How to Use CACLS.EXE in a Batch File

Last reviewed: September 23, 1996
Article ID: Q135268

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51

The CACLS.EXE command line utility does not provide a /Y switch that automatically answers with Y for Yes to the ARE YOU SURE? Y/N prompt. However, you can use the echo command to pipe the character Y as input to the ARE YOU SURE? Y/N prompt when you call CACLS.EXE in a batch file.

To programmatically answer with Yes to the ARE YOU SURE? Y/N prompt during batch file execution, use the following command line in your batch file:

   echo y| cacls <filename> /g <username>:<permission>

NOTE: Do not type a space between the "y" and the pipe symbol (|), otherwise, CACLS.EXE fails to make the permission changes.

KBCategory: kbgeneral
KBSubcategory: ntgeneral nthowto
Additional reference words: prodnt 3.50 3.51 bypass skip confirmation
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Last reviewed: September 23, 1996
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