Enhancement: mergeable bulk edit permissions (#5508)

docs/api.md

@@ -330,6 +330,64 @@ granted). You can pass the parameter `full_perms=true` to API calls to view the
 full permissions of objects in a format that mirrors the `set_permissions`
 parameter above.
 
+## Bulk Editing
+
+The API supports various bulk-editing operations which are executed asynchronously.
+
+### Documents
+
+For bulk operations on documents, use the endpoint `/api/bulk_edit/` which accepts
+a json payload of the format:
+
+```json
+{
+  "documents": [LIST_OF_DOCUMENT_IDS],
+  "method": METHOD, // see below
+  "parameters": args // see below
+}
+```
+
+The following methods are supported:
+
+- `set_correspondent`
+  - Requires `parameters`: `{ "correspondent": CORRESPONDENT_ID }`
+- `set_document_type`
+  - Requires `parameters`: `{ "document_type": DOCUMENT_TYPE_ID }`
+- `set_storage_path`
+  - Requires `parameters`: `{ "storage_path": STORAGE_PATH_ID }`
+- `add_tag`
+  - Requires `parameters`: `{ "tag": TAG_ID }`
+- `remove_tag`
+  - Requires `parameters`: `{ "tag": TAG_ID }`
+- `modify_tags`
+  - Requires `parameters`: `{ "add_tags": [LIST_OF_TAG_IDS] }` and / or `{ "remove_tags": [LIST_OF_TAG_IDS] }`
+- `delete`
+  - No `parameters` required
+- `redo_ocr`
+  - No `parameters` required
+- `set_permissions`
+  - Requires `parameters`:
+    - `"permissions": PERMISSIONS_OBJ` (see format [above](#permissions)) and / or
+    - `"owner": OWNER_ID or null`
+    - `"merge": true or false` (defaults to false)
+  - The `merge` flag determines if the supplied permissions will overwrite all existing permissions (including
+    removing them) or be merged with existing permissions.
+
+### Objects
+
+Bulk editing for objects (tags, document types etc.) currently supports only updating permissions, using
+the endpoint: `/api/bulk_edit_object_perms/` which requires a json payload of the format:
+
+```json
+{
+  "objects": [LIST_OF_OBJECT_IDS],
+  "object_type": "tags", "correspondents", "document_types" or "storage_paths"
+  "owner": OWNER_ID // optional
+  "permissions": { "view": { "users": [] ... }, "change": { ... } }, // (see 'set_permissions' format above)
+  "merge": true / false // defaults to false, see above
+}
+```
+
 ## API Versioning
 
 The REST API is versioned since Paperless-ngx 1.3.0.
@@ -386,3 +444,13 @@ Initial API version.
   color to use for a specific tag, which is either black or white
   depending on the brightness of `Tag.color`.
 - Removed field `Tag.colour`.
+
+#### Version 3
+
+- Permissions endpoints have been added.
+- The format of the `/api/ui_settings/` has changed.
+
+#### Version 4
+
+- Consumption templates were refactored to workflows and API endpoints
+  changed as such.

