File Access Rights Constants

The valid access rights for files and directories include the DELETE, READ_CONTROL, WRITE_DAC, WRITE_OWNER, and SYNCHRONIZE standard access rights. The following table lists the access rights that are specific to files and directories.

Constant/value Description
FILE_ADD_FILE
2
For a directory, the right to create a file in the directory.
FILE_ADD_SUBDIRECTORY
4
For a directory, the right to create a subdirectory.
FILE_ALL_ACCESS
All possible access rights for a file.
FILE_APPEND_DATA
4
For a file object, the right to append data to the file. (For local files, write operations will not overwrite existing data if this flag is specified without FILE_WRITE_DATA.) For a directory object, the right to create a subdirectory (FILE_ADD_SUBDIRECTORY).
FILE_CREATE_PIPE_INSTANCE
4
For a named pipe, the right to create a pipe.
FILE_DELETE_CHILD
64 (0x40)
For a directory, the right to delete a directory and all the files it contains, including read-only files.
FILE_EXECUTE
32 (0x20)
For a native code file, the right to execute the file. This access right given to scripts may cause the script to be executable, depending on the script interpreter.
FILE_LIST_DIRECTORY
1
For a directory, the right to list the contents of the directory.
FILE_READ_ATTRIBUTES
128 (0x80)
The right to read file attributes.
FILE_READ_DATA
1
For a file object, the right to read the corresponding file data. For a directory object, the right to read the corresponding directory data.
FILE_READ_EA
8
The right to read extended file attributes.
FILE_TRAVERSE
32 (0x20)
For a directory, the right to traverse the directory. By default, users are assigned the BYPASS_TRAVERSE_CHECKING privilege, which ignores the FILE_TRAVERSE access right. See the remarks in File Security and Access Rights for more information.
FILE_WRITE_ATTRIBUTES
256 (0x100)
The right to write file attributes.
FILE_WRITE_DATA
2
For a file object, the right to write data to the file. For a directory object, the right to create a file in the directory (FILE_ADD_FILE).
FILE_WRITE_EA
16 (0x10)
The right to write extended file attributes.
STANDARD_RIGHTS_READ
Includes READ_CONTROL, which is the right to read the information in the file or directory object's security descriptor. This does not include the information in the SACL.
STANDARD_RIGHTS_WRITE
Same as STANDARD_RIGHTS_READ.

Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client
Windows XP [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server
Windows Server 2003 [desktop apps only]
Header
WinNT.h (include Windows.h)