How do I programmatically rename a Sharepoint directory (SPFolder or SPListItem)?

Question

I have tried this:

SPFolder folder = ...;
folder.Item["Name"] = newName;
folder.Item.Update();

And it behaves mysteriously. If I run it, it throws an exception:

 SPException: Cannot complete this action.

HOWEVER, if I stop it in the debugger after the new Name assignment and before the Update(), and look at the properties of folder.Item, then continue, it works every time. It's not a timing thing, I tried stopping it in the debugger without looking at it in the Locals window, but it threw an exception that time.

This question indicates a similar solution but using SystemUpdate(), does that matter? Programmatically changing name of SPFolder

score 8 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 22 '13 at 06:19

8

In a Document Library the field Name of an item (folder) has StaticName = FileLeafRef. So what really worked for me is

folder.Item[SPBuiltInFieldId.FileLeafRef] = "The new name";
folder.Item.Update();

answered Apr 22 '13 at 06:19

pbaris

4,525
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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 22 '13 at 12:55

1

Try to add before the action "folder.ParentWeb.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true" and after it bring back the AllowUnsafeUpdates to it's previous value.

answered Apr 22 '13 at 12:55

Netsh

11
1

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 10 '10 at 19:47

You do not need to change the name, but te title. So:

folder.Item[SPBuiltInFieldId.Title] = newName;
folder.Item.Update(); // or SystemUpdate(false)

The difference between Update and SystemUpdate is that Update will change modified / modified by information and if versioning is enabled it will increase the version number. SystemUpdate does not update these.

Also note that I use SPBuiltInFieldId.Title. This is better than using "Title", because "Title" may cause issues in sites that are not in English.

Sorry, I didn't see that it was for SharePoint 2003. I don't have any experience in 2003, only 2007 and 2010. It may work like this, but I'm not sure. — Tom Vervoort, Sep 10 '10 at 19:49

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 22 '12 at 22:41

1

 SPFolder attachfolder = documentLibrary.RootFolder.SubFolders[guid];
            //rename guid to new item id
            attachfolder.Properties[SPBuiltInFieldId.Title.tostring()] = itemID;
            attachfolder.Update();

answered Mar 22 '12 at 22:41

Nishant

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 12 '13 at 10:49

0

folder.Item["Name"] = newName;
folder.ParentWeb.AllowUnsafeUpdates = true;
folder.Item.Update();
folder.ParentWeb.AllowUnsafeUpdates = false;

this fork for me

answered Nov 12 '13 at 10:49

hemen.rohani

31
1
5

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Feb 14 '12 at 14:34

0

You can try using the MoveTo method

answered Feb 14 '12 at 14:34

Vedran

757
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How do I programmatically rename a Sharepoint directory (SPFolder or SPListItem)?

6 Answers6