---
title: cantModify
card_id: 69105
---

# cantModify

```
set [the] cantModify of [ph:stack] ¬
    to [ph:trueOrFalse]
```

The `cantModify` property returns or sets whether a stack can be changed in any way. It corresponds to the Can’t Modify check box in the Protect Stack dialog box.

Setting the `cantModify` of a stack to `true` selects both the Can’t Modify Stack check box and the Can’t Delete Stack check box in the Protect Stack dialog box.  When `cantModify` is true, a padlock appears in the menu bar. 

The default value is `false` (meaning that the card, background, or stack can be modified).

## Examples

```
set the cantModify of this stack to true
set the cantModify of stack "My Kiosk" to true
```

## Demo Script

```
on cantModifyDemo
   -- Test whether a stack is locked from the Finder, is on locked
   -- media, or is in a read-only folder on a shared volume. If it is,
   -- you can't set cantModify to false
   set <b>cantModify</b> of this stack to false
   if <b>cantModify</b> of this stack is true then
      answer "This stack is locked or is on locked media."
   else answer "This stack is not locked."
end cantModifyDemo
```

## Related Topics

* [cantDelete](/HyperTalkReference/properties/cantDelete)
* [userModify](/HyperTalkReference/properties/userModify)