Sharing Files
Here is how you set permissions on your private folders (directories) to allow others access to your files.
Privacy
The files in your "home" folder (e.g. U:\x\y\xyz123) and in folders under it cannot be accessed by other users unless you change permissions. However, the names of the files and folders in your home folder only, are visible to everyone. This makes sharing specific folders much easier.
Quick Instructions
To allow someone else access to a folder under your "home" folder, grant the appropriate permission on the folder under it (e.g., read). Access to specific files can be given rather than the whole folder, although that is not recommended. Note that new files and folders inherit permissions from the folder they are created in.
Detailed Instructions
For detailed steps with screen shots on how to set folder permissions, from Windows Explorer:
- For Windows 2000
- For Windows XP
Cautions
Do not remove or change permissions for CREATOR OWNER or Domain Admins or, most importantly, your own userid!.
If you grant write access, note that someone can fill up your space, and you may not know it right away. See the Quotas topic.
Folders vs. Files
If you want someone to have access to all the files in a folder, and all files created later in that folder, then it is easier to give them permissions for the folder. New files created in a folder inherit permissions from the parent folder.
(Actually, folders have three sets of permissions, those that are for the folder itself and those that are assigned to new folders and those assigned to new files. They are usually set to be the same.)
Administrator Permissions
You will probably see that your folder and files have permissions for "Domain Admins" and "xxxx\Administrators". These are needed to allow the files to be backed up . If you remove "Domain Admins" permissions they will be replaced. Do not be concerned; administrators do not look at private files unless you request assistance with a technical problem.
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This page was last modified: 10/24/2002 6:11:58 PM.