Changing permissions of a file in Java

Hi. I have a servlet which creates files on an AIX server. However, due to the default umask setting, the file is being created with insufficient privileges.
Is there a way to change the permissions of the file which my servlet is creating - from Java? Specifically, I'd like to change the permissions from 640 to 644 - make world readable.
Please let me know if this is possible. Some examples would be helpful,
Thanks.

the first thing that comes to mind is running a cmd line operation to set the file permissions. use Runtime.exec() and whatever command your operating system supports for permissions. i.e.
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("chmod 644 " + filename);

Similar Messages

  • How do I change permissions on many files at once?

    Hello!
    I recently had a large hard drive crash, and, long story short, I got all my data back but now have a different user account on a new hard drive.  The permissions on all the files on the computer are fine.
    However, I am a recently graduated film student and use an external drive to edit video.  When I tried to open up Final Cut Pro and work on a project, I was told that the program couldn't work because I didn't have "write" access to my scratch drives.  I changed the permissions on the relevant folders and can now open the application fine, but can't actually edit because ALL the medi files don't give me full read/write access.
    I can change them all one at a time, which requires I enter my password for each one, but this would take a few days of work to complete.
    My question is: how can I add my user account with read/write permission to many files at once?  I've heard this can be done with Terminal, but I'm not sure how. 
    Please give me step-by-step instructions if you can!  I have never used Terminal before!  I am not a techie, but I want to be, and I learn quickly!
    My computer specs:
    15in Macbook Pro, early 2008.
    System 10.5.8

    In the Finder's Get Info window, under permissions, you can click the little gear icon and set the "Apply to encoded items" flag. Then when you change permissions, it will apply to everything underneath the selected folder.

  • Applescript to change permissions of added files

    This is probably really simple but I need a folder action that will alter all added files permissions to R-R-R or alternatively to change the name of the group to "admin"
    The reason for this is because I have been experimenting with setting the global NSUmask so all files are saved to our server as RW-RW-R this is because Photoshop isn't taking any notice of the ACL's and so is making it difficult for different users to work on the same files. My idea is to have a raw image folder that has files saved RW-RW-R via the global unmask and then a folder action to change the permissions when the file gets moved into a Master Image folder

    Oh **** - figured how to do this myself, but realised to only affects files in the folder - not any in sub folders.
    Is there a different way to do this?

  • How do you rename, or change permissions on many files?

