How do you properly write to a managed metadata column from JSOM? (SharePoint 2013)

Question

I am trying to write the value of a managed metadata column across several documents in a document library at once using JSOM, but for some reason the way I'm trying only writes the value to the first item in my set that I write to.

For example, say I have two columns, a text field and a managed metadata field. I can loop over every document and write to both fields. The text field will get written to every document correctly, but the managed metadata value only gets written to the first document for which I call item.update(); The value of the managed metadata field is correct, and it does definitely work properly for the first item at least.

I have tried both of the following patterns for the value:

'Label Text|0f21b3b6-7701-4da1-991a-05355ac64393'
'1033#;Label Text|0f21b3b6-7701-4da1-991a-05355ac64393'

I've pared down a simple test case code sample demonstrating my example above:

var fieldValue = '1033#;Supply Chain|0f21b3b6-7701-4da1-991a-05355ac64393';
var fieldName = 'test_x0020_managed_x0020_metadata';
var listName = 'Documents';

var context = SP.ClientContext.get_current();
var query = new SP.CamlQuery();
query.set_viewXml('<View><Query></Query></View>');
var items = context.get_web().get_lists().getByTitle(listName).getItems(query);
context.load(items);
context.executeQueryAsync(function() {
    var enumerator = items.getEnumerator();
    while(enumerator.moveNext()) {
        var item = enumerator.get_current();
        item.set_item('other_fields', 'get_written_to');
        item.set_item(fieldName, fieldValue);
        item.update();
    }
    context.executeQueryAsync(
        function(sender, args) { console.log(arguments); }, 
        function(sender, args) { console.log(arguments); }
    );
}, function(sender, args) { console.log(arguments); });

I've tried to use SP.Taxonomy.TaxonomyFieldValue as well, but I get the same results. Is it just not possible to write managed metadata columns across multiple documents in one executeQueryAsync call?

Answer 1

Depending whether taxonomy field is single-valued or or multi-valued use the corresponding method:

• single-valued taxonomy field: SP.Taxonomy.TaxonomyField.setFieldValueByValue by specifying SP.Taxonomy.TaxonomyFieldValue object
• multi-valued taxonomy field: SP.Taxonomy.TaxonomyField.setFieldValueByValueCollection Method by specifying SP.Taxonomy.TaxonomyFieldValueCollection object

How to set Managed Metadata field value via JSOM

The following example demonstrates how to update taxonomy field value for a several list items:

var listName = '<list title>';
var fieldName = '<field name>'; 
var termId = '<term guid>';
var termLabel = '<term label>';


var context = SP.ClientContext.get_current();
var list = context.get_web().get_lists().getByTitle(listName); 
var items = list.getItems(SP.CamlQuery.createAllItemsQuery());
context.load(items);

var field = list.get_fields().getByInternalNameOrTitle(fieldName);
var txField = context.castTo(field, SP.Taxonomy.TaxonomyField);
context.load(txField);

context.executeQueryAsync(function() {

    if (txField.get_allowMultipleValues()) { /* Is multiple taxonomy field? */

         //1. Prepare TaxonomyFieldValueCollection object
         var terms = new Array();             
         terms.push("-1;#" + termLabel + "|" + termId);
         var termValueString = terms.join(";#");
         var termValues = new SP.Taxonomy.TaxonomyFieldValueCollection(context, termValueString, txField);

          //2. Update multi-valued taxonomy field
         var e = items.getEnumerator();
         while(e.moveNext()) {
            var item = e.get_current();
            txField.setFieldValueByValueCollection(item, termValues);
            item.update();
         }
    }
    else {

         //1. Prepare TaxonomyFieldValue
         var termValue = new SP.Taxonomy.TaxonomyFieldValue();
         termValue.set_label(termLabel);
         termValue.set_termGuid(termId);
         termValue.set_wssId(-1);

         //2. Update single-valued taxonomy field
         var e = items.getEnumerator();
         while(e.moveNext()) {
            var item = e.get_current();
            txField.setFieldValueByValue(item, termValue);
            item.update();
         }
    }

    context.executeQueryAsync(
       function(sender, args) { 
           console.log('List items have been updated'); 
       }, 
       onError
    );

  }, 
  onError
);

function onError(){
   console.log(args.get_message());
}