How can I share files/libraries between users?

Question

I have tried to enable file sharing between me and my hubby. I would like to share iTunes and iPhoto libraries but cannot. I don't want to have the same photos & CDs replicated just so we can have two different logins.
How can I do this?

Answer 1

Hi, Loker. Welcome to the Discussions.
Mac OS X and other UNIX®-based systems, in general, are not set up to easily share data between users. A fundamental idea behind UNIX security is each user's data is theirs and theirs alone, and a user must take steps to share data on their accounts with other users, either on that computer or over a network. This is why, in Mac OS X, the Users > Shared folder exists: all users have Read & Write access to such, providing a "commons" for easily sharing documents between users on the same Mac. The Public folders in each account are extant for a similar reason.
Simply changing the access privileges on the folders of a given user may provide access to the files within those folders, but does not change the access privileges on the individual files within such: you may be able to see the files, but not use them. This depends on the application. Additionally, applications often expect to find their specific content in a specific location, usually one owned by the user who created the content.
ITunes and iPhoto have generally been designed as single-user applications. Despite Mac OS X being a multi-user operating system, Apple did not initially consider the idea of a "family" computer where a family would all share and update common music or photo libraries.
Some of these issues have been addressed, albeit IMO somewhat inadequately, by adding content-sharing functions to recent versions of iTunes and iPhoto. This was primarily for sharing content over a local network, but these methods also work between users on the same Mac. You can find relevant information by searching the Help for iTunes and iPhoto. In iTunes, select Help > iTunes Help. In iPhoto, select Help > iPhoto Help.
The downside of these approaches are the requirements they place on the account sharing its music or photos. Specifically, that account must be:
1. Logged in, and...
2. The specific application -- iTunes, iPhoto -- must be running to share its content.
These functions also place limitations on what you can do with shared content, delineated in the "About" documents you will find in the Help related to sharing.
More sophisticated methods for sharing iTunes music, iPhoto photos, iMovie projects, and other application-specific files between users on the same Mac are generallly found in magazine articles or by searching the Web. A good site to search is Mac OS X Hints. You can also search or post on the iTunes Discussion, iPhoto Discussion, etc. for additional ideas.
Two useful magazine articles in praticular:
• The June 2006 issue of MacWorld also had some suggestions on iPhoto sharing that could also be applied to iTunes. That article is currently online: see "One iPhoto, many users."
• The article "Share Files and Apps with Multiple Users" by Fong and Willams in the August 2004 issue of MacAddict discussed techniques that generally involve the use of the Shared folder and UNIX symbolic links. You can order back issues of MacAddict by contacting their customer service office.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X