Viewing and Modifying Permissions with SFTP

UNIX allows you to designate, on a file-by-file basis, who has permission to read the file and and/or write to the file. This is known as setting file permissions. When you upload a file, you become the owner of that file and it is assigned (usually) to the default permissions group that you are in. But, unless you say that other group members have permission to write to the file, they cannot make modifications, they’ll only be able to read the file.

You can use your Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) program to change permissions on a file.

Using WinSCP for PC

1. Select the file for which you wish to change permissions and right-click to bring up the contextual menu.
2. Choose the option for Properties. You'll see a panel displaying the active permissions for the selected file.
   When you upload a file to the Web server, the permissions are set by default so that the owner of the file can read and write to the file, the group and world can only read it (-rw-r--r--). If you’re working with a Web permissions group, then your default permissions should be set so that both you as the owner of the file and the group with whom you’re working will be able to write to the file (-rw-rw-r-).
3. In the section called Permissions, make sure to enable the correct group file permissions by putting a check mark in the box next to the "W" on the line marked Group.
4. Click the "OK" button to put the changes into place.

Using Fugu for Macintosh

1. Select the file for which you wish to change permissions and click the Info button. The file's info window will open displaying the active permissions for the selected file.
   When you upload a file to the Web server, the permissions are set by default so that the owner of the file can read and write to the file, the group and world can only read it (-rw-r--r--). If you’re working with a Web permissions group, then your default permissions should be set so that both you as the owner of the file and the group with whom you’re working will be able to write to the file (-rw-rw-r-).
2. In the section called Permissions, make sure to enable the correct group file permissions by putting a check mark in the box next to "Write" on the line marked Group.
3. Click the "Apply" button to put the changes into place.

Using Fetch for Macintosh

1. Select the file for which you wish to change permissions and click the Info button. The file's info window will open displaying the active permissions for the selected file.
   When you upload a file to the Web server, the permissions are set by default so that the owner of the file can read and write to the file, the group and world can only read it (-rw-r--r--). If you’re working with a Web permissions group, then your default permissions should be set so that both you as the owner of the file and the group with whom you’re working will be able to write to the file (-rw-rw-r-).
2. In the section called Ownership and Permissions:, make sure to enable the correct group file permissions by putting a check mark in the box next to "Write" on the line marked Group.
3. Click the "Apply" button to put the changes into place.