Checked Out file is not appearing inside “SharePoint Drafts” folder

Question

I have SPS 2010 intranet site that has 1200+ users, and so many document libraries and folders. The farm actually contains only one server and there is no any Alternate Access Mapping configured only the "Default" is being used.

Concisely and precisely, my problem is that users have reported to me that when they Check Out a file, they cannot find it on their local hard drive. As far as I know, In SharePoint the file is stored by default on the hard disk in a drafts folder that is in my My Documents folder. But the problem is that even after checking the settings and putting the proper path in MS Word settings:

Word 2007: Word 2007 > Word options > Save > Server Drafts location.

Word 2010: Word 2010 > File > Options > Save > Server Drafts location.

The users have noticed that the “SharePoint Drafts” folder is created automatically in “My Documents”. However, when they Check Out a file, it still doesn’t appear in the folder at all.

I instructed users to watch ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRE-i7MZdqk ). But strangely, SharePoint did not ask them whether they wanted to check it out to a local folder, I mean the dialog didn't show up at all.

Could you please help me out to resolve this issue ? Because users really want to have the checked out file on their local hard drive.

Answer 1

Did you check this msdn post.

It basically says to check -

1. The Require documents to be checked out before they can be edited setting on the Document Library. Select 'Yes' to have the prompt appear. This affects both Word 2003 and Word 2007

2. Offline Editing settings in Word 2007

   1. Word 2007:
   2. Office button > Word Options
   3. Save
   4. See the Offline editing options for document management server files setting

Answer 2

I had the same issue and is fixed by running Microsoft Office Diagnostics (Click on the left button (windows icon) on word document and select word options and then click "Run Microsoft Office Diagnostics" , it should ask for "Office64MUISet.MSI" file. It should be some where in the system and locate it and store in a folder so that, you can point the location correctly. Once the diagnostic is over, the issue is fixed for me.

I have noticed that issue repeated when Visio 2013 is installed. Again fixed with the same above method.

Answer 3

The documents are downloaded to the draft folder (if they haven't changed that option) only if they select view or edit and checkout document. However if you just go to the document library select a document and click checkout this will not download any document to the clients machine and there for the draft folder wont have the document. All you doing a t this point basically is locking the file to you (assuming you already have it).

That is the standard behaviour.

EDIT Note this behaviour is only for a non IE browser apologies for the wrong info