Locking Files and Folders

Locking files and directories prevents other users from editing or saving changes to a particular file while the file is locked. You can control who is able to write to any item (file or directory) at any specific time. A lock stays locked until you release it or the lock expires.

Locks are never indefinite. The duration of a lock is either explicitly specified when you create the lock, or is controlled by a setting that your System Administrator sets. The system default lock expiration time is one week from the time it is set.

Types of Locks: Simple and Recursive
Simple and recursive 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 one file or one directory, whereas a recursive 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 recursive lock. It is important to note that you can only place a recursive lock on a directory which has no current locks on its contents. If you attempt to create a recursive 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.

OR:

1. Navigate to the file's Info page by clicking on the file's Manage 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 to the right of the directory's name. Note that locking the directory in this manner creates a recursive lock. A recursive lock can only be placed on a directory with all unlocked content.

OR:

1. Navigate to the directory's Manage page by clicking on the Manage 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 recursive lock), click on the "Lock Directory & Contents" 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 simple 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
With the proper access rights, there are two ways to remove a lock on a file or directory. Note that write permissions is required and will display the appearance of a green lock 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.

OR:

1. A user with assign permission may unlock a lock by another member using this method. 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 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.
	The item is locked and you do not have permission to unlock it.
	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 file in question.