Permissions Granted

To make changes to the file system, for instance, by moving files around or renaming them, you must have certain permissions for the files and folders you are working with. To rename a file, for example, you need permission to change the contents of the folder it is in.

There are two basic types of permissions for a file or folder: read permission--that is, permission to look at its contents--and write permission, or permission to change its contents.

All of the tasks described in this chapter require that you have the correct permissions. When you try to do something you do not have permission for--such as move a file out of someone else's folder--a panel typically informs you that you cannot do it.

You can set permissions for your own files and folders to prevent anyone else from changing them. For example, you might give other people permission to read a folder, and therefore browse its contents. But if you do not give them write permission for the folder, they cannot change the folder's contents, for example, by moving a file out of it.

You can even use permissions to protect your work from yourself. If you remove write permission from an important file, for example, you cannot accidentally alter the file by saving changes to it.

For information on how to set permissions for yourself and for others who have access to your files, see "Changing Permissions for a File or Folder" on page 7-9.

Creating a Folder

As you accumulate files, you can create folders to put them in so they are easy to find. Choosing New Folder creates a folder in the current folder, as shown in Figure 6-1.

1. Open the folder in which you want to put the new folder.

2. Choose File from the Workspace menu.

3. Choose New Folder from the File menu.

4. Type a name for the folder and press Return.

Figure 6-1

Your new folder is empty at first. But you can put files and other folders in it by copying or moving them into it, by saving files in it, or by creating other new folders in it.

Pick a name for your folder as described in "Guidelines for Naming Files and Folders" on page 5-6.

Renaming a File or Folder

You can rename a file or folder simply by editing its name in the File Viewer or any other folder window, as shown in Figure 6-2.

1. Select the file or folder.

2. Edit the name in the icon path.

3. Press Return.

Figure 6-2

Pick a new name for the file or folder as described in "Guidelines for Naming Files and Folders" on page 5-6.

You can use Edit menu commands to edit a file or folder name. You can also choose Sort Icons from the View menu to alphabetize the contents of a folder after renaming in it. See "Workspace Manager Commands" on page A-10.

The name of a file or folder cannot or should not change in these cases:

• You cannot rename your home folder.
• Do not rename an application. Changing an application's name may prevent you from opening files you have already created with the application.
• Do not change a file's extension if that will prevent the file from opening in the right application.

Copying a File or Folder

You can make a copy of a file or folder in another folder, as shown in Figure 6-3 on page 6-6. When you copy a folder, you copy all the files and folders in it too.

1. Select the file or folder and drag it to the shelf.

2. Select the folder in which you want to put the copy.

3. Hold down the Alt key and drag what you are copying from the shelf to the folder in the icon path.

Figure 6-3

The standard way to copy a file or folder is to drag it from the shelf to a folder in the icon path. But you can also drag from the icon path to a folder on the shelf, or from one folder window to another.

You might not need to hold down the Alt key while you drag. It depends on where you are dragging the selection. When you drag it to a folder that is on a different disk, for example, the selection is copied even if you do not use the Alt key.

If a folder does not open when you drag a selection to it, check your permissions for that folder.

To find out which is your keyboard's Alt key, see "Keyboard Basics" on page 9-5.

If the Processes panel asks for additional instructions, see "Solving File and Folder Problems" on page 6-24.

For information on copying a selection of files or folders, see "Handling Several Files and Folders at Once" on page 6-21.

You can also use the Duplicate command in the File menu to copy a file or folder. See "Workspace Manager Commands" on page A-10.

Moving a File or Folder

You move a file or folder into another folder much as you copy it--by dragging it to the other folder, as shown in Figure 6-4 on page 6-8. When you move a folder, you move all the files and folders in it, too.

1. Select the file or folder and drag it to the shelf.

2. Select the folder you want to put it in.

3. Hold down the Command key and drag what you are moving from the shelf to the folder in the icon path.

Figure 6-4

The standard way to move a file or folder is to drag it from the shelf to a folder in the icon path. But you can also drag from the icon path to a folder on the shelf, or from one folder window to another.

If the Processes panel asks for additional instructions, see "Solving File and Folder Problems" on page 6-24.

For information on moving a selection of files or folders, see "Handling Several Files and Folders at Once" on page 6-21.

