Changing the permissions for UNIX files

You can change modes for a UNIX file on an FTP site, provided you have permission.

  1. Select the file.
  2. From the right mouse menu select Properties.The permissions areas appear at the bottom of the Properties dialog.If the file is not on a UNIX server, the fields will be blank.
  3. Set any of the options and click the OK button.

Background Information

Permissions can also be expressed as three-digit values; for example, 751. The first digit expresses Owner permissions; the second, Group permissions; the third, Other.

Three-digit values are used in the WS_FTP log, in the message area, and by some system administrators and ISPs.

The table below shows how WS_FTP options correspond to each digit. The third column shows the possible values for Owner, Group, and Other as viewed in the ten-position value in the first column of a directory list for a UNIX site.

WS_FTP Options

1st, 2nd, or 3rd digit of 3- digit no.

Permissions in dir list

none

0

---

Execute

1

--x

Write

2

-w-

Write, Execute

3

-wx

Read

4

r--

Read, Execute

5

r-x

Read, Write

6

rw-

Read, Write, Execute

7

rwx

Therefore, the permission described as 751 would appear in a directory listing as a ten-position code, drwxr-x—x, where:

  • the first position, d, indicates whether item is a file (-) or directory (d)
  • positions 2-4 (rwx) indicate Owner permissions: read, write, execute
  • positions 5-7 (r-x) indicate Group permissions: read and execute.
  • positions 8-10 (--x) indicate Other permissions: execute only.
Note: If you attempt to change permissions, you will need to check the message area or the log to see if you were successful.