Can't share files in public folder

Question

Hi,
After upgrading from Snow Leopard to Lion, I can't seem to share my files in my Macbook Air's public folder to other computers that access it.
Normally, my Windows XP computer would access the MBA's public folder and copy the files from it.
But after upgrading, I can still access and see the files on the MBA's public folder but I cannot copy them. When I try, it displays this error :
"   Cannot copy MYFILESNAME: The filename, directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect  "
Any ideas on what I could do?
Thanks

Answer 1

I think i know whats going on. You are trying to share a folder somewhere inside your home directory, correct? What your doing is a security no-no, but I agree it should be allowed. Here's the problem, you need to give 'everyone' search privs all the way up the directory hierarchy (all the way up to the volume) in order for guests to be able to see the share point in your home directory. By default, all directories in your home directory (i.e. Desktop, Documents, Movies etc, except for Public) do not have 'everyone' set with search privs (everyone is set to No Access). When you create a sharepoint in a directory it automagically adds an ACE to the folder all the way up the folder hierarchy giving all your local (and Sharing-Only) users search privs, but it doesn't cover Guest as you've noticed.
So you have two options, either create a Sharing-Only user for "Guests" to use and have people use that, or grant 'everyone' search privs on the folder in your home directory (i.e. Desktop) that doesn't have search privs already set.
I would recommend going the Sharing-Only user route. You can set one up via the Accounts Pref pane, as described in the Macfixit article today. If you don't want to do that, and really want to give anyone (and I do mean anyone) who gets on your Network access to that directory (Guests), you can use Terminal to give just search privs (you don't want to give read privs to 'everyone' on any folder in your home directory). you can do it by running this command in the Terminal:
chmod o+x ~/<folder in home directory>
So if you create a folder on your Desktop (call it 'foo'), make 'foo' a shared folder (via Shared Pref Pane or Info Window, doesn't make a difference), you would then have to run:
chmod o+x ~/Desktop
in order for foo to appear for guest users. Make sense? Hope that solves your problem.