A shared item is a document, folder, or disk that can be accessed by users who connect to the file server. You determine which users can access the item and how they can use it.
A share point is a folder, hard disk, or CD-ROM disc that contains shared items. Items in a share point by default have the same access privileges as the share point, but you can give them different access privileges if you wish.
You cannot have a share point within a share point. See the illustration:
Figure 1, Share point folder diagram
About access privileges
You can assign three levels of user access privileges to a share point or shared item. Access privileges determine what users can do with a shared item. Access privileges apply to all users except AppleShare IP administrators.
Adopted versus explicit access privileges:
By default, a folder within a share point or shared item "adopts" access privileges of the enclosing share point or shared items. If you move the folder, its access privileges change to match the new location.
You can also assign "explicit" access privileges to a folder. When you move a folder that has explicit access privileges, its access privileges stay the same. See the illustration:
Figure 2, Access privileges illustration
Access privileges you can assign:
You can assign the following access privileges to a shared item:
- Read & Write privileges allow a user to open a disk or folder and see, open, copy, delete, move, create, and change the files inside.
- Read Only privileges allow a user to open a disk or folder and see, open, and copy the folders and files inside (but not move or change them).
- Write Only privileges allow a user to put items into the shared area but not see or use any items inside (an item with Write Only privileges is also known as a drop box).
- None: If no privileges are assigned, the user cannot open the item, see or change its contents, or add content.
How access privileges appear to users:
How access privileges appear to a user depends on the version of operating system software on the user's computer.
Windows file sharing users can set folder properties, but not privileges.
Users of AppleShare Client software or Mac OS 8.0 or later can set access privileges for folders they own using the Sharing command in the Finder's File menu. When users of earlier versions of system software set privileges, the file server translates them as follows:
| User setting | Privileges |
| See folders, See files, Make changes | Read & Write |
| See folders, See files | Read |
| See folders, Make changes | Write Only |
| Make changes | Write Only |
| See files, Make changes | None |
| See folders | None |
| See files | None |
About user categories
You assign access privileges separately to three user categories:
Owner
The administrator (owner of the computer running AppleShare IP) by default owns all volumes and folders and has Read & Write access to all shared items on the computer running AppleShare IP.
A user who creates a new folder on the file server is its default owner. The folder inherits the privileges of the enclosing folder (unless the administrator changes the privileges settings).
The owner of an item is the only user who can change its access privileges.
User/Group
One user or one group can be assigned special access privileges for a shared item.
Everyone
All users who can log on to the file server: registered users, guests, anonymous FTP users, and Web visitors.
If a user is included in more than one category, the following rules apply:
Owner privileges override User/Group privileges.
User/Group privileges override Everyone privileges.
For example, when a user is both the owner of a shared item and a member of the group assigned to it, the user has owner access.