck in life by the way you live it.

 

[Onthebrightside]

Please do enlighten me as to what I have attempted to deny? I got involved here to help you, now I'm the bad guy?

You are talking to all the wrong people, and they are echoing what they think you want to hear.

This tells me so:

"many people are falling foul of O365 and the problems associated with Sharepoint, Back-Up and recovery."

No, many people are not. Absolutely.

You are telling these people that you have had a bad experience, and to try and secure your business, they are agreeing with you.

Question.

What is it that the business is trying to achieve?

Actually... answer that for someone else. I'm talking nonsense and in denial. My consultancy time is no longer free. Good luck.

 

[Onthebrightside]

I got your remark on the old post where people helped me put the website together:

you said....

"Duly f******* noted it no longer exists! LOL! I suppose it depends who you get advice from!!"

It no longer exists because my husband retired this year and the whole site and the pointers on google maps, facebook etc. etc. were closed wherever possible. Up until that point it stayed on page 3 after help and assistance from on here - and that was with no google ads whatsoever. So I would say the advice on here was VERY good indeed - it certainly help us out of a very dark spot.

I am choosing not to respond or repeat your other comments on this post, or the awful names you called me.

With such an awful attitude and dreadful potty mouth, I am surprised you are in business at all! You won't find happiness or respect by swearing, name calling and alienating others.

I'm hoping the management will make a decision soon on employing someone to review our options and will post any positive reports on SharePoint then (if there are any).

 

[TBLZ]

We are currently getting quotes off IT companies to sort this out and ensure it meets (along with the rest of our systems) the standards needed to pass Cyber Security.

Having spoken to the different IT companies it's clear that many people are falling foul of O365 and the problems associated with Sharepoint, Back-Up and recovery. It's also clear that the 'assistance' offered by O365 is of an exceptionally poor standard.

Additionally, O365 (rather like your good self) also tried to deny their setting up of our SharePoint as they tried to distance themselves from the obvious cock-up. They denied even having a record of any conversations regarding the set up of the SharePoint by them - it's handy then that I kept the emails confirming my original request for them to assist with setting it up and subsequent requests for them to put it right In fact, at one point they even refunded us some money because of the issues!

Perhaps, if you follow the thread also, you will see I came on here first, followed advice given and contacted O365 to set it up for me because it was apparently such a nightmare to set up - then the problems started.

Hello,

Coming rather late to the debate, sorry, but we are Sharepoint experts and would love to quote to sort this out. I know exactly what you mean about the skill level of the Microsoft first line people, and we are very likely to be able to fix this mess. Please get in touch if you are still looking for quotes.

All the best,

Ejr

 

[Onthebrightside]

Hello,

Coming rather late to the debate, sorry, but we are Sharepoint experts and would love to quote to sort this out. I know exactly what you mean about the skill level of the Microsoft first line people, and we are very likely to be able to fix this mess. Please get in touch if you are still looking for quotes.

All the best,

Ejr

Hi TBLZ, thank you for making contact with me and I shall be in touch tomorrow. We have a lull between large projects at the moment, so this is an ideal time to hit the management to make decisions on things like getting the SharePoint sorted and then achieving Cyber Certification.

 

[abbasmuraj]

Very late to the party. I suggest @Onthebrightside seek advice of someone who is technically apt on the M365 ecosystem as there are many different parts that need to be configured and setup.

If the business is very small and all users have access to a licence of M365 that gives them OneDrive/SharePoint then MS Teams ( which is basically SharePoint) may be the best way forward.

Have a look at the infographs on this blog page https://www.jumpto365.com/blog/which-tool-when-sharepoint-onedrive-or-microsoft-teams

Expert guidance along with on-going user training is vital as there are many changes on Microsoft's side

 

[Onthebrightside]

I thought I would like to update the forum on this one as there was much discussion on it when it was posted.

We did finally go for SharePoint and got a company called ARC to set it up for us. It cost just £115.00 (ex VAT) (as I said we're a small one man and his dog company, so it might be more expensive if you have more files) and took about an hour.

We're also paying for tennant back-ups with them for two of us which is £58.00 a month.

I'll use it for about 6 months or so and then give feedback on how it's working for us

Thank you to everyone who offered advice, in the end it was down to the boss, but it was good to give him feedback from others before he made his choice.

 

[caseytoliver]

The Open University uses Moodle as a kind of a sharepoint.

Yes, a lot of Universities use Moodle

 

[Newchodge]

I thought I would like to update the forum on this one as there was much discussion on it when it was posted.

We did finally go for SharePoint and got a company called ARC to set it up for us. It cost just £115.00 (ex VAT) (as I said we're a small one man and his dog company, so it might be more expensive if you have more files) and took about an hour.

We're also paying for tennant back-ups with them for two of us which is £58.00 a month.

I'll use it for about 6 months or so and then give feedback on how it's working for us

Thank you to everyone who offered advice, in the end it was down to the boss, but it was good to give him feedback from others before he made his choice.

Thanks for the update.

 

[KaidenLevine]

When you create a SharePoint site within your boss's Office 365 account and transfer over the files from his OneDrive, the SharePoint site will be owned by the Office 365 account. This means that even if your account is shut down, the SharePoint site will still exist and be accessible by anyone who has been granted access to it.
Your boss, as the owner of the Office 365 account, will have administrative control over the SharePoint site, including the ability to add or remove users and change permissions. So, if you leave the company and your account is shut down, your boss will still have access to the SharePoint site and can manage it as needed.
It's important to note that when setting up the SharePoint site, you should make sure to grant appropriate permissions to your boss and any other collaborators who need access to the site. This will ensure that they can continue to access and work on the files stored on the site even if you are no longer involved.