# What build/sign steps required for app to access files? **URL:** \ **Category:** Xojo\ **Created:** [11 September 2026 19:02 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848 "2026-09-11T19:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TomBaumgartner](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/tombaumgartner/32/427_2.png) [@TomBaumgartner](https://ifnotnil.com/u/TomBaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [11 September 2026 19:02 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/1 "2026-09-11T19:02:12Z")
I liked Marc Zeeder’s comic downloader app in the latest XDev issue so much I decided to customize it for my personal use. What do I have to set up in the build and sign section to allow it to operate without having to answer the following popup every time? Happens to both debug and build apps. **“My Comic Downloader.debug” would like to access files in your Documents folder.** MacOS 15.7 Xojo 2025r2.1 ---
**Author:** ![Tim](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/tim/32/13_2.png) [@Tim](https://ifnotnil.com/u/Tim)\ **Post date:** [11 September 2026 19:18 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/2 "2026-09-11T19:18:41Z")
You need to remove anywhere that’s coded to use `SpecialFolder.Documents` ---
**Author:** ![TomBaumgartner](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/tombaumgartner/32/427_2.png) [@TomBaumgartner](https://ifnotnil.com/u/TomBaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [11 September 2026 19:42 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/3 "2026-09-11T19:42:59Z")
What is the replacement code to get the Documents folderItem? ---
**Author:** ![einhugur](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/einhugur/32/5207_2.png) [@einhugur](https://ifnotnil.com/u/einhugur)\ **Post date:** [11 September 2026 20:11 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/4 "2026-09-11T20:11:25Z")
Basically application is not allowed to access files without permission. Either via grant permission (the popup you see) or via Open or Save file dialogs. That is just how macOS works nowadays more or less. ---
**Author:** ![DaveS](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/daves/32/79_2.png) [@DaveS](https://ifnotnil.com/u/DaveS)\ **Post date:** [11 September 2026 20:37 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/5 "2026-09-11T20:37:32Z")
Applications Support folder does not ask permission, but it may not be in line with the functions of that app ---
**Author:** ![jmadren](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/jmadren/32/65_2.png) [@jmadren](https://ifnotnil.com/u/jmadren)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2026 13:45 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/6 "2026-09-12T13:45:53Z")
You have to set some key in the plist file. Don’t know which one - that’s what I use App Wrapper for - everything’s spelled out so you don’t have to hunt and guess. ---
**Author:** ![TomBaumgartner](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/tombaumgartner/32/427_2.png) [@TomBaumgartner](https://ifnotnil.com/u/TomBaumgartner)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2026 18:48 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/7 "2026-09-12T18:48:37Z")
I put the data file in the Application Support folder and the other support files (Xojo script, etc.) in the app’s folder in the Applications folder. That solved the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Tim](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/tim/32/13_2.png) [@Tim](https://ifnotnil.com/u/Tim)\ **Post date:** [12 September 2026 19:06 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/8 "2026-09-12T19:06:51Z")
> [@jmadren](#): > > You have to set some key in the plist file. Not for Documents. That is why I had written my instructions as they are. Here’s where you can ask for permission in App Wrapper: ![Screenshot 2026-09-12 at 15.03.07](https://ifnotnil.com/uploads/default/original/2X/5/52f9eb5837e715b455547bb734f1754ca1b9a525.jpeg) Here’s where it’s done in Xojo: ![Screenshot 2026-09-12 at 15.04.29](https://ifnotnil.com/uploads/default/original/2X/8/8b224378c4d3b1660f5ad3473bac10a5b9b4bbdc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Stretch327](https://ifnotnil.com/user_avatar/ifnotnil.com/stretch327/32/5162_2.png) [@Stretch327](https://ifnotnil.com/u/Stretch327)\ **Post date:** [13 September 2026 01:31 UTC](https://ifnotnil.com/t/what-build-sign-steps-required-for-app-to-access-files/4848/9 "2026-09-13T01:31:11Z")
Those are called “Entitlements”. And just to be fair to everyone, they are ultimately just plist entries.