Quick Start Guide

Figure 6.3 File and Folders in KDE File Manager
Hidden Files
Similar to Windows, Linux also distinguishes between “normal” les and hidden
les which are often conguration les that you usually do not want to access or
see as a normal user. In Linux, hidden les are indicated by a dot in front (for
example, .hiddenfile). In order to access hidden les you can switch view in the
le managers as described in Section “Using Dolphin File Manager” (Chapter 2,
Working with Your Desktop, ↑KDE User Guide) or use a certain command in the
shell as described in Section 7.2.2, “Using Commands with Options” (page 87).
File System Permissions
Because Linux is a multiuser system, every le in a Linux le system belongs to
a user and a group. Only the owner of a le or directory (or, of course, root) can
grant other users access permission to it. Linux basically distinguishes between
three dierent types of access permissions: write permission, read permission
and execute permission. You can only access a le or a folder if you have at least
read permission to it. There are several ways to change the access permissions
of les and folders: either traditionally via the shell or with the help of your
desktop's le manager. If you have root privileges, you can also change the
owner and the group of a le or folder. Read how to do so in a shell in Section 7.5,
“Modifying File Permissions” (page 94).
For more detailed information about le system permissions refer to Section 6.3,
“File Access Permissions” (page 81). Apart from the traditional permission concept
for le system objects there are also extensions available which handle permis-
sions more exibly. Read more in Chapter 10, Access Control Lists in Linux
(↑Security Guide).
Basic Concepts 77