How to rename author in individual file properties.

Hello,

I just joined and looking forward to learning.

I just realized today that there will be files I have now or will be creating, consisting of "Office" Kingsoft Office, digital photographs, etc., files which I would prefer not to have my name showing in the file properties information, such as what's shown in properties>details>author. System administrator, PC's model name administrator, etc., include my name. My name is spelled there the same as what's shown during the windows 7 logon screen when it asks for the password.

I've had this PC for a few years and I assume I set what my administrator name is when I first set it up. I also assume every file I ever created since has my name shown in it that way. Security issues being what they are today, this may not be a good idea so I want to change my name in the file properties or even better, not have any name at all. I'd also rather be able to do this individually on a file by file basis for some files I may send to people I don't know well or their security habits.

How do I change or remove my name from file properties information?

Thank you.

In the properties under details there should be an option that removes all that information...

However, not currently at a computer to see myself.

Thanks for the reply. A sample jpeg file I'm looking at Properties>Security list "Group or user names" with three entries listed: 1-System, 2-my name (computer model) and my name again, and 3- Administrators (Computer model name). Below that list box are two buttons Add... and Remove. Selecting Remove pops up an alert saying it can't remove unless inherited permissions are changed. So, I think that's about changing permissions for the whole PC, which I don't want to do. I want to "Remove" the names shown for just this or other individual files.

I just stumbled on a possible solution. In the jpeg file's Properties>Details tab, not the Security Tab, it offers at the bottom "Remove Properties and personal information" this seems to be the exif file information. Author, file location and other identifying information is listed and there's an option to remove them all in this file or a copy of the same file. I think that should take care of the jpeg files. I checked other file extension types and I'm seeing a similar removal option. Thanks for your help.

... argh! Nope, it didn't "take". The Securities tab still shows the former information. I closed and opened the file etc. but the same situation exists. Please advise.

The security tab does not transfer with the file! That stuff is required without it you could not access that file on your computer. The security tab deals with the low level access rights, DO NOT MESS WITH THAT.

Ok. That's a step in the right direction. I tried it again with "Remove the following properties from this file" with "Select all" for the existing file and to make a copy with "Create a copy with all possible properties removed". Both options removed some of it. But both the original and the copy file still show my name in General Tab>Location: C:\Users\MyName\Documents... , in Details Tab>Folder path: C:\Users\MyName\MyDocuments... and Owner: ComputerModel\MyName... however Author and the camera infomation is clear. Computer: may have it too but what's listed is too short to see if it's there.

I tried something else. I copied both files and and a Kingsoft created "Word" file to an SD card. Both jpeg files only show the General and Details tabs. The General tab>Location: only shows the drive letter - that's it. The Details tab>Folder Path: (only drive letter is shown), Owner: Everyone. The only listed info. is about the file name, photo size, etc. but not my personal info. For the Word file I performed the Remove function while it was in the SD card and I got the same results as with the jpegs. So it's looking as if the problem is solved. Next question: 1- If I send the cleaned files from the SD card as an email attachment, I'd say it's safe to assume my personal info. will not be in the sent files. What about if I send the same files while located on my C: drive, which is showing me it still has my personal info. in Details as described in my last post? Will that personal information still be transferred with it? 2- What about metadata? Is there some hidden information in these files which identifies me, even in the files located in the SD card? If so how do I remove it without affecting the wanted file contents?

BretMan said:

Ok. That's a step in the right direction. I tried it again with "Remove the following properties from this file" with "Select all" for the existing file and to make a copy with "Create a copy with all possible properties removed". Both options removed some of it. But both the original and the copy file still show my name in General Tab>Location: C:\Users\MyName\Documents... , in Details Tab>Folder path: C:\Users\MyName\MyDocuments... and Owner: ComputerModel\MyName... however Author and the camera infomation is clear. Computer: may have it too but what's listed is too short to see if it's there.

The reason it is still showing you as the Owner and listed in your documents is becuase that is the base default of the file.

As you are logged in with your usernamer to the computer and it is available to you, you are the owner.

The Location shows were it is currently held, the only way to change that is to change the base directory..


Sending these files from either c:\, d:\ or whichever drive will not display your name once sent to the new owner of the file.

The only meta data that is created is the physical space in the storage device, which you cannot do anything about, and the Thumbnails.db will update only the image propertys so it can be viewed in the folder.

Bret, various part of the information in the properties is not part of the image. General > Location is the location of the file on the HDD, that will always reflect its location within the file system, this information does not transfer with the file if you were to send it.

Also various items with in Details under "File" do not transfer with the file, its just meta data that is part of the file system. Stuff like "Folder Path", "Attributes", "Owner", "Computer", etc.