Solved Folder Properties 'Read Only' showing a third option

TonyCzar · Jan 22, 2025

As seen in the attached screenshots, 'Read Only' is showing a third kind of checkmark: check sign , minus sign, and blank. I've never seen the minus sign before. Does anyone know what that is?

Brink · Jan 22, 2025

Hello Tony,

The minus looks to be an update instead of just showing a solid color. The solid color confused many into thinking it was Read-only when it wasn't.

TonyCzar · Jan 22, 2025

Having three variants is confusing. I can't imagine what the minus sign is supposed to indicate.

EDIT: Of course I should have googled it first. Seems to be a bug in Windows,.. or a feature. :eyeroll:

pseymour · Jan 22, 2025

It's not a bug. A confusing way to present something in an UI maybe. But you're looking at the properties of a folder, and the check box clearly says it only applies to the files in that folder. So, you get what is called the "indeterminate" state for the checkbox: not checked and not unchecked.

Other platforms use the dash, some don't. Chrome and Android use the dash in the box. I think Edge puts a dot in there, but who uses Edge, really? :)

Check boxes - Windows apps

Used to select or deselect action items. Can be used for a single list item or for multiple list items.

learn.microsoft.com

TonyCzar · Jan 22, 2025

Thanks, @pseymour. It's helpful to know it's a 'feature'. Now, how can I make all the files in that folder not Read Only? I've tried making the box empty and choosing to apply that to all subfolders etc. but the hyphen always comes back.

Brink · Jan 22, 2025

TonyCzar said:
Thanks, @pseymour. It's helpful to know it's a 'feature'. Now, how can I make all the files in that folder not Read Only? I've tried making the box empty and choosing to apply that to all subfolders etc. but the hyphen always comes back.

Set or Unset Read-only Attribute of Files and Folders in Windows 10

How to Set or Unset Read-only Attribute of Files and Folders in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

TonyCzar · Jan 22, 2025

Brink said:
Set or Unset Read-only Attribute of Files and Folders in Windows 10

How to Set or Unset Read-only Attribute of Files and Folders in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Damn, there really is more than one way to skin a cat.

Brink · Jan 22, 2025

Oh yes.

LesFerch · Jan 22, 2025

TonyCzar said:
Thanks, @pseymour. It's helpful to know it's a 'feature'. Now, how can I make all the files in that folder not Read Only? I've tried making the box empty and choosing to apply that to all subfolders etc. but the hyphen always comes back.

It doesn't show any actual status. Take a look at any folder on any Windows computer. That item will always be a solid box (or solid box with hyphen - same thing) whether zero, some, or all files in the folder have been marked read-only.

If it were to show actual status, Explorer would have to recursively check the read-only attribute of every file in the folder every time you open the folder properties. That could take a while with a folder that contains a lot of files, so it's not done.

It's just a control. It should have been implemented as two buttons, one to set all files in the folder read-only and another to unset. Better yet, they should just remove it altogether. Almost no-one needs to set file read-only attributes and if they really do, there's a command line for that. The interface only serves to cause confusion.

TonyCzar · Jan 23, 2025

LesFerch said:
It doesn't show any actual status. Take a look at any folder on any Windows computer. That item will always be a solid box (or solid box with hyphen - same thing) whether zero, some, or all files in the folder have been marked read-only.

If it were to show actual status, Explorer would have to recursively check the read-only attribute of every file in the folder every time you open the folder properties. That could take a while with a folder that contains a lot of files, so it's not done.

It's just a control. It should have been implemented as two buttons, one to set all files in the folder read-only and another to unset. Better yet, they should just remove it altogether. Almost no-one needs to set file read-only attributes and if they really do, there's a command line for that. The interface only serves to cause confusion.

Thanks. If I understand correctly, this description is blunt and appropriately scathing. What I'm hearing is that a + means all inside files & folder are Read-Only and a - or blank means they are not. Is that about right?

LesFerch · Jan 23, 2025

TonyCzar said:
Thanks. If I understand correctly, this description is blunt and appropriately scathing. What I'm hearing is that a + means all inside files & folder are Read-Only and a - or blank means they are not. Is that about right?

No...

As I said previously: "That item will always be a solid box (or solid box with hyphen - same thing) whether zero, some, or all files in the folder have been marked read-only."

In other words, when you open folder properties and look at that box it tells you... absolutely nothing.

The box only temporarily has meaning when you check it or clear it and click OK or Apply. It does not show any status whatsoever when you open the properties dialog. It's a misuse of a checkbox. It should have just been a button with a dialog, or two buttons, anything but a checkbox that makes people think their folder is read-only when it is not.

I know it's hard to believe that a checkbox could exist that doesn't convey any actual status, but there it is.

TonyCzar · Jan 23, 2025

LesFerch said:
No...

As I said previously: "That item will always be a solid box (or solid box with hyphen - same thing) whether zero, some, or all files in the folder have been marked read-only."

In other words, when you open folder properties and look at that box it tells you... absolutely nothing.

The box only temporarily has meaning when you check it or clear it and click OK or Apply. It does not show any status whatsoever when you open the properties dialog. It's a misuse of a checkbox. It should have just been a button with a dialog, or two buttons, anything but a checkbox that makes people think their folder is read-only when it is not.

I know it's hard to believe that a checkbox could exist that doesn't convey any actual status, but there it is.

Thank you.

Solved Folder Properties 'Read Only' showing a third option

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