Change attributes!

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Guest

On the properties 'read only' box - I change the grey tick to a white box and
expect all the files in all the subfolders to change from Read only - why
don't they?

Tony
 
On the properties 'read only' box - I change the grey tick to a white box and
expect all the files in all the subfolders to change from Read only - why
don't they?

Tony
Click to expand...

And how have you got to this "properties" box?
 
Gordon said:
And how have you got to this "properties" box?
Click to expand...
I'm going to take a WAG and say that the OP is trying to change what he
perceives to be the Read Only attribute on a folder. Since XP doesn't
assign that attribute to folders, that would be why nothing changes.

To the OP - now that you know why nothing changes - because Read Only
isn't applicable to folders - if you'd like to tell us the problem and
what you are trying to do, perhaps we can help you.

Malke
 
I'm going to take a WAG and say that the OP is trying to change what he
perceives to be the Read Only attribute on a folder.
Click to expand...

You're probably right. It's a good Usenet discipline though to get the
OP to give sufficient information to enable the problem to be solved!
(And it makes people think a bit more before posting!)
 
When I right click on a folder I get a properties box come up - one of the
options
there is to set/unset read only.

I untick the box and hit apply.

I then get another box confirming that I have chosen to unset read only and
asking if I would like to do so on just that on this folder only or this
folder and all subfolders and files - I want the second of these options so
select it and hit OK!

It runs apparently - but when I go back in there are still read only files
indicated.

Tony
 
Gordon said:
You're probably right. It's a good Usenet discipline though to get the
OP to give sufficient information to enable the problem to be solved!
(And it makes people think a bit more before posting!)
Click to expand...

If only. ;-)

Malke
 
On the properties 'read only' box - I change the grey tick to a white box and
expect all the files in all the subfolders to change from Read only - why
don't they?

Tony
Click to expand...

How are you selecting all of the files? If selecting the folder that they
reside in, are you sure the mark is designating read only? It may be
showing "indertiminate state" instead. The indeterminate state will display
a colored box in the the read only square - this means that there are some
files that *might* be protected by permissions. Similar to read only but
not the same. A check mark signifies readonly. A dim check mark means "some
but not all objects in the folder are read only."

If you have the colored "blob," it will always be there when the file
system in use is NTFS - no matter how many times you try to remove it.

Also, if it happens that the folder itself is marked read only, it is "by
design." Since this attribute is meaningless for folders, XP uses it to
manage folder customizations. To remove read only from the files inside of
this type of folder, select the files instead: right click, properties,
remove readonly check. You don't have to do this one file at a time, you
can select a block of files instead.
 
How are you selecting all of the files?
There are two choices!
Click to expand...
Apply changes to this folder only, or
Click to expand...
Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files
Click to expand...
I am choosing the second!
Click to expand...

If selecting the folder that they
reside in, are you sure the mark is designating read only? It may be
showing "indertiminate state" instead. The indeterminate state will display
a colored box in the the read only square - this means that there are some
files that *might* be protected by permissions. Similar to read only but
not the same. A check mark signifies readonly. A dim check mark means "some
but not all objects in the folder are read only."
Yes it is a 'dim' check mark - certainly not coloured!
Click to expand...

If you have the colored "blob," it will always be there when the file
system in use is NTFS - no matter how many times you try to remove it.
I'm FAT32!
Click to expand...

Also, if it happens that the folder itself is marked read only, it is "by
design." Since this attribute is meaningless for folders, XP uses it to
manage folder customizations. To remove read only from the files inside of
this type of folder, select the files instead: right click, properties,
remove readonly check. You don't have to do this one file at a time, you
can select a block of files instead
These are my own folders - created by me so I don't see why the folders would have been created as read only - however I will try the 'bulk/batch method'.
Click to expand...

Finally I would like to thank you for your polite and helpfull response.

Tony
 
Finally I would like to thank you for your polite and helpfull response.
Click to expand...

You're welcome, Tony. I hope that selecting the contents (instead of the
parent folder) works for you.

Even on FAT32, XP will use the read only attribute of a folder (and a
desktop.ini file) to customize it. These can show up in user created
folders as well as system created. The attribute should be ignored by
programs so Windows "sneaks" in and uses it for housekeeping. The behavior
is not always convenient (as in your case) but at least now you have an
explanation for what's going on.
 
I have the same problem and it stops me syncronizing my files from my
notebook to my desktop with Briefcase. I have tried everything to turn off
the light grey "Read-only" flag (one file at a time, block of files, at the
folder level, at the sub-folder level) but nothing seems to work.

Maybe I am not finding it but is there a way to resolve this? Otherwise
Briefcase is turning out to be useless for me.
 
HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421

Read-only means nothing for folders. Only a file can be Read-only.

The Read-only check box for folders is there for convenience, it allows you
to change the Read-only attribute of all the files contained in that folder.

The HELP question mark (?) explains it this way.
[[Specifies whether the files in this folder are read-only, which means that
they cannot be changed or accidentally deleted.

For multiple folders, if you select this check box all of the files in the
folders will be read-only. If you clear the check box, none of the files in
the selected folders will be read-only.]]

[[Apply the read-only attribute to folder contents

A folder itself cannot be made read-only. Nevertheless, the properties
dialog box for a folder does include a read-only check box. You can use
this check box to set or clear the read-only attribute for all existing
files in the selected folder. This action has no bearing on files that you
create subsequently.

In most cases, when you open the properties dialog box for a folder, the
Read-Only check box will contain a green square. This indicates either a
mixed or undetermined condition. Windows displays this green square because
it would take too long to check the state of the read-only attribute for
every file in the folder. To apply the read-only attribute to the contents
of a folder, click the check box until a check mark appears. To clear the
attribute, click the check box until it is empty. When you leave the dialog
box, Windows asks whether you want to apply your action to subfolders and
files. Be sure you select this option; if you select Apply Changes To This
Folder Only, nothing at all happens.]]
From...
Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out Deluxe, Second Edition
Author Ed Bott, Carl Siechert, Craig Stinson
http://www.microsoft.com/products/i...216cbfc3-ff30-42db-9c32-995a75dfafbe&type=ovr

[[Unlike the Read-only attribute for a file, the Read-only attribute for a
folder is typically ignored by Windows, Windows components and accessories,
and other programs.]]

[[The Read-only check box for folders is not available because it does not
apply to the folder. You can use this check box to set the Read-only
attribute for files in the folder.]]

The gray/green state means...

[[Microsoft calls this a tri-mode flag. When it has gray in the background,
it indicates that some file or folder anywhere under that particular folder
has been set to Read-only.

This checkmark does not actually control the Read-only attribute on the
child files and folder. It just displays their status.]]
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

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