About SharePoint Client Browser
SharePoint Client Browser is a powerful desktop application that provides low-level access to SharePoint's object model for advanced administrative tasks. It allows direct manipulation of SharePoint objects and provides hierarchical navigation through site collections, webs, lists, and items. The tool is essential for investigating complex permission scenarios, analyzing field schemas, and performing detailed object model operations. Use with caution as it provides direct access to SharePoint's underlying structure.
Download and Setup
GitHub Repository: SharePoint Client Browser
Download the latest release and install SharePoint Client Components SDK.
Critical Safety Warning
This tool provides direct access to SharePoint's object model and can cause irreversible damage if used incorrectly. Always use read-only mode for investigation and test all operations in development environments before applying to production.
Installation and Prerequisites
System Requirements
- Operating System: Windows 10/11 or Windows Server 2016+
- .NET Framework: 4.7.2 or higher
- SharePoint Client Components: SharePoint Online CSOM SDK
- Authentication: Modern authentication support for SharePoint Online
Installation Steps
- Download from GitHub: Get the latest release from the PnP Tools repository
- Install Prerequisites: Install SharePoint Client Components SDK
- Extract and Run: Extract the tool and run as administrator if needed
- Configure Authentication: Set up modern authentication for SharePoint Online
Getting Started: Step-by-Step Usage
Connection Process
- Launch Application: Run SharePoint Client Browser as administrator
- Enter Site URL: Input your SharePoint Online site URL in the connection dialog
- Authenticate: Choose authentication method (usually modern auth for SharePoint Online)
- Establish Connection: Click connect and wait for the object tree to populate
- Navigate Structure: Expand the site hierarchy to explore objects
Interface Overview
- Left Panel: Hierarchical tree view of SharePoint objects
- Right Panel: Properties and methods for selected objects
- Toolbar: Connection settings and operation modes
- Status Bar: Connection status and operation feedback
Core Capabilities and Features
Object Model Navigation
# Typical hierarchy structure:
Site Collection (SPSite)
├── Web (SPWeb)
│ ├── Lists (SPListCollection)
│ │ ├── Document Library (SPList)
│ │ │ ├── Items (SPListItemCollection)
│ │ │ ├── Fields (SPFieldCollection)
│ │ │ └── Content Types (SPContentTypeCollection)
│ ├── Users (SPUserCollection)
│ ├── Groups (SPGroupCollection)
│ └── Features (SPFeatureCollection)
Property Inspection
- Object Properties: View all properties of selected SharePoint objects
- Collection Browsing: Navigate through collections like lists, users, and groups
- Real-time Values: See current property values and object states
- Property Modification: Edit object properties (use with extreme caution)
Method Execution
- Object Methods: Execute available methods on SharePoint objects
- Parameter Input: Provide parameters for method calls
- Return Value Analysis: Examine method return values and results
- Operation Logging: Track executed operations for audit purposes
Common Administrative Scenarios
Permission Analysis and Troubleshooting
Permission Investigation Steps
- Navigate to Site/List: Find the object with permission issues
- Check Role Assignments: Examine RoleAssignments collection
- Inspect User/Group Objects: Verify user and group properties
- Analyze Inheritance: Check HasUniqueRoleAssignments property
- Review Effective Permissions: Use GetUserEffectivePermissions method
Content Type Management
- Content Type Properties: Examine content type definitions and inheritance
- Field Links: Analyze field links and their configurations
- Document Templates: Inspect document template associations
- Workflow Associations: Review workflow bindings and configurations
List and Library Configuration
# Key properties to inspect for lists:
- Title: Display name of the list
- BaseType: Type of list (Document Library, List, etc.)
- ContentTypesEnabled: Whether content types are enabled
- HasUniqueRoleAssignments: Permission inheritance status
- ItemCount: Number of items in the list
- Fields: Collection of fields/columns
- Views: Available views and their configurations
Advanced Operations
Field Schema Analysis
- Field Types: Examine field type definitions and constraints
- Lookup Relationships: Analyze lookup field relationships and dependencies
- Calculated Fields: Review calculated field formulas and references
- Choice Fields: Inspect choice options and default values
Site Collection Features
- Feature Activation: Check which features are activated
- Feature Dependencies: Analyze feature dependencies and conflicts
- Custom Solutions: Examine deployed custom solutions and their scope
- Web Parts: Investigate web part configurations and properties
User and Group Management
# Key user properties to examine:
- LoginName: User's login identifier
- Email: User's email address
- IsSiteAdmin: Site collection administrator status
- Groups: Group memberships
- Alerts: Configured alerts for the user
# Key group properties:
- Name: Group display name
- Users: Group membership
- Owner: Group owner
- OnlyAllowMembersViewMembership: Privacy settings
Best Practices
Safety and Security
- Read-Only First: Always start with read-only exploration before making changes
- Development Testing: Test all operations in development environments
- Backup Strategy: Ensure proper backups before modifying production
- Documentation: Document all changes and their business justification
- Audit Trail: Maintain logs of all administrative operations
Operational Excellence
- Systematic Approach: Follow structured investigation processes
- Property Verification: Cross-reference findings with PowerShell or other tools
- Change Control: Use formal change management for production modifications
- User Impact Assessment: Understand user impact before making changes
Troubleshooting Methodology
- Start Broad: Begin at site collection level and narrow down
- Compare Objects: Compare working vs. non-working objects
- Check Inheritance: Verify permission and content type inheritance
- Validate Relationships: Ensure object relationships are intact
Integration with Other Tools
PowerShell Validation
Use PowerShell to validate findings from Client Browser:
# Validate user permissions found in Client Browser
Connect-PnPOnline -Url https://tenant.sharepoint.com/sites/site -Interactive
Get-PnPListPermissions -Identity "Documents" -PrincipalId $userId
# Check content type inheritance
$contentType = Get-PnPContentType -Identity "Document"
$contentType.Parent
# Verify field configurations
$field = Get-PnPField -Identity "CustomField"
$field.SchemaXml
SharePoint Admin Center Cross-Reference
- Site Settings: Compare object properties with admin center settings
- User Permissions: Validate user access levels and group memberships
- Feature Status: Cross-check feature activation status
- Storage Usage: Correlate object counts with storage reports
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Connection Problems
- Authentication Failures: Verify modern authentication configuration
- Permission Errors: Ensure user has appropriate access levels
- Network Issues: Check firewall and proxy configurations
- Version Compatibility: Verify tool version compatibility with SharePoint Online
Object Access Issues
- Hidden Objects: Some objects may be hidden from the interface
- Security Trimming: Objects may be filtered based on user permissions
- Deleted Objects: References to deleted objects may cause errors
- Large Collections: Large collections may impact performance
Production Environment Considerations
- Never modify production directly: Always test changes in development first
- Use dedicated service accounts: Avoid using personal accounts for administrative operations
- Monitor performance impact: Be aware that deep object inspection can affect site performance
- Maintain change logs: Document all investigation and modification activities
Alternative Approaches
When to Use Client Browser vs. Other Tools
- Use Client Browser for: Deep object model investigation, complex permission analysis, schema exploration
- Use PowerShell for: Bulk operations, automation, regular administrative tasks
- Use SharePoint Admin Center for: Standard administrative operations, user management, site settings
- Use PnP PowerShell for: Modern SharePoint operations, cross-platform scenarios
About the Author: Nagendra Jayaram is a Microsoft Sr Technical Advisor with 18+ years of enterprise experience specializing in SharePoint architecture and advanced troubleshooting techniques.