Binera SharePoint Explorer user manual
This guide explains how to use Binera SharePoint Explorer (BSE) to navigate a selected SharePoint site, inspect users, groups and permissions, identify unique permissions and configure recursive scans for deeper permission analysis.
Find the part of BSE you want to understand
Overview
What BSE helps you doInterface
Main screen and layoutAppearance settings
Theme, help and tree viewNavigation panel
Sites, folders, pages and filesInformation and export
Search, filtering and exportsRecursive scan
Configure scans and open reportsAccess panel
Groups, users and permissionsIcon legend
Object and access iconsWhat BSE helps you do
BSE gives you a practical way to inspect permissions in SharePoint. You can navigate the site structure, select a site, document library, folder, file, page or channel site, and see the permissions that apply to the selected item.
Work site by site
Review permissions within one selected SharePoint site at a time.
Find permission breaks
Identify where inheritance is broken and where folders have unique permissions.
See access deviations
See which documents deviate from the surrounding folder structure.
Analyze deeper structures
Configure recursive scans from selected tree nodes when deeper review is needed.
Interface in Binera SharePoint Explorer
The main screen in BSE provides access to navigation, appearance settings, selected item information, search, filtering, export and permission details.
The selected item controls what is shown in the work area. When you select another item in the navigation panel, BSE updates the information and access view for that item.
Appearance settings
In this part of the solution, you can adjust how BSE is displayed on screen. These settings make it easier to choose a view that fits both your way of working and your screen size.
- switch between a light and dark background
- enable or disable tree view
- open the user manual from the help icon
Tree view makes it easier to navigate the hierarchy of sites, folders and files, especially in larger SharePoint environments.
Information, search and export
This part of the solution shows information about the selected item and provides access to search, filtering and export of results.
Information about the selected item
The panel shows details about the selected item, including its name, associated group and a link to the item in SharePoint if available.
Search and filtering
You can search by name, email address and role, and filter the view to gain a better overview of relevant users and groups.
Export
Results can be exported to CSV and JSON for further analysis, documentation and processing in other systems.
Recursive scan and BSE Analyzer
A recursive scan is used when you want to analyze permissions multiple levels down from a selected tree node without manually navigating through each level.
The scan collects permission data from the selected node and all items below it in the hierarchy. Depending on the size of the structure, the job may take a long time because of Microsoft throttling limits and the amount of permission data that must be collected.
Recursive scan actions are available from the right-click menu in the navigation tree. From this menu, you can configure a scan from the selected tree node or open the latest available BSE Analyzer report when a completed report exists.
Right-click the tree node
Right-click the site or folder that should be used as the starting point for the scan.
Configure the scan
Select Configure Scan of folder tree from this tree node to configure a recursive scan from the selected node.
Open Analyzer report
If a completed report exists, select Open BSE Analyzer report to open the report for the selected node.
Recursive scan dialog
- Selected tree node BSE shows the selected tree node, for example a site, document library or folder. The scan uses this node as the starting point.
- Scan scope The scan includes the selected node and all items below it in the hierarchy.
- Scheduled scan If a scheduled scan exists for the site, it is shown with Site, Folder, Schedule and Last run.
- Open BSE Analyzer report Opens the latest available report when a completed report exists for the selected node.
- Delete scan for this site Removes the scheduled scan for the site if you want to configure a different schedule.
- Cancel Closes the dialog without making changes.
Opening the latest report
To open the latest available report, right-click the relevant site or folder and select Open BSE Analyzer report.
This menu item is shown only when a completed report exists for the selected tree node. The button in the dialog can also be used when a report is available.
Access panel
The access panel shows how access is configured for the item you have selected. Here you can see which groups have access, which users belong to those groups and how the access has been assigned.
- which groups have access
- which users are members of those groups
- how the access has been assigned
- whether access is direct or inherited through group membership
Groups can be expanded directly in the view by clicking the arrow in front of the group name. This makes it easier to see which users actually have access through group membership.
The permissions shown always apply to the item that is selected. Changes in the selected item will therefore affect what is displayed in the panel.
Activity and history
If Activity and history is installed in the Entra tenant, a dedicated button becomes available in the solution. This function makes it possible to analyze activity related to files and folders over time, including when they have been accessed and by whom.
To use the function, select Start Date and End Date, and then search within the desired period. The results provide an overview of activity within the selected time period.
- search activity data
- see who has accessed documents and folders
- analyze usage over a selected period
- export results to CSV
Activity and history is only available if the module is installed in the Entra tenant. If it is not installed, this function will not be available in the solution.
Icons used in BSE
BSE uses different icons to show object types, users and how access has been assigned.
SharePoint site
Standard SharePoint area or group.
Teams site
Indicates that the site is Teams-enabled.
Entra group
Indicates that the object is a group in Entra ID.
Document library
Shows a SharePoint document library.
Channel site
Indicates a channel site or channel-related SharePoint area.
Folder inherits permissions
The folder inherits permissions from the level above.
Folder unique permissions
The folder has permissions that differ from the level above.
Document inherits permissions
The document inherits permissions from its folder.
Document unique permissions
The document has permissions that differ from the folder.
Pages
Area pages in the SharePoint structure.
Organization
Indicates access that applies to the organization.
Internal user
Indicates an internal user in the organization.
External user
Indicates a guest user or external identity.
Access via link
Indicates access granted through a sharing link.
System account
Indicates a system account or technical user.
Device
Indicates a physical device or client.
Need help using BSE?
Request demo access or book a walkthrough if you want help understanding the workflow from SharePoint navigation to recursive scan and analysis.
