Admin access to other accounts

How do I give myself access to both accounts, but each of the other users only access to their own files?

Using the NetInfo Manager become a member of each user's group. You will then have access to most areas of their home folder. By access I mean you will be able to read their files, not change them.

Another option is to train your users to save documents that you need access to in the /Users/Shared folder. That way, each user can still choose to keep things private from the administrator. Ultimately, the administrator can still gain access if needed.

You could also create another folder in each user's Home directory. Then change permissions to that folder changing the Group to your username and Others to none. Thus giving yourself and the user access but denying other users access.

I don't think you should give yourself access to the users entire Home folder however.

Hope this helps.

Jim R

Or, if you want to stay out of the NetInfo stuff above, you could try doing it via changing permissions on the account. I used Batchmod (shareware, free download, super easy to use). After creating the user account(s), I then selected them and used BatchMod to change permissions so:

Owner = [user name], R,W,X
Group = Admin (presumably you), R,W,X
Everyone = nil

Essentially, they can still access their accounts, and for whatever reason, only they own and can access each (not into each others). But as Admin you can also R/W to it from your shell; they can't get into yours b/c they aren't Admins, and can't get into each others' b/c "everyone" is prevented.

It makes more sense in an academic lab, but I see what you're trying to do. I do the same thing w/my wife @ home; she has her account, and its "technically" hers and "technically" secure, but if for some reason I need to move around in there I don't need to change users or invoke "root" level to do so.