You might not need to hold down the Command key while you drag. It depends on where you are dragging the selection. When you drag it to a folder on the same part of a disk, for example, the selection is moved even if you do not use the Command key.

If a folder does not open when you drag a selection to it, you do not have permission to put anything in that folder.

When It Is a Copy or a Move

When you drag a file or folder to another folder, the Workspace Manager either copies it or moves it, depending on where the destination folder is. You can tell which by the shape of the pointer.

A copies the selection. This pointer is displayed when the selection and the

folder to which you are dragging it are on a different disk (or different part of a disk, if your system administrator has partitioned the disk to act as separate disks). For example, it is displayed when you drag a file from your system's hard disk to a floppy disk or to a disk on another system on the network.

A moves the selection. This pointer is displayed when the selection and the

folder are on the same disk or part of a disk.

To make the copy pointer appear in any case, you can hold down the Alt key as you drag. To get the move pointer, hold down the Command key as you drag.

Replacing a File or Folder

You can replace a file or folder with another one of the same name. If the replacement and original do not have the same name, rename one of them so they do. Then copy or move the replacement into the folder that contains the original. The Processes panel (see Figure 6-5 on page 6-10) asks if you want to replace the existing file or folder.

1. Select the file or folder you want to use as the replacement.

2. Drag the selection to the folder that contains the file or folder you want to replace.

3. Click on Replace in the Processes panel.

Figure 6-5

Replacing a folder removes the entire contents of the existing folder and leaves only the contents of the folder you copied or moved, as shown in Figure 6-6.

Figure 6-6

Any file or folder you replace is moved into the recycler. To get it back, see "Retrieving a File or Folder From the Recycler" on page 6-19.

For information on replacing a selection of files and folders, see "Handling Several Files and Folders at Once" on page 6-21.

If the Processes panel asks for additional instructions, see "Solving File and Folder Problems" on page 6-24.

Merging Two Folders

You can incorporate changes made to one folder into another folder that has the same name. When you copy a folder over another with the same name, the Processes panel provides the options shown in Figure 6-7.

1. Select the folder you want to merge.

2. Hold down the Alt key and drag the selection to the folder that contains the folder with which you want to merge.

3. Click on Merge in the Processes panel.

Figure 6-7

When you merge two folders, the new folder contains the entire contents of the folder you copy, plus any files or folders unique to the existing folder, as shown in Figure 6-8 on page 6-12.

Figure 6-8

To find out which is your keyboard's Alt key, see "Keyboard Basics" on page 9-5.

For information on merging more than one folder at a time, see "Handling Several Files and Folders at Once" on page 6-21.

Any file or folder that is replaced is moved into the recycler. To get it back, see "Retrieving a File or Folder From the Recycler" on page 6-19.

If the Processes panel asks for more instructions, see "Solving File and Folder Problems" on page 6-24.

How Merging Saves Time

Before the Workspace Manager replaces a file during merging, it checks for any differences between it and the replacement. It compares their size and the date they were last changed. If it finds no difference, it does not replace the file.

When you are working on a large project at your office, you might copy part of the project onto a disk to work on it at home. Maybe you change 5 files out of 20 that you copied. When you merge them back with the rest of the files, the Desktop Manager detects that you changed only 5 files. Instead of taking the time to copy all 20 files, it copies only those 5.

Creating a Link

You can keep a file or folder in one location and work with it in another by creating a link to it (see Figure 6-9 on page 6-13). The link looks just like the file or folder to which it points. It has the same icon, and when you open it, you see the same contents.

1. Select the file or folder to which you want to create a link and drag it to the shelf.

2. Select the folder in which you want to put the link.

3. Hold down the Control key and drag the selection from the shelf to the folder in the icon path.

Figure 6-9

To create a link, you can also drag from the icon path to a folder on the shelf, or from one folder window to another.

If a folder does not open when you drag a selection over it, you do not have permission to put a link in that folder.

For information on creating several links at a time, see "Handling Several Files and Folders at Once" on page 6-21.

You can identify a link and tell what file or folder it points to with the Inspector command. See "Getting Information About a File or Folder" on page 7-1.

What Is a Link?

A link is a pointer to a file or folder that is somewhere else in the file system. A link looks and acts like the file or folder to which it points. It has the same icon, and when you open it, you see the same contents.

• On a network, links make it easy for several people to open the same file.

