Duplicate file names in Windows Server 2003
I need Windows Server 2003 folders to allow uploading duplicate file names. An example of a file that would be in this folder is mytest.txt file. Someone would have a newer version but would keep the same file name. I need them to have access to overwrite the existing file without any prompts, and the folder would just let the file go through and overwrite the existing file. Is there a permission that will allow this?

Software/Hardware used:
ASKED: February 25, 2008  9:29 PM
UPDATED: March 5, 2008  5:25 AM

Answer Wiki:
It's not possible to have two files of the same name in the same location, however it sounds more like you mean that you want users to be able to overwrite each other's files. If that is the case, then you need to modify the permissions on the folder granting users the Modify permission, and also make certain that you propagate the permissions down through existing files and/or subfolders. Really all the users would need is Change permission to make them overwrite other user's (or tehir own) files. You can set these permissions on a per-user basis, or you can create an Active Directory security group for the purpose. To prevent users from loosing data you might want to consider using Shadow Copies. What this will do is take a copy of the file every X hours and keep a specific number of copies so that you can look at the older versions. If the files are uploaded more often that the snapshots are taken then you will miss versions.
Last Wiki Answer Submitted:  March 5, 2008  5:25 am  by  Bdinerman   345 pts.
All Answer Wiki Contributors:  Bdinerman   345 pts. , Denny Cherry   64,550 pts.
To see all answers submitted to the Answer Wiki: View Answer History.


Discuss This Question:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _


 

since you want to overwrite then brad would be correct. you do not need shadowcopy for this, just the correct permissions.

 6,850 pts.

 

If users are copying the files into the folder through the GUI then suppressing the prompt is not possible, unless you use something like Robocopy GUI which may or not be capable of this but is worth looking into. On the other hand, if the files are being copied from a command line then the prompt can be suppressed using the /-y option for copy and xcopy commands.

 5,610 pts.