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My WebSpace - Locking Files and Directories

This document explains how to lock files and directories from editing that you are sharing with other users.

 Locking Files and Directories

Locking files and directories prevents other users from editing or saving changes to a particular file for a particular period of time. My WebSpace enables you to control who is able to write to any item (file or directory) at any specific time. A lock stays locked for 7 days or until you release it, whichever comes first. Locking a file does not prevent a user from reading or saving the file to their local computer.

Types of Locks: Simple, Partial and Total

Simple, partial and total locks differ according to whether they apply only to a single file or to a single directory versus applying to a directory and all of its contents. Simple locks are applied to a specific file; partial locks are applied to a directory, but not the files within the directory, whereas a total lock applies to a directory and all of its contents, including both files and subdirectories.

For instance, if you are working on several files within a particular directory, you may wish to lock the whole directory for a time to prevent anyone else's writing to any document in that directory. Such a situation requires a total lock. It is important to note that you can only place a total lock on a directory which has no current locks on its contents. If you attempt to create a total lock on a directory which has some locked content, you will receive an error.

To create a lock on a file:
There are two ways to create a lock on a file:

• You can create a lock by simply clicking on the "Lock" icon which appears on the far right of each file's row.

1. Or navigate to the file's Info page by clicking on the file's Info icon and click on the Locks link.
2. Click on the "Lock Resource" button from the top toolbar.
3. Click on the "Back" link to return to the file information screen.

To create a lock on a directory:
There are two ways to create a lock on a directory:

• You can create a lock by simply clicking on the "Lock" icon which appears on the far right of each directory's row. Note that locking the directory in this manner creates a total lock. A recursive lock can only be placed on a directory with all unlocked content.

1. Navigate to the directory's Info page by clicking on the Info link next to the name of the directory in the gray directory name bar.
2. Click on the "Locks" link in the Information screen for that directory.
3. To lock the current directory and every item within it (a total lock), click on the "Lock Directory & Everything in it" button in the top toolbar. You can only place this type of lock on a directory with all unlocked content. To simply lock the directory so that no other user can upload files to it but other users may edit current files within the directory (a partial lock), click on the "Lock Resource" button in the top toolbar.
4. Click on the "Back" link until you return to the directory listing.

To remove a lock on a file or directory:
Given the correct permission, there are two ways to remove a lock on a file or directory. Note the "correct permission" is indicated by the appearance of a green lock.

• You can remove a lock by simply clicking on the green "Lock" icon which appears on the far right of each item's row.

1. Go to the Information screen of the directory or the File Management screen of the file you wish to unlock.
2. Click on the "Locks" link for that item.
3. Click on the "Remove" button.
4. Click on the "Back" link in the upper right hand corner of the screen to exit the Locks summary screen.

Lock Icon Definitions
There are several types of lock icons which can be displayed. Each lock icon defines the type of lock that is or is not on the specific file or directory. The appearance of the lock icon indicates the current lock status according to the following table.

	The item is unlocked. You can create a lock on the file or directory by clicking the item's lock icon.
	The item is locked but you can unlock it by clicking on the icon (green lock).
	The item is locked and you do not have permission to unlock it (red lock).
	If you see no icon, you do not have the correct permissions to know if the file is locked, i.e. you only have permission to "read" or view the item in question.