MATLAB: Fileattrib is returning the wrong (incorrect) results

MATLAB

I have a GUI that asks the user via uigetdir for the location for some output files. As a check I want to be sure the user can write to that location. Here is the code
dn = uigetdir;
if ~(isequal(dn, 0))
  if (dn(end) ~= filesep)
      dn(end + 1) = filesep;
  end
  % check for writable directory
  [~,fa,~] = fileattrib(dn);
  if (fa.UserWrite == 1)
      set(th, 'String', dn);
      btn = findobj('tag','exec');
      set(btn, 'Enable','on');
  else
      errordlg(sprintf('Directory: %s is not writable.', dn), ...
          'Read Only')
  end
Here is the result of that section for a directory that I do not have write permission.
fa = 
            Name: '*************************************'
         archive: 0
          system: 0
          hidden: 0
       directory: 1
        UserRead: 1
       UserWrite: 1
     UserExecute: 1
       GroupRead: NaN
      GroupWrite: NaN
    GroupExecute: NaN
       OtherRead: NaN
      OtherWrite: NaN
    OtherExecute: NaN
According to the documentation I have write permission. I in fact do not. If I try to write a file I get a windows error stating as much. I can confirm I don't have permission through explorer. The documentation makes me think this should work on Windows…perhaps I missed something.

Best Answer

You are not the owner of the directory. UserWrite is the write permission that the owner of the directory would have.
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