  For example, if you are working with a group of people on the same project, you can create a link to your group's Schedule file and keep it in your home folder. To see the current schedule--including any changes made to it--you can open your link.

• Links save time.

  Instead of following a lengthy path to a folder you work in frequently, you can create a link to the folder and put it somewhere convenient, such as in your home folder. Then to get to the actual contents of the folder, you just open your link.

• Links save disk space.

  Instead of copying a sound or application into your home folder, just make a link to it. Since a link is just a pointer to the file, it takes up practically no space on the disk.

A link remains tied to the name and location of the file or folder it points to. You can move the link or rename it, and it still points to the file or folder. If the actual file or folder is moved, renamed, or deleted, however, the link breaks. You should therefore make links only to files or folders that you are relatively sure are not going to be moved or renamed.

When a link does break, its icon changes to a question mark. You can re-establish the link by returning the actual file or folder to its original location and name. Otherwise, you should delete the link.

Setting Options for Copying Links

When you copy a file that is actually a link, the Processes panel asks whether you want to make another link, or make a copy of the actual file or folder the link points to. If you do not want to be asked, you can select an option that applies for every link you copy. You select this option in the Workspace Manager Preferences panel, as shown in Figure 6-10.

1. Choose Info from the Workspace menu.

2. Choose Preferences from the Info menu.

3. Choose File Copy Options from the pop-up list at the top of the Workspace Manager Preferences panel.

4. Select an option.

Figure 6-10

Options for Copying Links

Select one of the following options from the File Copy Options in the Workspace Manager Preferences panel. The option you select applies for all links that you copy.

Ask When this option is selected, the Processes panel asks what you want to do for each link you try to copy.

Make a new link Select this option and the Workspace Manager creates another link for each link it copies.

Skip the link Select this option and the Workspace Manager skips all links without copying them.

Copy the original Select this option and the Workspace Manager creates a copy of the actual file or folder to which a link points.

Compressing and Decompressing a File or Folder

You can free space on your disk by compressing a file or folder, as shown in Figure 6-11. Then when you want to open the file or folder, you decompress it.

1. To compress a file or folder, select it and choose File from the Workspace menu. Then choose Compress from the File menu.

2. To decompress the file or folder so you can open it, select it and choose File from the Workspace menu. Then choose Decompress from the File menu.

Figure 6-11

When you compress a file or folder, the amount its size is reduced depends on the kind of information in it. Compression works best on text files, reducing the size by up to 75 percent. It is also a good idea for folders that you do not look in very often, such as a folder containing an old project you are not currently working on.

You can decompress a file or folder with the Decompress command or you can double-click on a compressed file or folder. In the latter case, the Inspector panel opens, and you can click on the Decompress button to decompress the file or folder. The file or folder then has its original icon and takes up its original amount of disk space.

You can use the Inspector command to find out the size of a file or folder before and after compressing it. See "Getting Information About a File or Folder" on page 7-1.

Deleting a File or Folder

You can remove a file or folder from the file system without immediately destroying it by moving it into the recycler--the icon at the bottom of the screen, as shown in Figure 6-12. When you decide you really want to destroy it, you can empty the recycler.

1. Select the file or folder.

2. Drag the selection from the icon path to the recycler.

3. When you are sure you want to destroy everything in the recycler, choose File from the Workspace menu and then choose Empty Recycler from the File menu.

Figure 6-12

You can also drag a file or folder from the shelf to the recycler. Or with the icon view, you can drag it from the current view.

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Caution - The Empty Recycler command permanently destroys the contents of the recycler. You should leave files and folders in the recycler until you are sure you do not need them. But to free disk space, make sure to empty the recycler periodically.

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Retrieving a File or Folder From the Recycler

When you move a file or folder into the recycler, it is not lost forever. You can retrieve it by opening the recycler and dragging the file or folder back to the File Viewer or any other folder window, as shown in Figure 6-13 on page 6-20.

1. Double-click on the recycler.

2. Drag the file or folder from the Recycler window to a folder in the File Viewer.

3. Click on the close button in the Recycler window.

Figure 6-13

You can only retrieve files or folders that you recycled since you last chose the Empty Recycler command.

You can destroy a file or folder without moving it to the recycler with the Destroy command in the File menu. See "Workspace Manager File Menu" on page A-11.

On many networks, the system administrator makes backup copies of files. If you accidentally destroy something, see your system administrator about retrieving a copy of it.

