SharePoint Online - List View Threshold Workaround

Ever had this issue on SharePoint Online?
"This view cannot be displayed because it exceeds the list view threshold (5000 items) enforced by the administrator." 
"To view items, try selecting another view or creating a new view. If you do not have sufficient permissions to create views for this list, ask your administrator to modify the view so that it conforms to the list view threshold."
Well I have, and it sucks.

My particular issue was that someone had uploaded 120,000 files to a document library, which they then wanted to add metadata to, however, being a bulk upload, they weren't adding it as they were going, so in turn, any sorting/filtering of such a large bank of files let to the famous error above.

Of course you can't bypass the LVT (list view threshold), but as we all (should!) know, is that once you have added metadata, you can do things to avoid it.

My solution to this issue is not quick, but it worked.  I created a view showing only the File Name and the ID column & Sorted by ID (you are allowed to do this).  I then Exported the data and added to the spreadsheet containing all the metadata that needed to be added.

In sorting by ID, we were able to add the metadata 5000 rows at a time.  after which, we could Index the columns properly and create views that filter based on those indexed columns.

I'll admit, Each LVT issue is different, and not all are solvable.  However, if you've got an issue let me know and I'll see if I can help!

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