    **Note** there are SUDO commands here that can potentially wreck up your system.  If you have questions about this stuff, post in the forum or ask someone verbally to help.  The sudo command can really cause problems if you're not entirely sure what you're doing.
    I had an issue a while ago where I had to rename about 400 pictures all in the same folder.  They were all named by a students PEN #.  I needed an incremental number starting at 001.jpg.  I was hoping to figure out a script either in apple script or in terminal that would do the job.  I called a friend of mine at another school with my problem (he's a windows guy) and he had this great idea.
    First of all, using terminal list all the files.
    The command is simply "ls" without the quotes.
    Select all the files that the ls command outputs and copy it.  (command c)
    Next, open up excel or numbers or any spreadsheet program, select cell B1 and paste the list of files in question.
    When I type SPACE below, I mean hit the space bar. 
    Now comes the fun part.
    In cell A1 type mv SPACE
    In Cell C1 type SPACE
    In Cell D1 type 001
    In Cell E1 type .jpg
    In Cell F1 type the following.
    Fill down each of the columns to the bottom of the list of file names.
    A
    B
    C
    D
    E
    F
    G
    mv
    pennumber1.jpg
    001
    .jpg
    =CONCATENATE(A1..E1)
    mv
    pennumber2.jpg
    002
    .jpg
    =CONCATENATE(A2..E2)
    mv
    pennumber3.jpg
    003
    .jpg
    =CONCATENATE(A3..E3)
    mv
    pennumber4.jpg
    004
    .jpg
    =CONCATENATE(A4..E4)
    mv
    pennumber5.jpg
    005
    .jpg
    =CONCATENATE(A5..E5)
    Now Select all of column F and copy it.
    Open up terminal and navigate to the folder that's containing all your files to be renamed.
    Hit paste and press enter.
    This will paste in the contents of each cell in the f column followed by an enter.
    Voila!
    Now, if you wanted to change ownership of a set of folders, you could use the same process. 
    I'm assuming that the folder's that your changing are home folders here.  In other words, the home folder name should be the same as the shortname of your user.
    It might look something like this:
    Navigate to the folder that conains your user folders.  **CAUTION  ----SUDO AHEAD***  This command can BREAK YOUR COMPUTER if you're not careful.
    Type:  sudo -s
    type your password.
    Copy the list of Folders from terminal.
    Paste them into some column way on the right in excel or numbers or whatever.  Maybe column F or something.
    Now, in A1 type chmod SPACE        and fill it down all the way.
    In B1 type -R SPACE         and fill it down all the way
    In C1 type =F1 SPACE       and fill it down all the way
    In D1 type =F1       and fill it down all the way
    In E1 type =CONCATENATE(A1..D1)        and fill it down all the way
    The spreadsheet might look like this:
    A
    B
    C
    D
    E
    F
    chmod
    -R
    =F1
    =F1
    =CONCATENATE(A1..D1)
    thor
    chmod
    -R
    =F2
    =F2
    =CONCATENATE(A2..D2)
    incrediblehulk
    Again, just copy and paste column E into terminal and poof!  It should work!
    *Note, it might be a good idea to run a trial on a folder that's not important to you before you start.  These commands you're running can wreck things up pretty good.  So ensure things are set up properly before hand!
    HTH
    -Graham

    In the Finder's Get Info window, under permissions, you can click the little gear icon and set the "Apply to encoded items" flag. Then when you change permissions, it will apply to everything underneath the selected folder.

  • Solved - How to take ownership and change permissions for blocked files and folders in Powershell

    Hello,
    I was trying to take ownership & fix permissions on Home Folder/My Documents structures, I ran into the common problem in PowerShell where Set-Acl & Get-Acl return access denied errors. The error occurs because the Administrators have been removed from
    file permissions and do not have ownership of the files,folders/directories. (Assuming all other permissions like SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege have been enabled.
    I was not able to find any information about someone successfully using native PS to resolve the issue.  As I was able to solve the issues surrounding Get-Acl & Set-Acl, I wanted to share the result for those still looking for an answer.
    Question: How do you use only Powershell take ownership and reset permissions for files or folders you do not have permissions or ownership of?
    Problem: 
    Using the default function calls to the object fail for a folder that the administrative account does not have permissions or file ownership. You get the following error for Get-Acl:
    PS C:\> Get-Acl -path F:\testpath\locked
    Get-Acl : Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation.
    + get-acl <<<< -path F:\testpath\locked
    + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Get-Acl], UnauthorizedAccessException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.UnauthorizedAccessException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.GetAclCommand
    If you create a new ACL and attempt to apply it using Set-Acl, you get:
    PS C:\> Set-Acl -path F:\testpath\locked -AclObject $DirAcl
    Set-Acl : Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation.
    At line:1 char:8
    + Set-Acl <<<< -path "F:\testpath\locked" -AclObject $DirAcl
    + CategoryInfo : PermissionDenied: (F:\testpath\locked:String) [Set-Acl], UnauthorizedAccessException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.UnauthorizedAccessException,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.SetAclCommand
    Use of other functions like .GetAccessControl will result in a similar error: "Attempted to perform an unauthorized operation."
    How do you replace owner on all subcontainers and objects in Powershell with resorting to external applications like takeown, icacls, Windows Explorer GUI, etc.?
    Tony

