When I go to Documents folder that I have created and access a folder, I would like to open and check out a file in one step, but appears to need two. It appears that the only time that it updates "Checked Out To" is when I choose check out. Then I have to go open the file via explorer or Word/Excel (or whatever is appropriate). If i double click on the file while in SharePoint or choose Edit in Microsofft... mode, it does open the file, but does not indicate that it is not checked out. I want to make sure that no one else can also check out or open the same file and make changes/updates while I am doing this. Does everyone have to go through the two steps to check out and then open to enable this? Or is there quick one step that I am missing to open a file and indicate that it is checked out? Thanks Peter

You can edit the view so that the icon is included, although the visibility here is poor. I think (although I'm going from memory here) that when you activate document checking, a new column is added that states which user account has checked out a document. If you inspect your views, you should be able to add a column called "Checked out to", which will be populated automatically whenever a document is locked for editing. Hope that helps.http://www.final-exodus.net

I have adde the column "Checked Out To", but this only seems to be updated (add name or ID to whom the file is checked out) when I take the two steps to open it. If I just open the file, it does not update to say it is checked out by me (or whomever).

There is an option in Library Settings>Versioning to require check out when editing. When this option is selected, the user will be prompted to open the document for "read-only" or "check out and edit." This makes the check out process and open for editing process one step.Joy Earles (@joyknows)