Chapter 9. Sharing and Protecting Files, Media Devices, and Printers
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## Chapter 9. Sharing and Protecting Files, Media Devices, and Printers

Files that you own can be shared with other users on your system and, if you choose, with other users on your local network. You can set permissions to prevent other users from accessing your files, or designate certain directories or resources as “shared” so that others can access them across the network.

For details, click an item on the list below.

- “Understanding and Changing Permissions”

- “Sharing Resources With Other Systems”

Related Topic: Chapter 10, “Accessing Other Systems and Resources on Your Network”

## Understanding and Changing Permissions

Every time you create a new file, the system automatically identifies you as the file's owner, and assumes that you do not want other users on your system to change the file but you do want others to be able to read its contents. In this way, the system sets ownership and permission settings for the file.

For details, click an item on the list below.

- “Changing Permissions”

- “Owner, Group, and Others: A Definition”

- “Permissions Settings: A Definition”

- “Viewing Permissions Information”

Related Topic: “Sharing Directories With Other Systems”—a quick way to change permissions on directories so that others can access and edit the contents.

### Changing Permissions

Each file on the system is owned by one User, and has an associated list of who can and cannot access the file in different ways. You can change permissions on files that you own (that is, those labelled with your login name) using the Permissions tool.

To change permissions, select the file or directory icon or icons (in an Icon View window) whose permissions you want to change, then choose Selected > Change Permissions. The Permissions tool launches. Refer to the Permissions tool Help for more details.

For a definition of read, write, and execute abilities, see “Permissions Settings: A Definition”. For a definition of owner, group, and others, see “Owner, Group, and Others: A Definition”.

### Owner, Group, and Others: A Definition

When you set permission settings for a file or directory, you divide users on your system into three categories: you (the file's owner), your group, and everyone else.

The concept of a group is important in working environments that require an added level of privacy. For example, suppose you are part of a team that is working on a new product. You need to share files with others on the team, but you do not want people outside of the team to view or modify these files. You form a group. See “Understanding User Accounts, Groups, and the Network” in the Personal System Administration Guide to learn how to establish and modify groups.

### Permissions Settings: A Definition

You can grant varying levels of permission settings for files and directories. The three levels for files are read, write, and execute.

- Read allows other users on your system to view a file but does not allow them to edit it.

- Write allows other users on your system to make changes to files.

- Execute allows other users on your system to run applications and commands and open directories to view and search their contents.

The three levels for directories are read, write, and execute.

- Read allows other users on your system to view the files in a directory.

- Write allows other users on your system to place files inside or delete files from the directory.

- Execute allows other users on your system to pass through a directory on their way to another directory.

### Viewing Permissions Information

To determine who owns a file and what exactly the permission settings are:

1. Select the file or directory icon.

2. Hold down the right mouse button and choose Get Info, or choose Permissions from the Selected menu.

## Sharing Resources With Other Systems

Use the Shared Resource Manager to designate directories, media devices, and printers as available to other users on other system. For information, see:

- “Sharing Directories With Other Systems”

- “Sharing Media Devices and Printers With Other Systems”

### Sharing Directories With Other Systems

Designating a directory as “shared,” means that you are allowing users on other systems to open the directory on their own desktop and access it as if the directory resided on their own system—in other words, other users are given read, write, and execute permission (see “Permissions Settings: A Definition” for clarification).

To share a directory so users on other systems can view or change its contents, follow these steps:

1. Select the directory you want to share, hold down the right mouse button, and choose Share with Network... from the Selected menu that appears.

   The Share a Directory guide appears.

2. Follow the instructions in the guide to share the directory.

You can stop sharing a directory the same way: select the icon, then choose Stop Sharing... from the right mouse button menu.

After you complete the task, you can check to make sure the directory is shared by choosing Desktop > Shared Resources > On This Workstation from the Toolchest. This opens the Shared Resource Manager that displays all the shared resources on your system.

| Note: You can also share files and directories on the Web using OutBox by selecting Share > Publish to Outbox from the Selected menu. For details about using OutBox, refer to the OutBox Help menu.

### Sharing Media Devices and Printers With Other Systems

Designating media devices or printers as “shared” means that you are allowing users on other systems to open the device or printer icon on their own desktop and access it as if the device resided on their own system.

To share a device or printer so users on other systems can access it, follow these steps:

1. From the Toolchest, choose Desktop > On This Workstation.

   The Shared Resource Manager appears.

2. Click on the Media or Printers button.

   The Share Removable Media or Share Printers guide appears.

3. Follow the instructions in the guide to share the device or printer.

After you complete the task, you can check to make sure the directory is shared by selecting On This Workstation from the Shared Resources menu in the System toolchest. This opens the Shared Resource Manager that displays all the shared resources on your system.

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Chapter 8. Managing Windows |  | Chapter 10. Accessing Other Systems and Resources on Your Network