    Hello,
    Last, here is the script I used to reset permissions on the "My Documents" tree structure that admins did not have access to:
    Example:  Powershell script to parse a directory of User-owned "My Document" redirection folders and reset permissions.
    #Script to Reset MyDocuments Folder permissions
    $domainName = ([ADSI]'').name
    Import-Module "PSCX" -ErrorAction Stop
    Set-Privilege (new-object Pscx.Interop.TokenPrivilege "SeRestorePrivilege", $true) #Necessary to set Owner Permissions
    Set-Privilege (new-object Pscx.Interop.TokenPrivilege "SeBackupPrivilege", $true) #Necessary to bypass Traverse Checking
    #Set-Privilege (new-object Pscx.Interop.TokenPrivilege "SeSecurityPrivilege", $true) #Optional if you want to manage auditing (SACL) on the objects
    Set-Privilege (new-object Pscx.Interop.TokenPrivilege "SeTakeOwnershipPrivilege", $true) #Necessary to override FilePermissions & take Ownership
    $Directorypath = "F:\Userpath" #locked user folders exist under here
    $LockedDirs = Get-ChildItem $Directorypath -force #get all of the locked directories.
    Foreach ($Locked in $LockedDirs) {
    Write-Host "Resetting Permissions for "$Locked.Fullname
    #######Take Ownership of the root directory
    $blankdirAcl = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.DirectorySecurity
    $blankdirAcl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]'BUILTIN\Administrators')
    $Locked.SetAccessControl($blankdirAcl)
    ###################### Setup & apply correct folder permissions to the root user folder
    #Using recommendation from Ned Pyle's Ask Directory Services blog:
    #Automatic creation of user folders for home, roaming profile and redirected folders.
    $inherit = [system.security.accesscontrol.InheritanceFlags]"ContainerInherit, ObjectInherit"
    $propagation = [system.security.accesscontrol.PropagationFlags]"None"
    $fullrights = [System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemRights]"FullControl"
    $allowrights = [System.Security.AccessControl.AccessControlType]"Allow"
    $DirACL = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.DirectorySecurity
    #Administrators: Full Control
    $DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("BUILTIN\Administrators",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
    #System: Full Control
    $DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
    #Creator Owner: Full Control
    $DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("CREATOR OWNER",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
    #Useraccount: Full Control (ideally I would error check the existance of the user account in AD)
    #$DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("$domainName\$Locked.name",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
    $DirACL.AddAccessRule((new-object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("$domainName\$Locked",$fullrights, $inherit, $propagation, "Allow")))
    #Remove Inheritance from the root user folder
    $DirACL.SetAccessRuleProtection($True, $False) #SetAccessRuleProtection(block inheritance?, copy parent ACLs?)
    #Set permissions on User Directory
    Set-Acl -aclObject $DirACL -path $Locked.Fullname
    Write-Host "commencer" -NoNewLine
    ##############Restore admin access & then restore file/folder inheritance on all subitems
    #create a template ACL with inheritance re-enabled; this will be stamped on each subitem to re-establish the file structure with inherited ACLs only.
    #$NewOwner = New-Object System.Security.Principal.NTAccount("$domainName","$Locked.name") #ideally I would error check this.
    $NewOwner = New-Object System.Security.Principal.NTAccount("$domainName","$Locked") #ideally I would error check this.
    $subFileACL = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSecurity
    $subDirACL = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.DirectorySecurity
    $subFileACL.SetOwner($NewOwner)
    $subDirACL.SetOwner($NewOwner)
    ######## Enable inheritance ($False) and not copy of parent ACLs ($False)
    $subFileACL.SetAccessRuleProtection($False, $False) #SetAccessRuleProtection(block inheritance?, copy parent ACLs?)
    $subDirACL.SetAccessRuleProtection($False, $False) #SetAccessRuleProtection(block inheritance?, copy parent ACLs?)
    #####loop through subitems
    $subdirs = Get-ChildItem -path $Locked.Fullname -force -recurse #force is necessary to get hidden files/folders
    foreach ($subitem in $subdirs) {
    #take ownership to insure ability to change permissions
    #Then set desired ACL
    if ($subitem.Attributes -match "Directory") {
    # New, blank Directory ACL with only Owner set
    $blankdirAcl = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.DirectorySecurity
    $blankdirAcl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]'BUILTIN\Administrators')
    #Use SetAccessControl to reset Owner; Set-Acl will not work.
    $subitem.SetAccessControl($blankdirAcl)
    #At this point, Administrators have the ability to change the directory permissions
    Set-Acl -aclObject $subDirACL -path $subitem.Fullname -ErrorAction Stop
    } Else {
    # New, blank File ACL with only Owner set
    $blankfileAcl = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSecurity
    $blankfileAcl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]'BUILTIN\Administrators')
    #Use SetAccessControl to reset Owner; Set-Acl will not work.
    $subitem.SetAccessControl($blankfileAcl)
    #At this point, Administrators have the ability to change the file permissions
    Set-Acl -aclObject $subFileACL -path $subitem.Fullname -ErrorAction Stop
    Write-Host "." -NoNewline
    Write-Host "fin."
    Write-Host "Script Complete."
    I hope you find this useful.
    Thank you,
    Tony
    Final Thought: There are great non-PS tools like
    Set-Acl and takeown which are external to PS & can also do the job wonderfully.  It may be much simpler to call those tools than recreate the wheel in pure
    code.  Feel free to use whatever best suits your time, scope & cost.

