# Attributes

The following attributes can be set for a NetWare* volume, directory, or file. Some attributes are not available from all attribute dialog boxes.

Archive or Archive Needed: Archive indicates that the volume, directory, or file has been changed since it was backed up. NetWare sets this attribute when a file is modified. Backup programs usually clear this attribute after backing up the file. Archive Needed marks the file so it will be included if the directory is archived.

Delete Inhibit: Prevents files and folders from being deleted. This attribute overrides the Erase trustee right.

- The Modify right is required to change this attribute.

- A user with the Modify and Erase rights can change this attribute and delete the file.

- This attribute is set and removed when the Read-Only attribute is set and removed.

Don't Compress: Prevents data from being compressed. This attribute overrides settings for automatic compression of files not accessed within a specified number of days.

Don't Migrate: Prevents files from being migrated.

Data migration takes files off the server and migrates them onto another media such as a tape or a read/write optical disk. The migrated files are still seen in the directory listing and can be retrieved transparently to the user.

Don't Suballocate: Previous versions of NetWare worked with a fixed block size, determined at the time of installation. The block size became the smallest unit of storage on the file server's hard disk. Generally, the larger the block size, the better the throughput between file server RAM and the hard disk. However, larger block sizes waste disk space. NetWare subdivides a disk block into smaller suballocation units of 512 bytes. This ensures that disk space is used efficiently.

If you don't want to use the suballocation units on the files you're copying, check Don't Suballocate.

Execute Only or Copy Inhibit: Execute Only permanently prevents files from being copied. Copy Inhibit prevents Macintosh** users from copying a file. This attribute overrides Read and File Scan trustee rights.

Hidden: Hides the volume, directory, or file from the DOS or OS/2** DIR command and prevents it from being deleted or copied The NetWare NDIR command shows the file if the user has the File Scan right.

Immediate Compression: Specifies that every file in this directory should be compressed as soon as possible after it is closed.

Purge Immediate: Specifies that this volume, directory, or file is immediately erased from the system if it is deleted. Purged directories cannot be recovered.

- Normally, files deleted by users are saved by NetWare so they can be salvaged (recovered).

- To view a list of deleted files in a directory and recover files, right-click the directory name and select Salvage.

- Normally, deleted files are saved until someone purges them or the NetWare server runs out of disk allocation blocks on the volume.

- When a directory is flagged with the Purge Immediate attribute, any file in that directory is purged when the directory is deleted. Those files and directories can't be recovered with the Salvage option.

Read-Only: Specifies that no one can write to this directory or file. When the Read-Only attribute is set or removed, NetWare also sets or removes the Delete Inhibit and Rename Inhibit attributes. Consequently, a user can't write to, erase, or rename a directory, or file when Read-Only is checked.

Rename Inhibit: Prevents the name of the file or folder from being changed.

- The Modify right is required to change this attribute.

- A user with the Modify right can change this attribute and then rename the file.

- This attribute is automatically set and removed when the Read-Only attribute is set or removed.

Shareable: Allows more than one user to access the file at the same time. This attribute is usually used only on files with the Read-Only attribute.

System: Marks the file as a system file.

Transactional: Allows a file to be tracked and protected by the Transaction Tracking System* (TTS*) feature. TTS allows interrupted operations to be backed out of the file, restoring it to an uncorrupted state. All database files that need TTS protection should be marked with this attribute.

- A file that is flagged Transactional cannot be deleted or renamed.

- A file cannot be flagged Transactional while it is open.

- The Modify right is required to flag a file as Transactional.

Attributes Notes

If you are displaying the properties of multiple files:

- A blank box in front of an attribute means that none of the files has that attribute set.

- A black check mark in the box in front of an attribute means that all of the files have that attribute set.

- A gray box with a gray check mark in front of an attribute means that one or more--but not all--of the files have that attribute set.

To remove this attribute from those files that have it, click the attribute.

To set this attribute for all the selected files, click the attribute twice. A black check mark appears in the box.

If you set or remove the Read-Only, Archive, or Hidden attribute on the NetWare File or NetWare Folder property page, the change does not show up immediately on the General page. Likewise, if you set or remove one of these attributes on the General page, the change does not show up immediately on the NetWare File or NetWare Folder page.

If you click OK and redisplay the file or folder properties, the change will show up everywhere it should.

Note: In most cases, it is better to make changes on the NetWare Info page. When you make changes on the General page, a "race condition" results, where the last page called sets the information. In this case, the NetWare Info page is always the last page called, so settings on the NetWare Info page will overwrite any changes you made on the General page.

* Novell trademark. ** Third-party trademark. For more information, see Trademarks.