CODEWITHSUNDEEP
linuxfedora
user1157977
user1157977

Reputation: 917

How to use chmod to hide a folder but allows read/write of the files inside?

I just want to disallow the user to view the contents of a folder but still allows the system/user to have read/write the files inside(when they have direct path)

Is that possible solely by using chmod?

Thanks!

Update: basically there a fedora 14 os where by the account user(not root group) cant view the contents of a folder but he can still access the files in it if he has direct path to the files. Im looking at the root to do a cmod to disallow viewing of the folder content(means user cant double click into the folder)

Upvotes: 2

Views: 4997

Answers (2)

Tschwen
Tschwen

Reputation: 298

Yes, it is possible: chmod works like this

chmod u+w  pathYouWantToHaveWritePermissionForUser/
chmod u-r  pathYouWantToHaveNOreadPermissionForUser/

so for example you have the folder 

chmod u+w /home/You/save/
chmod u-r /home/You/save/

test it with

nano /home/You/save/test

tip in something andsave the file. If you tip

cd /home/You/save/
ls

you will not be able to see any file in this directory. But you could read the file test

cat test

learn more about chmod reading the man page

Upvotes: 0

mvp
mvp

Reputation: 116277

Yes, this can be done. Note that for files, bits in rwx permission mask mean: r=read, w=write and x=execute. However, for directories, meaning is different, namely: r=list directory, w=create or delete file in directory, x=descend to directory or access files or directories inside of it.

Knowing this, you can create directory structure which has your desired properties.

mkdir -p dir/subdir
sudo chmod 111 dir
sudo chmod 775 dir/subdir

With this, user will see that dir exists, but will not be able to see its contents. However, he will be able to read existing files in dir. Also, he will be able to cd dir/subdir and have normal access inside of it.

Upvotes: 4

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