  • Changing HTML to text file using java

    Hi,
    I am doing a project in which i have to read news articles from websites. I have tried XML but for that i need to know which tag has the article in it. Since i have to read from various websites so each site used different tags for different informations.
    Is there anyway that i can change an HTML file into a text file using java. Maybe some command that removes all the HTML tags and gives just the information. Is there anything else that anyone would like to recommend?
    Thanx
    yafis

    Maybe something like this:
    import java.io.*;
    import java.net.*;
    import javax.swing.text.*;
    import javax.swing.text.html.*;
    class GetHTMLText
         public static void main(String[] args)
              throws Exception
              EditorKit kit = new HTMLEditorKit();
              Document doc = kit.createDefaultDocument();
              // The Document class does not yet handle charset's properly.
              doc.putProperty("IgnoreCharsetDirective", Boolean.TRUE);
              // Create a reader on the HTML content.
              Reader rd = getReader(args[0]);
              // Parse the HTML.
              kit.read(rd, doc, 0);
              //  The HTML text is now stored in the document
              System.out.println( doc.getText(0, doc.getLength()) );
         // Returns a reader on the HTML data. If 'uri' begins
         // with "http:", it's treated as a URL; otherwise,
         // it's assumed to be a local filename.
         static Reader getReader(String uri)
              throws IOException
              // Retrieve from Internet.
              if (uri.startsWith("http:"))
                   URLConnection conn = new URL(uri).openConnection();
                   return new InputStreamReader(conn.getInputStream());
              // Retrieve from file.
              else
                   return new FileReader(uri);
    }

  • Change Permissions Of All Files/Folders At Once?

    I changed my User Name by deleting my old Account and creating this new one and now my thousands of Files and Folders have to each have their Ownership be manually switched from "unknown" to my new Name before being rewritable (and sometimes even just readable).

    The final solution that worked for me in Yosemite OS X ver. 10.10.1 (thanks to old comm guy):
    In Finder, rt click on the damaged folder and choose "Get Info"
    In the pop up Info window:
    At the bottom corner, unlock Sharing & Permissions
    The following permissions should be set:
    username set to Read & Write (if this is missing, add it using the + icon at the bottom left corner)
    staff set to Read only
    everyone set to Read only
    Then and only then, click the gear icon at the bottom left corner near the + - icons.choose: Apply to enclosed items...
    At the bottom corner, lock Sharing & Permissions

