The folder level has two nodes: This Folder, for the selected folder, and Child Folders, for the other folders in the folder hierarchy of the branch. This feature allows you to set different access rights for each node.

In the client, the root folder of a view can be indistinguishable from that view. If the view is the root (or initial) view of a project, the root folder can be indistinguishable from that project.

Using the This Folder node to set access rights for the root folder can therefore affect a user’s access to a view. If the view is the root view, it can also affect the user’s access to the project. Therefore, most administrators avoid setting folder-level access rights on a root folder, as these rights may interfere with view-level or project-level rights.

For example, suppose the Developers group is not granted the right to see the User Manual folder and that this folder is the root of a reference view. Then members of the Developers group cannot open that view, even if view-level access rights allow them to see the view. An error message appears when they try to open the view. Users who can see a project but not its root view also see an error message.

The access rights in a reference view at the folder level are not independent of the access rights at the folder level in the parent view, as no branching will ever occur. You can see these access rights from either view if you have the rights to do so.

If you change access rights in the reference view, you simultaneously change the access rights in the parent view (and vice versa) because the folder in the reference view is the same object as the folder in the parent view.

If the child view is a branching view, the access rights in the child view at the folder level are independent of the access rights at the folder level in the parent view, but only after the folder in the branching view actually branches.

Initially, any folder you see in the branching view is the same object that exists in the parent view. Therefore, it has the same access rights in both views. Initially, you can change access rights in the parent view (and vice versa), because the folder in the branching view is the same object as the folder in the parent view. Once the folder branches, however, a new object for that folder is created in the branching view. This object begins a life cycle of its own and no longer has any access rights at the folder level.

The behavior of folders in a branching view affects the access rights:

• If a folder branches on change and you change one of its properties, its revision number changes. When the folder branches, it becomes a new object in the repository and no longer has any access rights at the folder level.
• If a folder does not branch on change and you change one of its properties, the revision number changes, but no new object is created. In this case, the folder retains its access rights in both views. Because both views still contain the same object, changes you make to the folder’s access rights in one view also change that folder’s access rights in the other view.

View this folder’s Name, Exclude, and Files tabs, which become available when Folder > Properties is selected. The History tab is controlled by the See folder history access right. The Link tab is controlled by the See folder links access right.

Change folder properties on the folder Name and Exclude tabs. Properties include folder name, description, use of inherited and local exclude lists, and contents of the local exclude list. If the folder is not a root folder, the working folder and alternate working folder settings are also properties. For root folders, the working folders are view properties and not controlled by this access right.

Delete this folder from its parent folder. Be aware that if you can delete any of this folder’s parent folders, you can still delete this folder.

Change the access rights for this folder. If you change this setting, be sure that you remain one of the users who can change access rights.

See this folder’s History tab, which is available when Folder > Properties is selected.

Change the revision comments for past revisions.

Lock folders exclusively.

Remove someone else’s exclusive lock on the folders.

Add a view label to this folder. Move a view label from one revision of this folder to another. This right controls direct manipulation of labels for this folder at the folder level. It does not stop users from attaching a view label to this folder when a view label is created.

Remove a view label from this folder. Be aware that if users can delete view labels, they can detach a view label from this folder by deleting the view label from the view, regardless of the setting for this right.

Add a revision label to this folder. Move a revision label from one revision of this folder to another. This right controls direct manipulation of revision labels for this folder at the folder level.

Remove a revision label from this folder. Be aware that if users can delete revision labels, they can detach a revision label from this folder by deleting the revision label from the view, regardless of the setting for this right.

See the links involving this folder.

Link this folder to other folders and items.

Change a link for this folder.

Delete a link for this folder.

See the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders in the folder hierarchy in the left pane on the screen. You can also view the Name and Exclude Properties dialogs, which open when Folder > Properties is selected. The History tab is controlled by the See folder history access right.

Change folder properties on the Name and Exclude tabs for child folders. The properties include the folder’s name, description, use of inherited and local exclude lists, and the contents of the local exclude list. If a child folder is not a root folder, the working folder and alternate working folder settings are folder properties. If it is the root folder, the working folders are view properties and not controlled by this access right.

Delete the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders from their parent folders. Be aware that if you can delete any of this folder’s parent folders, you can still delete this folder.

Change the access rights for the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders. If you change this setting, be sure that you remain one of the users who can change access rights.

See the History tab, which is available when Folder > Properties is selected. This action applies to the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders.

Change the revision comments for past revisions.

Lock child folders exclusively.

Remove someone else’s exclusive lock on the child folders.

Add a view label to the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project‘s or view’s folders. Move a view label from one revision of a child folder to another. This right controls direct manipulation of view labels for child folders at the folder level. It does not stop users from attaching a view label to child folders when a view label is created.

Remove a view label from the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders. Be aware that if users can delete view labels, they can detach a view label from child folders by deleting the view label from the view, regardless of the setting of this right.

Add a revision label to the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders. Move a revision label from one revision of a child folder to another. This right controls direct manipulation of revision labels for child folders at the folder level.

Remove a revision label from the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders. Be aware that if users can delete revision labels, they can detach a revision label from this folder by deleting the revision label from the view, regardless of the setting of this right.

See the links involving the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders.

Link the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders to other folders and items.

Change a link for the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project‘s or view’s folders.

Delete a link for the selected folder’s child folders or the selected project’s or view’s folders.

Create a folder in a parent folder, view, or project in which the Child Folder Access Rights dialog box has this option.

Share or move a folder in a parent folder, view, or project if its Child Folder Access Rights dialog has this option. Be aware that the access rights set for that folder and its contents, along with any rights set for specific child folders and items within that branch of the folder hierarchy, accompany the folder into the new folder.

Change the branching ability and configuration of folders that reside in a parent folder, view, or project if its Child Folder Access Rights dialog box has this option.