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user permissions within OSX

ddublu

ddublu

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 26, 2011
1,369
73
I am setting up a separate user login for my wife and want her to be able to see all of the folders that we've been seeing collectively under my login. Setting up a separate one for her so she can utilize 1Password separately from me. I created her login, made her an admin and set permissions on almost all of the folders (and included files) from my account but still can't see any of them under her account. I can get to the user folder and physically see them but it's still telling me I dont have the permission to view them. What did I miss?
 
Exactly what did you set the permissions to?

How did you set those permissions?

Please post either a screenshot of an inaccessible folder's Get Info window, or the 'ls -lde' output in Terminal for an example folder.

You might also log into your wife's acct, run Terminal, and type this command in a window:
Code: 
id
Do the same for your acct, and post the results. The thing I'm looking for is an admin group that you're both a member of.
 
This is a UNIX permissions thing.

By default, when a Mac user creates a new document or folder, it is read-write for the owner and read-only for groups and other. However macOS has locked down access to certain folders to read-write for the owner only, no read permissions for groups or others. These folders are Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Library, Movies, Music, Pictures. The one folder that is readable by others is the Public folder.

So, if you open up permissions for a bunch of stuff living inside the Documents folder, no other user can see them. You can open up permissions for the Documents folder.

All normal and admin users on a Mac are part of the "staff" group, so by opening up permissions to group, you allow access to basically any user on that particular Mac.

One way is to use Finder, select the folder in question, then Get Info (right mouse), and go to Sharing and Permissions. macOS also allows you to add permission to specific users.

Another way is to use a UNIX command "chmod 750 Documents" in Terminal; that opens up access to everyone in the same group ("staff"). My UNIX-fu is too rusty to know how to add permissions.

Another option would simply to create a new folder like "Family" in the top level of your home directory and drag the shareable stuff there.
 
OP wrote:
"So how do you go about making those files that we’ve shared for years also available in her separate account?"

If you just want to give her those folders "as is", here's a quick-n-dirty way to do it.
1. You'll need an external drive or USB flashdrive that can hold the files.
2. Make sure the external drive is formatted to HFS+
3. Copy the files you want to give to her, to the external drive/flashdrive.
4. Now, log out of YOUR account and have her log into HER account
5. Now, she should do this:
a. Click on the icon of the flashdrive ONE time to select it.
b. Type command-i (eye) to bring up get info
c. At the bottom of the get info window, click the lock and enter HER passwoard
d. In sharing and permissions, put a check into "ignore ownership on this volume"
e. Close get into.
6. Now she can copy the file you put there into HER account, and they will "fall under her ownership". This avoids any permissions problems.

BE AWARE that this is essentially a "one-way" move. Once she "owns the files", they can't "go back to you" (i.e., you won't be able to open them in your account) unless you repeat the routine above.
That's why I said "quick-n-dirty".
But it will give her a way to open YOUR files on HER account.
 
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