How to Enable Document Information Panel in SharePoint 2010

The SharePoint 2010 Document Information Panel allows users to enter metadata for Microsoft-based documents that are stored in SharePoint. However, the SharePoint 2010 Document Information Panel is not visible by default.  To view the SharePoint 2010 Document Information Panel, click the "Show Document Panel" option under the Info menu. 

During an implementation of Sharepoint 2010 for an Australian client, the client had a requirement for showing the Document Information Panel whenever a document is opened from a particular document library. IOTAP was able to meet this requirement by enabling the Document Information Panel in the Document Library settings.

How to Enable SharePoint 2010 Document Information Panel for a Document Library:

1.       Navigate to the Document Library for which the Document Information Panel needs to be enabled

2.       Click on Library Settings in the Library Tools Ribbon

3.       In the Library Settings page, click Document Content Type which is located under the Content Type Category

4.       Click on Documents Information Panel Settings under Settings

 

5.       Select the check box for “Always show Document Information Panel on document open and initial save for this conten type”
6.       Click OK

Now, whenever a document is opened from the document library the Document Information Panel will be displayed as shown below.