File and folder permissions

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

File and folder permissions

Special Permissions Full Control Modify Read & Execute List Folder Contents(folders only) Read Write

Traverse Folder/Execute File

x

x

x

x

   

List Folder/Read Data

x

x

x

x

x

 

Read Attributes

x

x

x

x

x

 

Read Extended Attributes

x

x

x

x

x

 

Create Files/Write Data

x

x

     

x

Create Folders/Append Data

x

x

     

x

Write Attributes

x

x

     

x

Write Extended Attributes

x

x

     

x

Delete Subfolders and Files

x

         

Delete

x

x

       

Read Permissions

x

x

x

x

x

x

Change Permissions

x

         

Take Ownership

x

         

Synchronize

x

x

x

x

x

x

Important

  • Groups or users granted Full Control on a folder can delete any files in that folder regardless of the permissions protecting the file.

Notes

  • Although List Folder Contents and Read & Execute appear to have the same special permissions, these permissions are inherited differently. List Folder Contents is inherited by folders but not files, and it should only appear when you view folder permissions. Read & Execute is inherited by both files and folders and is always present when you view file or folder permissions.

  • For information on setting permissions and descriptions of each special permission, see Related Topics.

  • In the Windows Server 2003 family, by default, Everyone does not include Anonymous, so permissions applied to Everyone do not affect Anonymous.

For more information, see Set, view, change, or remove permissions on files and folders and Set, view, change, or remove special permissions.