For information on deleting a selection of files and folders, see "Handling Several Files and Folders at Once" on page 6-21.

Handling Several Files and Folders at Once

You can work with several files and folders at once--to move them all to another folder, for example, or to put them all in the recycler. When you select several files or folders, a selection icon is displayed in the icon path, as shown in Figure 6-14 on page 6-22. You can drag this icon to copy, move, link, or delete the selection of files and folders just as you drag a single file or folder.

1. Select the files or folders you want to copy, move, link, or delete.

2. Drag the selection icon to a folder or the recycler.

Figure 6-14

If the folder does not open, you do not have permission to complete the operation.

Select more than one file or folder as described in "Selecting Several Files and Folders" on page 3-22.

If the Processes panel asks for additional instructions, see "Solving File and Folder Problems" on page 6-24.

Managing Several File Operations

OpenStep can perform several file operations at the same time (see Figure 6-15). You can copy a selection, compress a folder, and delete another folder, without waiting for any previous operation to be completed. In the meantime, you can do something else in the Workspace Manager or with any other application.

1. Choose Tools from the Workspace menu.

2. Choose Processes from the Tools menu.

3. Choose Background from the pop-up list at the top of the Processes panel.

4. Click on the operation you want to check.

5. If you want to halt the operation, click on Pause or Stop.

OpenStep carries out most of the file operations described in this chapter in the background--that is, behind the scenes where you do not have to worry about them. You can track the progress of an operation, or stop, or pause it with the Processes panel.

Figure 6-15

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Caution - Sometimes you need to make sure that a particular operation is complete before you begin another. For example, if you are moving some files out of a folder that you then want to delete, make sure the move is complete before you delete the folder.

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If you stop an operation that is partially completed, such as a copy or move, any file or folder already named in the panel is copied or moved. If you stop while a folder is named, parts of the folder may be copied or moved.

Solving File and Folder Problems

Sometimes when you are working with files, the Processes panel may describe a problem and wait for additional instructions before proceeding, as shown in Figure 6-16.

Figure 6-16

Here are some common messages and ways to respond to them.

One or several folders already exist at destination

* Click on Merge to merge all folders in the selection with the existing folder of the same name.

* Click on Replace to have all folders in the selection replace the existing folder of the same name.

* Click on Proceed to decide for each folder.

When you click on Proceed, you are asked whether you want to replace, merge, or skip each folder, one at a time (see the messages in "File or folder already exists").

File or folder already exists

* Click on Replace to replace the existing file or folder named in the panel.

See "Replacing a File or Folder" on page 6-9 for more information.

* Click on Merge to merge the folder named in the panel with the existing folder.

See "Merging Two Folders" on page 6-11.

* Click on Skip if you do not want to replace the file or folder.

When you are copying or moving a selection of files or folders, this button skips the one currently named in the panel, but keeps copying or moving the rest of the selection.

File or folder is a link

* Click on Copy to create a copy of the actual file or folder the link points to.

This copy is not a link.

* Click on New Link to create another link to the file or folder.

* Click on Skip if you do not want to copy the link.

When you are copying or moving a selection of files and folders, this button skips the link currently named, but continues with the rest of the selection.

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Note - You can choose one of these options for all links you copy with the Preferences command. See "Setting Options for Copying Links" on page 6-15.

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No room on disk

1. Remove files and folders from the disk to which you are copying or moving and click on Proceed. Choose the Inspector from the Tools menu to see how much space is left on the disk and the size of your selection.

2. Free the necessary amount of space, return to the Processes panel, and click on Proceed to complete the operation.

No room in recycler

* Click on Empty to empty the recycler.

Any files or folders in the recycler are permanently removed and then the operation continues.

Repeat Box

When the Processes panel asks how to handle one of several files or folders in a selection, you can check the Repeat box. Then click on a button to apply your response to the entire selection.

For example, if the panel says a file already exists, you can check Repeat and click on Replace to replace all files with the same name as any in the selection without being asked about each one.

If the panel says that a file or folder you are copying is a link, you can check Repeat and click on New Link to copy all links as links. Or check Repeat and click on Skip if you do not want to copy any links in the selection.

The Repeat option can carry out or skip any of these actions: replacing files, copying links, or merging or replacing folders. It applies only to the exact situation named in the panel.