MOSS content management check-out errors


SharePoint 2007 has totally integrated SharePoint 2003 and MCMS 2002 to create a wonderful content management experience.  However, the error messages it displays are not always as helpful as one would expect. Here is an example:

“This item must be checked out before its properties can be edited.”

Now this might seem pretty simple as you’re reading it, but trust me, while you are editing the page, this error is pretty confusing due to the fact that the editing toolbar – which contains all the required information – isn’t always shown by default.

Basically, whenever you see this message it means that the page has been checked out by someone else.  The easiest way to see who has it checked out is to call up the Editing Toolbar by clicking on “Site Actions –> Show Editing Toolbar“.  The green bar that appears will clearly note exactly who has it checked out.  There you can interact with the relevant user via LCS, or if you have administrative rights, override the checkout and work from there.

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8 thoughts on “MOSS content management check-out errors

  1. I get that error message when I choose Site Actions -> Show Editing Toolbar. I am an administrator and it’s probably me that checked the page out at some time in the past. Are there any other ways to override the checkout?

    • Same thing happened to me. I was editing the page under 2 different accounts. Had to log in using my other account and the Editing Toolbar was there. Check in and everything back to normal.

  2. Thanks Nugget, that was a creamy solution! That error was driving me crazy, it was getting really hairy at the office and I was having a hard time with it.

  3. I forgot to mention that my boss loved the solution, he was impressed at how hard and long i worked but in the end he was happy to see me deliver a succesful solution. He liked my work so much he personally assigned me to another task that he wanted done. Thanks again Nugget

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