Running a SharePoint Site on Windows Home Server : Working with Site Settings (part 4) - Working with Permissions

4. Working with Permissions

A site’s permissions specify what a user or group can access on the site and what actions a user or group can perform on the site’s content and other items that are part of the site (such as users and even permissions themselves). As a site administrator, you can alter permissions in two ways: You can change the permission level assigned to a user or group, and you can create custom permission levels. The next two sections provide the details.

Changing the Permission Level of a User or Group

Here are the steps to follow to change the current permission level that has been assigned to one or more users or groups:

1.	Log on to the top-level SharePoint as an administrator.
2.	If you want to work with a group in a subsite, navigate to that subsite.
3.	Select Site Actions, Site Permissions. SharePoint displays the site’s Permission Tools page, which lists the defined groups as well as any user who has been assigned a specific permission level (such as Full Control or Design) instead of a group permission level; see Figure 5. Figure 5. Use the Permission Tools page to modify the permission level for a user or group.
4.	Activate the check box beside each group or user you want to work with. SharePoint displays the Edit Permissions page for the group or user.
5.	In the Ribbon, click Edit User Permissions. SharePoint displays the Edit Permissions dialog box for the group or user, as shown in Figure 6. Figure 6. Use the Edit Permissions dialog box to set the permission level for a user or group.
6.	Activate the check box beside each permission level you want to apply to the group or user.
7.	Click OK.

Creating a Custom Permission Level

SharePoint’s predefined permission levels—Full Control, Design, Contribute, and Read—should satisfy most of your needs. However, if none of these levels gives you exactly the permissions you want, you can create your own level. The following steps show you how it’s done:

Note

SharePoint actually defines a fifth permission level called Limited Access. This level is used to give users permission to view specific lists, libraries, and other content.

1.	Log on to the top-level SharePoint site as an administrator.
2.	If you want to work with permissions in a subsite, navigate to that subsite.
3.	Select Site Actions, Site Permissions to display the Permission Tools page.
4.	In the Ribbon, click Permission Levels to open the Permission Levels page.
5.	Click Add a Permission Level.
6.	Type a name and description for the new permission level.
7.	Activate the check box beside each type of permission you want to apply to this level, as shown in Figure 7. Figure 7. Use the Add a Permission Level page to create a custom permission level for your site.
8.	Click Create.

5. Deleting a Site

If you have a site that you no longer use, you should delete it to save disk space and, in the case of subsites, reduce clutter on the top link bar and Quick Launch. Follow these steps:

1.	Log on to the top-level SharePoint site as an administrator.
2.	If you want to delete a subsite, navigate to that subsite.
3.	Select Site Actions, Site Settings.
4.	Under Site Actions, click the Delete This Site link.
5.	In the Delete This Site page, click Delete. SharePoint asks you to confirm.
6.	Click OK. SharePoint deletes the site.