title: Supported values for metadata key ''read-only'' role: manual tags: #manual #meta #reference #zettel #zettelstore syntax: zmk back: 00001006020000 00001012921200 backward: 00001006020000 00001010070300 00001012921200 box-number: 1 copyright: (c) 2020-present by Detlef Stern created: 20210126175322 forward: 00001004011400 00001006030500 00001010040100 00001010070300 00001014000000 lang: en license: EUPL-1.2-or-later modified: 20250602181627 published: 20250602181627 visibility: public A zettel can be marked as read-only, if it contains a metadata value for key [`read-only`](00001006020000#read-only). If user authentication is [enabled](00001010040100), it is possible to allow some users to change the zettel, depending on their [user role](00001010070300). Otherwise, the read-only mark is just a binary value. # No authentication If there is no metadata value for key `read-only` or if its [boolean value](00001006030500) is interpreted as “false”, anybody can modify the zettel. If the metadata value is something else (the value “true” is recommended), the user cannot modify the zettel through the [web user interface](00001014000000). However, if the zettel is stored as a file in a [directory box](00001004011400), the zettel could be modified using an external editor. # Authentication enabled If there is no metadata value for key `read-only` or if its [boolean value](00001006030500) is interpreted as “false”, anybody can modify the zettel. If the metadata value is the same as an explicit [user role](00001010070300), users with that role (or a role with lower rights) are not allowed to modify the zettel. If the metadata value is something else (one of the values “true” or “owner” is recommended), no user is allowed to modify the zettel through the [web user interface](00001014000000). However, if the zettel is accessible as a file in a [directory box](00001004011400), the zettel could be modified using an external editor. Typically the owner of a Zettelstore has such access.