Using Terminal Server's FLATTEMP Command

ID: Q186524

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SUMMARY

Use the Flattemp.exe utility to enable or disable "flat" temporary directories. By default, flat temporary directories are disabled. This means that the system will create a subdirectory under the directory specified by the TEMP and TMP environment variables that correspond to the hexadecimal value of each user's logon ID.

MORE INFORMATION

For example, if a user logs on to Terminal Server and his logon ID is 2 (decimal), the system creates the directory C:\TEMP\2 (if C:\TEMP is the directory specified by the user's TEMP environment variable). If a user logs on and has logon ID 10 (decimal), the directory created is C:\TEMP\A.

By using FLATTEMP to enable flat temporary directories, the system no longer creates subdirectories under the directory specified by the user's TEMP environment variable. This could result in users using the same directory to store temporary files. If flat temporary directories are enabled, make sure each user is using his or her own specific temporary directory by setting the TEMP and TMP environment variables in the System applet in Control Panel.

Usage is as follows:


   FLATTEMP - enable or disable flat temporary directories.

   [/Q] query current setting.

   [/ENABLE] enable flat temporary directories.

   [/DISABLE] disable flag temporary directories.

   [/?] Display help message.

This setting is system global: it applies to all users.

NOTE: When you enable this tool it changes the permissions on the Temp directory to the following:

Logged on user FC
Administrator FC
System FC

No other accounts are in the Access Control List (ACL) and the Everyone and Creator/Owner groups are removed. All users need to modify their environment variables for Temp and Tmp to point to their home folder. If users do not change their variables, they cannot gain access to the Temp folder.

Additional query words:

Keywords :
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbinfo