hide files or folders to other users

I'm assuming that these folders are either:

a) in the root of your Home folder (ie. /Users/<youruser>/<the_folder_you_don't_want_others_to_see> )

or

b) outside of your Home folder entirely

If it's (a), then unless you can find a third-party utility that only hides folders on a per-user basis, you'll have to move those folders into a folder for which every other user has "No Access" privileges, ie. any of the default Home folders. Then, all the other users will see will be the parent folder, and none of the contents.

If it's (b) then you'll have to create a parent folder, put all your folders into it and make sure the parent folder has "No Access" privileges for all other users but you. If this folder is on a volume other than the boot volume, make sure that, "Ignore ownership on this volume" is unchecked in the Get Info… window.

In both cases, any user selecting the parent folder containing your folders will see only something like this:

You, on the other hand, will have all the access you need.

HTH.

To make a file/folder hidden you can do the following...

Launch Terminal.app (it's in /Applications/Utilities) and copy & paste

sudo chflags hidden

Then drag the file or folder you want hidden to your Terminal window.

It will now show the path to the item.

Press Return.

To Unhide:

Type

sudo chflags nohidden

Then drag the file or folder you want unhidden to your Terminal window.

It will now show the path to the item.

Press Return.

You definitely do not want to hide anything in the Finder. What you're asking for happens automatically, except that the files at the top level of your home folder are visible to other users. Usually that doesn't matter, but you can change it, if necessary, by adjusting the Sharing & Permissions settings in the Info window of your home folder. I recommend that you leave it alone unless you have unusual requirements.

The situation you're describing is a little confusing. Lets' try to cut through some of the information to the nub.

1) when you say, "session", do you in fact mean, "account"? IOW, you have separate accounts for each individual?

2) What is the purpose of the "Sharing" preference pane in your case? This only exists to allow access to files on the "shared" machine from across a network. Changes made here have no effect on local users. Anyone logging into a remote Mac using your credentials will naturally have full access to all of your folders.

The simple fact is that any folders and files kept inside any of the default folders (except Public) in your Home folder will be completely unviewable by - and therefore completely invisible to - any other user but yourself - see my screenshot above. If you're keeping sensitive folders outside of these default Home folders, then it's no wonder you're having difficulties.

If, on the other hand, you're finding that other users _can_ see inside your default Home folders, then you have a permissions problem. Open Disk Utility from an Admin account, select your boot drive and then Repair Permissions: this should fix that problem. NB: for this very reason, you shouldn't modify the permissions on your root Home folder (ie. the one with the same name as your account) because its permissions will be reverted to defaults whenever you run Repair Permissions (which, if you're wise, you should probably be doing after every point update at least).

HTH.

I believe I did understand your question, and my answer stands. Repairing permissions in Disk Utility will have no effect whatsoever.

If, on the other hand, you're finding that other users _can_ see inside your default Home folders, then you have a permissions problem. Open Disk Utility from an Admin account, select your boot drive and then Repair Permissions: this should fix that problem.

As Linc noted, that won't fix home folder permissions. To do that, boot with CMD+R keys held down,

This brings up the Repair Utilities screen. On top, in the Menu Bar click the Utilities item then select Terminal.

In the Terminal window, type resetpassword and hit the return key.

The Password reset utility launches, but you’re not going to reset the password. Instead, click on the icon for your Mac’s hard drive at the top. From the drop-down below it, select the user account where you are having issues.

At the bottom of the window, you’ll see an area labeled ‘Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs’. Click the Reset button there.

The reset process takes a couple of minutes. When it’s done, quit the programs you’ve opened and restart your Mac. Notice that ‘Spotlight’ starts re-indexing immediately.

jlasa79 wrote:

To baltwo

I tried your boot with CMD+R keys held down but got a locker, typed my password in and .... after 5 to 10 minutes got nothing else

Then, you have a corrupt system. From an admin account, CMD+R should take you directly to a window displaying Utilities. To correct that, you should reinstall Mountain Lion.