how to lock files and folder?

[NoBob]

Hi, Is there any way of locking files and folders from user changes in OS X? I have a lot of RAW files on an external mac-formatted HD and would like to stop them from being deleted or modified. Perhaps it's possible to change them to read only? Maybe that could work. Was wondering if OS X had something installed already that could do the job. If not, any suggestions for third party apps?

Thanks,
NoBob.

 

[MisterMe]

... Was wondering if OS X had something installed already that could do the job. If not, any suggestions for third party apps?

...

The Mac has been able to lock files since forever. You access this functionality via the File>Get Info... menu item. MacOS X extended this capability with Unix file permissions. In addition to Get Info..., you can also use the Terminal and standard Unix commands.

 

[NoBob]

Thanks, but if I go into the Info box, change the Ownership and Permissions settings to read only and choose "Apply to enclosed items", I get the message: "Are you sure you want to apply the selected owner, group and permissions to all the enclosed items? You cannot undo this.

I'd like it to be un-doable.

NoBob.

 

[polycat33]

Yeah, that scared me too, but I don't think it's a big deal. I mean, how undoable could it be? Can't you just set it back to whatever it was and then check the box for apply to enclosed files and folders?

 

[BlankStar]

it just means you can't hit "undo" and settings would be back.

you can still manually set them to whatever you want a zillion times...

 

[Gymnut]

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/lockmebaby.html

 

[MisterMe]

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/system_disk_utilities/lockmebaby.html

This utility accesses that same permissions flags as Get Info....

 

[Gymnut]

This utility accesses that same permissions flags as Get Info....

Naturally. If you have multiple items it would be more convenient. The OP stated he had a lot of RAW files and doing get info for several hundred if not thousands would be tedious and time consuming.