  • Changing permissions for makepkg files

    I'm made an exaile 0.2.9 package for x86_64 for myself since it's not in the x86_64 repositories yet.  I was thinking of fixing it up and poping it in the AUR.  I'm having a bit of trouble with it though.
    When it installs, the executable looses the executable bit in it's permissions.  The pkg directory that makepkg creates seems to get it right:
    ls -l /var/abs/local/exaile/pkg/usr/share/exaile/exaile.py
    -rwxr-xr-x 1 jon users 84642 2007-04-01 14:30 /var/abs/local/exaile/pkg/usr/share/exaile/exaile.py
    But when I run install it, it looses the +x bit:
    yaourt -S /var/abs/local/exaile/exaile-0.2.9-1.pkg.tar.gz
    ls -l /usr/share/exaile/exaile.py
    -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 84642 2007-04-01 14:30 /var/abs/local/exaile/pkg/usr/share/exaile/exaile.py
    Is there some way to fix this?
    I've noticed that a few other packages in AUR mess-up permissions too... One of them set my /usr and /usr/lib to be readable only by root!

    Install fakeroot. That will ensure the correct permissions are applied.
    If there are buggy packages in the AUR, report them to the maintainer immediately. If there's no response, report them to the tur-users mailing list so a TU can deal with them.
    Always remember to read through the PKGBUILDs before building and installing packages from the AUR - or from anywhere other than the established repos, for that matter.

  • File Vault changes permissions?

    I've written a C++ application that will be used by both Windows and OSX clients. The app is simple and console based and is distributed as a simple binary file, compiled separately for Windows and as a Universal OSX application. I edit with AquaEmacs and compile from within using a simple makefile. I don't think any of this is relevant, but it might so I share it.
    I've sent the file to one of my OSX testers who happens to be using an Intel Mac (MacBook) running OSX 10.4.10. The file is named "Sartain" and I send it as a file attachment to an email, not it .dmg format. Just for insurance, I use chmod to set file permissions to universal r,w,x (sudo chmod 777 Sartain). With this background, here is the problem I'm trying to sort out.
    My tester seems to receive this file as "Sartain." (note the period). Moreover, when he tries to execute the file (./Sartain) from his home directory, he gets "permission denied". I had him check permissions and the received file has stripped off all the write and execute permissions, leaving him only with universal "read" permission. The only way he can run the program is to use chmod to reset permissions.
    He is not a Mac sophisticate and so I don't really know what to have him check. He reports that he DOES NOT use virus protection on the machine but he has FILE VAULT turned on. This is the only thing I can think of that would produce this problem. I've scanned the net widely but cannot find conclusive evidence that FILE VAULT changes permissions on received files, but I'm stumped where else to look. He uses a Novell email client and I suppose that his mail server could be stripping off the permissions, but I'd like to rule out FILE VAULT before having to phone his sysadmins to find out what the default setting is on their mail server.
    Any thoughts here would be welcome. Thanks for your help.

    You should try posting this to the Developers forum at http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=164

  • Changing permissions crashes finder.....

    Hi,
    After 'upgrading' to Leopard every time I try to change permissions for a file or directory it causes finder to crash.
    If I look at the information for a specific file or folder there is an "Unknown" user listed in the users box. Also, just trying to create a new folder and then change permissions on it causes the same crash.
    Any ideas? Thanks.
    Edit: I used the Archive and Install when installing Leopard.
    Message was edited by: fushigi

    Cut'n Paste wrote:
    Same problem here. The '+' button acts as a 'crash' button.
    Info window reports an 'unknown' group, but if i check using Terminal, the group is the same as the owner.
    Here the same. I think for me a installer for an tiger app, which i installed in leopard, caused this behavior. I'm pretty sure which one could be the troublemaker.
    -But it's also possible that Google Desktop caused the problem, because my system gets sometimes overheated by it and then it seems to cause permissions trouble after a restart.
    I already tried to change all apps *to the same* _user rights_, but i think that only made things worser (as expected).
    In some folders i can create a folder and then no new folder in this one, or its only possibly to copy files out of it and not move out of it and so on...
    furthermore it also let the disk utility slow down when i start it.
    i now have also two +unknown groups+ in the info window one with +only read+ and the other with specialized (am not sure if in the english version its called also so, in german it's "angepasst")
    By the way does someone know a easy way to learn which folder should have which rights? I'm a little troubled why sometimes its unknown and other thimes its admin, and system and rarely its my _user name_. i also wonder why there are on some files _two unknown_ with _different rights_.

