Knowledge Base Article: Object Metadata and Metadata Card

Object Metadata

Metadata is information that describes an object in M-Files. Every object in M-Files has metadata — properties that describe what the object is, who created it, and other relevant details. Metadata helps you to find objects in M-Files.

Editing Object Metadata

You can edit the object metadata on the metadata card:

• Click Save to save the changes and create a new version of the object

Tip: You can use keyboard shortcuts when you edit object metadata. For more information, see Shortcuts for the metadata card.

Intelligent Metadata Suggestions

When Intelligent Metadata Layer and intelligence services are set up, M-Files shows metadata suggestions for a new document:

• Click a suggestion to add it as a value for the property above the suggestion
• If there is a plus sign (+) on the left of the suggested value, the value is added as a new object or value list item
• Some property types let you add more than one of the suggested values

Metadata Toolbar

Click a property to activate the metadata card toolbar. The toolbar is available for properties that use a value list.

Editing Multiple Objects

To select many objects in the listing area:

• The metadata card shows all the properties of the selected objects
• When you edit a value, you change the value for all selected objects

Tip: When you edit the permissions of many objects, it is recommended for performance reasons that you do not make other metadata changes at the same time.

Metadata Card

The metadata card contains important information about the object, such as the title, creation time, author, and class of a document.

Opening and Resizing

• Click the Metadata tab to open or close the metadata card
• Drag the left border of the window to resize it

Tip: To open the metadata card in a separate window in the classic M-Files Desktop, select an object in the listing area and press Alt + Enter. For more keyboard shortcuts, see Keyboard shortcuts in the classic M-Files Desktop.

Metadata Card Sections

• Option ribbon — Contains options related to the selected object and the metadata card
• Comments — Click the comments icon to see the comment view, where you can see and add comments to the object. For more information, see Object comments.

Note: Metadata helps you to find objects in M-Files. The more accurately you describe your objects with metadata, the easier it is to find them later.