SharePoint 2013: “Nice-to-Haves”

I've been working with SharePoint 2013 for about a year now, and it’s been quite the adventure...or not. From the revamped user interface to the new Search configuration via PowerShell, sometimes I just can’t help but shake my head at some of the unnecessary complexities that Microsoft bestows upon us SharePoint Admins. I have compiled the following list of key pieces of functionality that I would consider to be “nice-to-haves” while working with SharePoint 2013. By the looks of it, I’ll probably be posting a Part 2 of this topic within the next six months. Ugh!

-  Why has the Check-Out dialog box disappeared?

I have opened a case with Microsoft regarding this issue. Their response thus far:

"I would like to inform you that we have been discussing this known issue with our Product group and are in process of evaluating the same. As this issue stands as an integration with Adobe, we are planning as to how best we can address this issue making sure that future fix doesn’t break it."

Fingers crossed they provide a fix soon.

-  No Site Permissions listed in the site settings drop-down menu? One extra click to see who has access to your site.

-  Bring back the tabs for the top level navigation items!
-  Upon selecting the ‘new document’ link to create a new page, please prompt me so I can select the type of page I actually want.
-  It would be nice to still have the ability to create and modify the Search topology via the GUI.
-  Better support for non-office files, such as .dwg.
-  Contribute (not Edit) as the default permission level for all Members groups. Why change it now?
-  Deleting ‘Profiles Missing from Import’ actually works as intended, particularly for those who have disabled the My Site Cleanup Job.
-  Org Chart on everyone's own My Site by default.

SharePoint used to be fun…really fun. Not so much now days. :(