Binera SharePoint Explorer user manual
This guide explains how to use Binera SharePoint Explorer (BSE) to navigate a selected SharePoint site, inspect users, groups and permissions, identify unique permissions and configure recursive scans for deeper permission analysis.
Find the part of BSE you want to understand
Overview
What BSE helps you doInterface
Main screen and layoutAppearance settings
Theme, help and tree viewNavigation panel
Sites, folders, pages and filesInformation and export
Search, filtering and exportsRecursive scan
Configure scans and open reportsAccess panel
Groups, users and permissionsIcon legend
Object and access iconsWhat BSE helps you do
BSE gives you a practical way to inspect permissions in SharePoint. You can navigate the site structure, select a site, document library, folder, file, page or channel site, and see the permissions that apply to the selected item.
Work site by site
Review permissions within one selected SharePoint site at a time.
Find permission breaks
Identify where inheritance is broken and where folders have unique permissions.
See access deviations
See which documents deviate from the surrounding folder structure.
Analyze deeper structures
Configure recursive scans from selected tree nodes when deeper review is needed.
Interface in Binera SharePoint Explorer
The main screen in BSE provides access to navigation, appearance settings, selected item information, search, filtering, export and permission details.
The selected item controls what is shown in the work area. When you select another item in the navigation panel, BSE updates the information and access view for that item.
Appearance settings
In this part of the solution, you can adjust how BSE is displayed on screen. These settings make it easier to choose a view that fits both your way of working and your screen size.
- switch between a light and dark background
- enable or disable tree view
- open the user manual from the help icon
Tree view makes it easier to navigate the hierarchy of sites, folders and files, especially in larger SharePoint environments.
Information, search and export
This part of the solution shows information about the selected item and provides access to search, filtering and export of results.
Information about the selected item
The panel shows details about the selected item, including its name, associated group and a link to the item in SharePoint if available.
Search and filtering
You can search by name, email address and role, and filter the view to gain a better overview of relevant users and groups.
Export
Results can be exported to CSV and JSON for further analysis, documentation and processing in other systems.
Recursive scan and BSE Analyzer
A recursive scan is used when you want to analyze permissions multiple levels down from a selected tree node without manually navigating through each level.
The scan collects permission data from the selected node and all items below it in the hierarchy. Depending on the size of the structure, the job may take a long time because of Microsoft throttling limits and the amount of permission data that must be collected.
Recursive scan actions are available from the right-click menu in the navigation tree. From this menu, you can configure a scan from the selected tree node or open the latest available BSE Analyzer report when a completed report exists.
Right-click the tree node
Right-click the site or folder that should be used as the starting point for the scan.
Configure the scan
Select Configure Scan of folder tree from this tree node to configure a recursive scan from the selected node.
Open Analyzer report
If a completed report exists, select Open BSE Analyzer report to open the report for the selected node.
Recursive scan dialog
- Selected tree node BSE shows the selected tree node, for example a site, document library or folder. The scan uses this node as the starting point.
- Scan scope The scan includes the selected node and all items below it in the hierarchy.
- Scheduled scan If a scheduled scan exists for the site, it is shown with Site, Folder, Schedule and Last run.
- Open BSE Analyzer report Opens the latest available report when a completed report exists for the selected node.
- Delete scan for this site Removes the scheduled scan for the site if you want to configure a different schedule.
- Cancel Closes the dialog without making changes.
Opening the latest report
To open the latest available report, right-click the relevant site or folder and select Open BSE Analyzer report.
This menu item is shown only when a completed report exists for the selected tree node. The button in the dialog can also be used when a report is available.
Access panel
The access panel shows how access is configured for the item you have selected. Here you can see which groups have access, which users belong to those groups and how the access has been assigned.
- which groups have access
- which users are members of those groups
- how the access has been assigned
- whether access is direct or inherited through group membership
Groups can be expanded directly in the view by clicking the arrow in front of the group name. This makes it easier to see which users actually have access through group membership.
The permissions shown always apply to the item that is selected. Changes in the selected item will therefore affect what is displayed in the panel.
Activity and history
If Activity and history is installed in the Entra tenant, a dedicated button becomes available in the solution. This function makes it possible to analyze activity related to files and folders over time, including when they have been accessed and by whom.
To use the function, select Start Date and End Date, and then search within the desired period. The results provide an overview of activity within the selected time period.
- search activity data
- see who has accessed documents and folders
- analyze usage over a selected period
- export results to CSV
Activity and history is only available if the module is installed in the Entra tenant. If it is not installed, this function will not be available in the solution.
Icons used in BSE
BSE uses different icons to show object types, users and how access has been assigned.
SharePoint site
Standard SharePoint area or group.
Teams site
Indicates that the site is Teams-enabled.
Entra group
Indicates that the object is a group in Entra ID.
Document library
Shows a SharePoint document library.
Channel site
Indicates a channel site or channel-related SharePoint area.
Folder inherits permissions
The folder inherits permissions from the level above.
Folder unique permissions
The folder has permissions that differ from the level above.
Document inherits permissions
The document inherits permissions from its folder.
Document unique permissions
The document has permissions that differ from the folder.
Pages
Area pages in the SharePoint structure.
Organization
Indicates access that applies to the organization.
Internal user
Indicates an internal user in the organization.
External user
Indicates a guest user or external identity.
Access via link
Indicates access granted through a sharing link.
System account
Indicates a system account or technical user.
Device
Indicates a physical device or client.
Need help using BSE?
Request demo access or book a walkthrough if you want help understanding the workflow from SharePoint navigation to recursive scan and analysis.