Any User Can Check Off the Read Only Attribute of a Catalog Object in Oracle Analytics Server (Doc ID 2810310.1)

Last updated on SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

Applies to:

Symptoms

In OBIEE 12c, only the owner of a web catalog object (like an analysis) can check OFF the Read Only Attribute on the object. This functionality is leveraged by the original creator / owner of an analysis to identify who last made changes to it. For example:

1. As User1 (an author): Create a shared folder > Create an analysis and check ON the Read Only attribute (via Properties) > Grant Full Control on the folder and analysis (via Permissions) to other Authors
2. As User2 (an author): If User2 wants to edit **and** save the above analysis, then User2 has to first check OFF the Read Only attribute. However, User2 has to first take ownership of the analysis (Properties > Set ownership of this item), otherwise a "Path read only" error will be thrown on checking OFF the Read Only attribute. After editing and saving the Analysis, User2 can then check back ON the Read Only attribute.
3. In this way, User1 can deduce that it was User2 who changed his analysis, as the Owner of the object will now be showing as User2.

But in OAS 5.5, a user can check OFF the Read Only Attribute of a web catalog object without being the owner. So in the example above, User2 can edit and save the analysis, then check back ON the Read Only attribute, and the owner of the Analysis will still show as User1.  In this way, there is no trace left behind as to who last changed the analysis. 

Cause

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