In SharePoint, creating a view that shows only documents with minor (draft) versions or major (published) versions isn't straightforward. There's no built-in filter for version status. However, you can solve this with a calculated column.
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Known Issue: Calculated columns referencing the Version field do not automatically update when documents are checked in or out. The column value will only refresh when you manually edit the calculated column settings (just open and click OK) or when the item is otherwise modified. Consider this limitation before implementing in production.
Prerequisites
- A SharePoint Document Library (not a List)
- Versioning enabled with minor versions (Library Settings → Versioning Settings)
- Appropriate permissions to create columns
The Solution
Step 1: Create a Calculated Column
- Go to Library Settings → Create column
- Name:
Version Type - Column type: Calculated (calculation based on other columns)
- The data type returned: Single line of text
Step 2: Enter the Formula
In the Formula box, enter one of these formulas:
Option A (Recommended - simpler):
=IF(MOD(Version,1)=0,"Major","Minor")Option B (String-based):
=IF(RIGHT(Version,LEN(Version)-INT(FIND(".",Version)))="0","Major","Minor")Note: The Version column won't appear in the column picker dropdown. You must type Version manually into the formula.
Step 3: Create a Filtered View
- Create a new view or modify an existing one
- In the Filter section, set: Version Type equals Minor (or Major)
- Save the view
Use Cases
- Track drafts: Find documents still being worked on
- Publishing queue: Identify content ready for review
- Compliance: Report on unpublished documents
- Cleanup: Find abandoned drafts before migration
Workarounds for Auto-Update Issue
If you need the Version Type column to update reliably, consider these alternatives:
- Manual refresh: Edit the calculated column settings and click OK to force recalculation for all items
- Power Automate: Create a flow that updates a regular text column when documents change
- Column formatting: Use JSON column formatting to display version status dynamically (modern experience only)
How It Works
The formula checks whether the version number has a decimal component:
- Major versions are whole numbers (1.0, 2.0, 3.0) - the decimal part equals zero
- Minor versions have decimal values (0.1, 1.3, 2.5) - the decimal part is non-zero
The MOD(Version,1) function returns only the decimal portion of the version number. If it equals zero, it's a major version.
