Microsoft SharePoint Quick Start Guide
Welcome to SharePoint
Microsoft SharePoint is DACC's central location for storing, organizing, sharing, and collaborating on files, documents, news, and team information.
With SharePoint, you can:
- Access files from anywhere
- Collaborate with coworkers in real time
- Share documents securely
- Find information quickly
- Access department and team sites
- Stay informed through announcements and news posts
Getting Started
Access SharePoint
- Sign in to Microsoft 365 (https://office.com/).
- Select the App Launcher (the nine-dot "waffle" menu in the top left corner).
- Choose SharePoint from the list of applications.
You may also access SharePoint directly through the Employee Portal or with direct URLs that you can bookmark.
Understanding the SharePoint Home Page
The SharePoint home page provides access to:
Favorites
Sites you have chosen to favorite.
Recent
Sites and documents you have recently worked with.
Frequent Sites
Sites you visit regularly.
News
Important announcements and updates from across the organization.
Search
Search for:
- Files
- Sites
- People
- News articles
Working with Files/Folders/Documents
Open a Document Library
- Navigate to a SharePoint site.
- Select a document library from the left hand side. By default, it's called "Documents", but some sites may have multiple libraries.
Documents can open:
- In your web browser
- In Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or other desktop applications
- In OneDrive and File Explorer, after you've added a library shortcut (see instructions at the bottom of this article)
Upload Files
- Open the document library.
- Select + Create or upload.
- Choose a file or folder.
- Browse to the item and select Open.
Method 2: Drag and Drop
- Open the document library.
- Drag files directly from your computer into the browser window.
Create New Documents
- Navigate to the document library.
- Select + Create or upload.
- Choose:
- Word Document
- Excel Workbook
- PowerPoint Presentation
- Folder
- Other available content types
Sharing Files
Share a Document
- Select the file.
- Click Share.
- Enter the names or email addresses of recipients.
Choose permissions:
- Can Edit
- Can View
- Can't Download
- Select Send to send a invitation to the recipients. You can also choose Copy link to make a shareable link that can be send via email or chat.
Depending on sharing settings, links may be shared with:
- Internal employees
- External users
- Specific students
Collaborating with Others
Real-Time Co-Authoring
Multiple people can edit the same document simultaneously.
While collaborating:
- Changes save automatically
- Edits appear in real time
- Version history tracks updates
SharePoint works seamlessly with:
- Microsoft Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Teams
Search Tips
Use the search box to find:
- Documents
- Team sites
- People
- News posts
Accessing SharePoint Through File Explorer
Files can be accessed through Windows File Explorer, but it requires that you have Microsoft OneDrive installed and configured first. If OneDrive is not already set up, you can follow our quickstart guide HERE:
- Open a SharePoint document library in your web browser first.
- Select Add shortcut to OneDrive.
- You may be prompted to sign in again or complete additional steps on OneDrive.
- Files will appear within OneDrive on your computer as shortcuts. Changes made here will sync automatically to SharePoint.
Best Practices
Do
✅ Use meaningful file names
✅ Store documents in the appropriate department library
✅ Share links instead of email attachments whenever possible
✅ Check document permissions before sharing
✅ Keep files updated
Avoid
❌ Creating duplicate copies of documents
❌ Sharing sensitive information with broad access links
❌ Renaming shared folders without notifying affected users
Need Help?
If you experience issues with:
- Access permissions
- Missing files
- Synchronization problems
- SharePoint site access
- Search results
Contact the Help Desk (helpdesk@dacc.edu) for assistance.