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Windows 2000

Working with Folder Level Permissions

In many cases, you will need to change the permissions a certain group or individual user has to an existing folder or to a folder you just created. For example, suppose you want to designate a special folder on the W: drive within your department's area called "Incoming" as a place where students can turn in their work. To do this, you would first need to create a new folder on the W: drive. By default, the new folder will have the same permissions as the parent folder, which would not allow students to submit their work, and may not allow students to even access the folder. You would then need to allow students access to the new folder, and then set permissions for the folder. When you set permissions you are specifying what level of access students have to the folder and what students can do within the folder such as save, delete, or read files.

• Folder Level Permissions
• Creating a New Folder
• Granting Access to a Folder
• Setting Permissions
• Viewing Permissions
• Removing Permissions

Folder Level Permissions

There are six standard folder permission levels for Windows 2000:

• Full Control
• Modify
• Read & Execute
• List Folder Contents
• Read
• Write

Each level represents a different set of actions users can perform within the folder. See the table below for more information.

You can also set your own unique permissions, or create a variation of any of the standard permission levels. Within each of the permission levels are many possible variations. For information on some of these advanced options, please see the document Advanced Folder Level Permissions.

 The following table represents the available folder permissions:

Permission	Description
Full Control	Permits the user(s) to: view file name and subfolders navigate to subfolders view data in the folder's files add files and subfolders to the folder change the folder's files delete the folder and its files change permissions take ownership of the folder and its files
Modify	Permits the user(s) to:  view the file names and subfolders navigate to subfolders view data in the folder's files add files and subfolders to the folder change the folder's files delete the folder and its files
Read & Execute	Permits the user(s) to: view file names and subfolder names navigate to subfolders view data in the folder's files add files and subfolders to the folder
List Folder Contents	Permits the user(s) to: view folders navigate to subfolders view folders does not permit access to the folder's files
Read	Permits the user(s) to: view the file names and subfolder names navigate to subfolders run applications open files copy and view data in the folder's files
Write	The Read permissions, plus permits the user(s) to:  create folders add new files open and change files delete files

Creating a New Folder

In many cases, you will need to create a new folder. If you are using an existing folder and do not wish to create a new folder, continue on to Granting Access to a Folder. To create a new folder, use the following instructions:

1. From the Start menu, select Programs » Accessories » Windows Explorer
   OR
   On the desktop, double click MY COMPUTER
   Windows Explorer opens.

2. In Windows Explorer, from the Folders listing, select the shared drive for your area or department
   EXAMPLE: Nurssh$ on 'Global 1' (S:) or DeptDir on 'Cass1' (W:)

3. From the right side of the screen, navigate to the location you want the new folder to appear (e.g., within one of your existing folders)

4. From the File menu, select New » Folder
   A new folder is created.

5. In the newly created folder, type the desired folder name

6. Press [Enter]

7. Proceed to step three in Granting Access to a Folder

Granting Access to a Folder

After creating a new folder, or even if you will use an existing folder, you will need to determine who will have access to it. Also, keep in mind that by default the same persons who have access to the "parent" (original) folder also have access to the new folder, and vice versa. For obvious reasons, this may not be ideal. It is a simple process to grant access to other users for any folder you own.

1. From the Start menu, select Programs » Accessories » Windows Explorer
   OR
   On the desktop, double click MY COMPUTER
   Windows Explorer opens.

2. From the Folders listing on the left side of the screen, select the appropriate drive
   EXAMPLE: W: drive

3. From the updated Contents listing on the right side of Explorer, select the folder you wish to grant access to

4. From the File menu, select Properties
   The Properties dialog box appears.

5. From the Properties dialog box, select the Security tab

6. In the Properties dialog box, click ADD...
   The Select Users, Computers, or Groups dialog box appears. 

7. In the lower text box, type the username of the user or group that will have access to the folder
   OR
   From the scroll box list, select the user or group that will have access to the folder
   EXAMPLE: 0121.engl.490.001
   NOTE: The scroll box may take several minutes to completely load.

8. Click OK
   The Properties dialog box reappears.

9. Continue with Setting Permissions 

Setting Permissions

Once you have granted a group or individual user access to a folder, you will need to set permissions for the new user(s). When you set permissions you are specifying what level of access a user(s) has to the folder and the files within the folder. Be careful about checking Deny for any permissions, as the Deny permission overrides any other related Allow permissions.

Folder permissions can only be changed by the owner of the folder (i.e., the creator) or by someone who has been granted permission by the owner. If you are not the owner of the folder or have not been granted permission by the owner, all checkboxes will be gray. Therefore, you will not be able to make any changes until the owner grants you permission. 

1. From the Start menu, select Programs » Accessories » Windows Explorer
   OR
   On the desktop, double click the MY COMPUTER icon
   Windows Explorer opens.

2. Select the folder or file you wish to view permissions for

3. From the File menu, select Properties
   The Properties dialog box appears.

4. From the Properties dialog box, select the Security tab
   The top portion of the dialog box lists the users and/or groups that have access to the file or folder.

5. In the Properties dialog box, select the user(s) you wish to set permissions for
   

6. In the Permissions section, check the appropriate permission level
   

7. In the Properties dialog box, click OK
   The new permissions are added to the folder.

Viewing Permissions

At any time you can view or verify the permissions set for a folder. This is helpful if you want to review the permissions of a folder before you make any changes. Viewing permissions allows you to see who has access to a folder and what each user's permissions are.

1. From the Start menu, select Programs » Accessories » Windows Explorer
   OR
   On the desktop, double click the MY COMPUTER icon
   Windows Explorer opens.

2. Select the folder or file you wish to view permissions for

3. From the File menu, select Properties
   The Properties dialog box appears.

4. From the Properties dialog box, select the Security tab
   The top portion of the dialog box lists the users and/or groups that have access to the file or folder.

5. To view each user's permissions, in the top portion of the Properties dialog box, click on a user 
   The user's permissions are displayed in the bottom part of the dialog box. 

Removing Permissions

At times it may be appropriate to remove all permissions for a user or group (e.g., at the end of the semester). Removing permissions is a simple task. If all you wish to do is modify the permission settings for a user or group, follow the instructions in the Granting Access to a Folder and/or Setting Permissions sections.

You may notice a group called Everyone in the list of users that have access. You may remove this group with no ill effects and doing so is recommended to increase the security of your folder and files. If the Everyone group is not removed or if the group's permissions are not changed, everyone in the UW-Eau Claire domain will be able to access and read the contents of your folder.

1. From the Start menu, select Programs » Accessories » Windows Explorer
   OR
   On the desktop, double click the MY COMPUTER icon
   Windows Explorer opens.

2. Select the folder or file you wish to remove permissions for

3. From the File menu, select Properties
   The Properties dialog box appears.

4. From the Properties dialog box, select the Security tab
   NOTE: The top part of the dialog box lists which users or groups have access to the file or folder; the bottom part shows what permissions the user(s) have.

5. In the top part of the dialog box, select the user you wish to remove all permissions for
   WARNING: Be careful in your selection. Do not remove yourself from the list, as you will be barred from accessing the folder and you will not be able to change the permissions back yourself. Contact the LTS Help Desk if you have problems.
   

6. In the Properties dialog box, click REMOVE
   The user or group disappears from the list in the top part of the dialog box.

7. In the Properties dialog box, click OK

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