  • Changing Permissions after reinstall

    I had to reinstall Leopard 10.5 on my MacPro when it would not boot and disk utility could not recover the boot disk. Now, all my data drives are read only! I can change permissions on a file-by-file basis, but that will take forever. Is there a batch command that will allow me to change the permissions on all the files in a folder or volume?
    As an old Linux/Unix hand, I tried using chmod -R from the Terminal Window, but without success.

    RevCurmudgeon wrote:
    I had to reinstall Leopard 10.5 on my MacPro when it would not boot and disk utility could not recover the boot disk. Now, all my data drives are read only! I can change permissions on a file-by-file basis, but that will take forever. Is there a batch command that will allow me to change the permissions on all the files in a folder or volume?
    chmod -R is the correct command for changing permissions recursively but what you likely only need to change the permissions on the top level of the drives.
    try the following.
    run the following terminal commands (copy and paste, please)
    sudo chflags 0 /volumes/*
    sudo chmod a+rx /volumes/*
    you'll have to enter your admin password (which you won't see). that's normal.
    As an old Linux/Unix hand, I tried using chmod -R from the Terminal Window, but without success.

  • How do I change permissions to access a shared file?

    My computer has 2 accounts, mine and my wife. She has a folder with photos. When logged in as my wife, I duplicated that folder and moved the copy to the User>Shared folder. When I log in as myself and access the Shared folder I see the copied folder with the photos but I can't open the photos. Get Info shows that I don't have any permissions. How do I change that? Thanks for any help.
    Owen

    Sometimes, if you highlight an item and use Get Info (or keyboard
    command to generate same item) you can see what user permissions
    on a file are; and as the author or superuser of a computer, you may
    be able to unlock them or give them a different level of general access.
    Since I don't save my images to a specific user account (though my
    own computers have two accounts each) these do not have the same
    permission issues when used between the accounts; and they are
    saved to a file on the hard disk drive accessible to both users directly.
    {This is what the Shared folder is supposed to do; but I don't use iPhoto
    and so this never comes up as a problem in sharing images or exporting.}
    If a user or Admin creates a folder for images, and saves them to the
    hard disk drive location, the other user can see and use them; but
    when there are different user permissions involved, the files have to
    be changed so other users can open them. There should be a way
    to make the change on more than one item at a time.
    Here is a link to another Apple Discussions thread with some information
    which may be of use to you to more streamline the shared folder issue:
    Read/Write Permissions for all users...
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7944908
    Hopefully this helps; if not, consider each person contributing to folders
    in a generic folder on the hard disk drive you create yourself; so it will
    not be in a Users folder in the first place. You can connect to these by
    putting an alias folder on each of the user's desktops or in their Dock.
    {You could also work around the issue by making more work for yourself,
    in that you can Archive images (save as .zip) images in a folder and
    under one user, those tend to not be user-protected from sharing.}
    Another look at how to: "Share an iPhoto Library in Tiger using ACL's"
    http://ad.hominem.org/log/2005/07/acl.php
    Good luck & happy computing!
    edited.

  • ITunes no longer loads after updating to Windows 8.1.  I have tried every corrective step I've found on the web (reinstall, copy files, change permissions, etc.) nothing helps.  Has anyone heard if Apple is working on fix?

    Itunes does not launch after updating to Windows 8.1.  I've tried every suggestion I can find on web (reinstall, copy files from other directories, change permissions, etc.).  Nothing works.  At best I can get the licensing agreement to show and then nothing.  Has anyone heard if a fix is in the works?

