Cascading and inheritance

Access rules in digital workplaces can be set as Cascading. Cascading rules are passed down from parent pages, spaces, and channels onto anything nested beneath; allowing you to set access rules that will be applied across several levels of architecture, through folders and subfolders and across entire spaces. It is also possible to set access rules that do not cascade, allowing you to create rules that apply only in one specific area, be it a page, space, or even an individual piece of content. Another effect of cascading rules is that if something is moved in your Site Manager, it will inherit new rules based on its new location. It is always possible to break the chain of cascading rules at any level, by turning inheritance off.

Sections in this article: 

Use cases

Creating collector pages

Collector pages organize your site by grouping spaces or channels that often have different access rules. To simplify setup, avoid creating cascading rules on the top-level page and instead create a single broad, non-cascading rule. This makes it easy to set specific rules on nested items without having to turn inheritance off.

Locking down access in small areas

Some areas in your digital workplace may need tightly restricted access despite being located within a less restricted space. A Human Resources space is a common example, where employees can see policies and procedures but not confidential information about other employees. In these cases, set up access rules for the broader area, then in private areas turn inheritance off and apply more restrictive rules where needed.

Features

Setting cascading and inheritance is part of setting access rules See these articles:

Turn inheritance off

Turn inheritance off to completely customize the access rules at any level within your digital workplace structure, regardless of rules that have been created above.

  1. Select Actions and then Access. 
  2. In the Inherited Rules section, select Disable Inheritance. 
  3. Select OK. You can now adjust your access rules as needed.

Restore inheritance

Inheritance can be restored in an area where it has been previously turned off. Restoring inheritance will turn on all cascading rules from the level above while keeping any location-specific rules that have been created. Note that if there is a conflict, the more permissive rule will take precedence.

  1. Select Actions and then Access. 

  2. In the Inherited Rules section, select View Details.

  3. Review the rules that will be applied if the inheritance is restored. If they are appropriate, select Restore Inheritance.
  4. Select OK. You can now adjust your access rules as needed.

Frequently asked questions

What rules will there be if I create a new page, space, or channel?

When creating a new page, space, or channel, that item will inherit rules from its parent location. If it is created at the root level, (i.e., it has no parent), the rules that exist for your homepage will be applied.

If inheritance is turned off and I move something, what will happen to its associated rules?

Nothing will change unless you restore inheritance. Content that moves will keep the rules that are already set.

Are Author Rule settings cascading?

Yes, they are. But, they can be adjusted at any level without turning inheritance off, down to the individual channel.

Best practices 

Avoid turning inheritance off

Try to build structures that do not need you to turn inheritance off. It is both easier to maintain and more intuitive to navigate a site that has cascading permissions throughout.

Avoid making hidden pockets of access

It is possible to add rules at any point in your structure that would allow people to see areas, without being able to see their parent pages or channels. This can be confusing when trying to navigate a digital workplace. It is best to take advantage of cascading to provide a low level of access through that area, and then open it up more in the specific places people need to work, allowing them to better understand the site’s structure.