
Learn How to create and add a column (meta data) to SharePoint folders
One can not modify the Content Type named Folder in SharePoint, as it is “sealed” always.
So I created a new Content Type based on Folder, added the custom column, added the content type to the library and magically I found my custom folder type in the New dropdown. Here’s the steps:
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Go to Site Actions, Site Settings
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Click Site Content Types
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Click Create
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Give the new content type a name such as “Sample Folder
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Set the parent content type group as Folder Content Types
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Set the parent content type to Folder
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Add the new content type to a Group. I put it back in the “Folder Content Types” group
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Click OK
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Scroll down to the columns section and click Add from new site column
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Name the column and set all the usual column options
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Repeat for any additional columns (Document Type,Entity,Date, etc)
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Click OK
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Go to your document library
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Click Settings and Library Settings, or in 2010 click the Library ribbon tab and then click Library Settings
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Click Advanced and set Allow management of content types to Yes and click OK (this may already selected)
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Scroll down to Content Types and click Add from existing site content types and add your new folder content type
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Go to your document library and click the New dropdown, or the New button in the 2010 Document ribbon, and add your new folder!
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Go to the View drop down and click Modify this view and add your new folder meta data columns.
There are no easy pre-cooked solutions in SharePoint, but the first step to make the right choices is to understand how it all actually works.