    Hi 3backpacker3,
    It sounds like you are on the right track in troubleshooting this issue. If you are having launch issues, you may find the following article helpful:
    iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7: Troubleshooting unexpected quits, freezes, or launch issues
    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1717
    Regards,
    - Brenden

  • After trying to change permissions on my computer so others on my network can access files, my external Hard Drive has a lock on it and I can't access files. I've tried repairing permissions, logging in under another Administrator account, using Terminal

    After trying to change permissions on my computer so others on my network can grab files, my external Hard Drive has a lock on it and I can't access files. I've tried repairing permissions, logging in under another Administrator account, using Terminal to fix the problem, downloaded BatChmod but nothing works… Any other suggestions? I have an Imac running OS10.6.8.

    There is suddenly a lock icon on my external backup drive!
    Custom Permissions

  • Can't Customize, Change Settings, or Move Files -- Permissions Issue?

    Hey all:
    Just got a new MBP w/ 10.5.2. Successfully migrated most of my user settings and applications from the old Tiger HDD (old laptop died a horrible death).
    The problem is that aside from everything appearing to be the same, I'm finding that I don't have the access to do a whole lot with my own files. Several different problems that "seem" like they're stemming from the same accessiblity/permissions issue include:
    Intermittent trouble downloading files with Firefox's default download tool.
    Complete inability to change desktop background.
    Programs fail to remember setting changes after quit and re-launch.
    System Preferences do not remember changes to settings.
    Certain files can not be moved, renamed, opened, or deleted w/o admin authorization, or in some cases, at all.
    The problems started after I migrated the old system over after having an interim user account running for a few days prior. After migrating, I attempted to reconcile the two together and that's when things got hairy.
    In the past couple days, I have tried:
    1.) Archive and Install (preserving User settings - now down to just one admin).
    2.) Changing permissions to system read/write, admin read/write, everyone read only for the entire /User directory, applied to all enclosed items.
    3.) Repairing Permissions (which took about 10 minutes!)
    I'm at the end of my rope here. I'm stuck with my OS acting the way it wants to, which is the exact way it was after being archived and reinstalled, no matter what changes I try to apply in the Finder, Preferences, or in any programs.
    I'm thinking maybe a clean install and then migrating over the backup I just made on my external HD will get me my stuff without whatever troublesome thing is freezing me out, but I'm not really sure, and I don't really understand much about command lines in Terminal.
    Does anyone have any ideas? Many thanks.

    Oddly enough I just had a spastic moment with a mouse click and put my Drop Box in the Trash (I keep the Delete thing in my window toolbar, which is handy, but can lead to accidents)... Since I was playing with it I noticed its absence immediately. Realized what I had done after a moment's reflection, and put it back. Which just goes to confirm something I ALWAYS do before I empty the Trash: open it and see what's in there first, then click empty.
    As to whether removing ACLs is for advanced users only: well, up until Leopard that's the way it always was, there were, until now, NO ACLs on the users folders. So should everyone have been an advanced user until now? Did you ever delete a folder in Jaquar or Panther or Tiger and empty your Trash without checking? Indeed, if you use Time Machine, available in Leopard but not before, you are already protected from such goofs, since you can recover things accidently deleted using Time Machine, so actually you are in better shape with Leopard than ever before, WITHOUT the ACLs if you use Time Machine. Until Leopard there was neither belt nor suspenders to automatically protect you from losing data. Leopard supplies both.
    The situation reminds me of the continuing debate about virus protection on the Mac. Personally, I have seen various anti-virus programs cause all sorts of problems, and it has yet to protect any Mac system from anything (since as yet there are no Mac system viruses). Anti-virus software may have saved some users of Microsoft Office who share files with Windows users from getting a macro virus in their Word docs, and it might have kept a Mac user from passing on some email virus to some Windows users by forwarding stuff from the Internet. But still.... if you don't use MS Office or forward email junk, you get no benefit and may get some problems.
    Same seems to me to be true of ACLs: it is possible to get a benefit (you can't accidently toss your Movies folder and lose data, assuming you mindlessly empty your Trash and don't have a backup), but an awful lot of people are having an awful lot of problems.
    Francine
    Francine
    Schwieder

Maybe you are looking for