Setting Directory or File Attributes

To set up attributes and change owners for a directory or file, see the following:

Description of Directory and File Attributes

Changing Attributes of a Directory or File

For information on how to use Windows 95 to set directory or file attributes, see Common Networking Tasks in Novell Client for Windows 95.

Description of Directory and File Attributes

Directory and file attributes assign properties to individual directories or files. Some attributes are meaningful only when applied at the file level, but some apply to both the directory and the file levels.

Be careful when assigning directory and file attributes. The attribute applies to all users.

For example, if you assign the Delete Inhibit attribute to a file, no one, including the owner of the file or the network administrator, can delete the file. But any trustee with the Modify right can change the attribute to allow deletion.

Table 2. Directory and File Attributes

Attribute code	Description	Applies to
A	Archive Needed identifies files that have been modified since the last backup. This attribute is assigned automatically.	Files only
Ci	Copy Inhibit prevents Macintosh users from copying a file. This attribute overrides Read and File Scan trustee rights.	Files only
Dc	Do not Compress keeps data from being compressed. This attribute overrides settings for automatic compression of files not accessed within a specified number of days.	Directories and files
Di	Delete Inhibit means that the directory or file cannot be deleted. This attribute overrides the Erase trustee right.	Directories and files
Dm	Do not Migrate prevents directories and files from being migrated from the server's hard disk to another storage medium.	Directories and files
Ds	Do not Suballocate prevents data from being suballocated.	Files only
H	The Hidden attribute hides directories and files so they cannot be listed using the DIR command.	Directories and files
I	Index allows large files to be accessed quickly by indexing files with more than 64 File Allocation Table (FAT) entries. This attribute is set automatically.	Files only
Ic	Immediate Compress sets data to be compressed as soon as a file is closed. If applied to a directory, every file in the directory is compressed as each file is closed.	Directories and files
N	Normal indicates the Read/Write attribute is assigned and the Shareable attribute is not. This is the default attribute assignment for all new files.	Directories and files
P	Purge flags a directory or file to be erased from the system as soon as it is deleted. Purged directories and files cannot be recovered.	Directories and files
Ri	Rename Inhibit prevents the directory or file name from being modified.	Directories and files
Ro	Read Only prevents a file from being modified. This attribute automatically sets Delete Inhibit and Rename Inhibit.	Files only
Rw	Read/Write allows you to write to a file. All files are created with this attribute.	Files only
Sh	Shareable allows more than one user to access the file at the same time. This attribute is usually used with Read Only.	Files only
Sy	The System attribute hides the directory or file so it cannot be seen by using the DIR command. System is normally used with operating system files, such as DOS system files.	Directories and files
T	Transactional allows a file to be tracked and protected by the Transaction Tracking System (TTS).	Files only
X	The Execute Only attribute prevents the file from being copied, modified, or backed up. It does allow renaming. The only way to remove this attribute is to delete the file. Use the attribute for program files such as .EXE or .COM. Make a copy of a file before you flag it as Execute Only, so you can replace the file if it becomes corrupted.	Files only

Changing Attributes of a Directory or File

You can change the attributes of a directory or file with ConsoleOne. For instructions on changing attributes of a directory or file, see Managing Files and Folders on NetWare Volumes the Console One 1.3 User Guide.

For a list of attributes, see Description of Directory and File Attributes.