src-ui/messages.xlf

@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.html</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">20</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">23</context>
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/dashboard/dashboard.component.html</context>
@@ -2438,7 +2438,7 @@
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.html</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">23</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">26</context>
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts</context>
@@ -2505,7 +2505,7 @@
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.html</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">22</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">25</context>
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/profile-edit-dialog/profile-edit-dialog.component.html</context>
@@ -3923,6 +3923,13 @@
           <context context-type="linenumber">15</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
+      <trans-unit id="7940755769131903278" datatype="html">
+        <source>Merge with existing permissions</source>
+        <context-group purpose="location">
+          <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.html</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">14</context>
+        </context-group>
+      </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="7062872617520618723" datatype="html">
         <source>Set permissions</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
@@ -3937,11 +3944,18 @@
           <context context-type="linenumber">33</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
-      <trans-unit id="8283439432608484491" datatype="html">
+      <trans-unit id="347498040201588614" datatype="html">
-        <source>Note that permissions set here will override any existing permissions</source>
+        <source>Existing owner, user and group permissions will be merged with these settings.</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">71</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">74</context>
+        </context-group>
+      </trans-unit>
+      <trans-unit id="3434726483516379481" datatype="html">
+        <source>Any and all existing owner, user and group permissions will be replaced.</source>
+        <context-group purpose="location">
+          <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.ts</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">75</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="5947558132119506443" datatype="html">
@@ -6100,18 +6114,18 @@
         <source>Permissions updated</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/manage/mail/mail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">211</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">212</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="4639647950943944112" datatype="html">
         <source>Error updating permissions</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/manage/mail/mail.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">215</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">217</context>
         </context-group>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/manage/management-list/management-list.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">300</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">301</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="4010735610815226758" datatype="html">
@@ -6277,7 +6291,7 @@
         <source>Permissions updated successfully</source>
         <context-group purpose="location">
           <context context-type="sourcefile">src/app/components/manage/management-list/management-list.component.ts</context>
-          <context context-type="linenumber">293</context>
+          <context context-type="linenumber">294</context>
         </context-group>
       </trans-unit>
       <trans-unit id="5101757640976222639" datatype="html">

src-ui/src/app/components/common/input/switch/switch.component.html

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
         }
       </div>
     }
-    <div [ngClass]="{'col-md-9': horizontal, 'align-items-center': horizontal, 'd-flex': horizontal}">
+    <div [ngClass]="{'align-items-center': horizontal, 'd-flex': horizontal}">
       <div class="form-check form-switch">
         <input #inputField type="checkbox" class="form-check-input" [id]="inputId" [(ngModel)]="value" (change)="onChange(value)" (blur)="onTouched()" [disabled]="disabled">
         @if (horizontal) {

src-ui/src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.html

@@ -5,12 +5,15 @@
 </div>
 <div class="modal-body">
 
-  @if (!object && message) {
-    <p class="mb-3" [innerHTML]="message | safeHtml"></p>
-  }
-
   <form [formGroup]="form">
-    <pngx-permissions-form [users]="users" formControlName="permissions_form"></pngx-permissions-form>
+    <div class="form-group">
+      <pngx-permissions-form [users]="users" formControlName="permissions_form"></pngx-permissions-form>
+    </div>
+    <div class="form-group mt-4">
+      <div class="offset-lg-3 row">
+        <pngx-input-switch i18n-title title="Merge with existing permissions" [horizontal]="true" [hint]="hint" formControlName="merge"></pngx-input-switch>
+      </div>
+    </div>
   </form>
 
 </div>
@@ -20,5 +23,5 @@
     <span class="visually-hidden" i18n>Loading...</span>
   }
   <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary" (click)="cancelClicked()" [disabled]="!buttonsEnabled" i18n>Cancel</button>
-  <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" (click)="confirmClicked.emit(permissions)" [disabled]="!buttonsEnabled" i18n>Confirm</button>
+  <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" (click)="confirm()" [disabled]="!buttonsEnabled" i18n>Confirm</button>
 </div>

src-ui/src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.spec.ts

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { NgSelectModule } from '@ng-select/ng-select'
 import { FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms'
 import { PermissionsUserComponent } from '../input/permissions/permissions-user/permissions-user.component'
 import { PermissionsGroupComponent } from '../input/permissions/permissions-group/permissions-group.component'
+import { SwitchComponent } from '../input/switch/switch.component'
 
 const set_permissions = {
   owner: 10,
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ describe('PermissionsDialogComponent', () => {
         PermissionsDialogComponent,
         SafeHtmlPipe,
         SelectComponent,
+        SwitchComponent,
         PermissionsFormComponent,
         PermissionsUserComponent,
         PermissionsGroupComponent,
@@ -112,4 +114,23 @@ describe('PermissionsDialogComponent', () => {
     expect(component.title).toEqual(`Edit permissions for ${obj.name}`)
     expect(component.permissions).toEqual(set_permissions)
   })
+
+  it('should toggle hint based on object existence (if editing) or merge flag', () => {
+    component.form.get('merge').setValue(true)
+    expect(component.hint.includes('Existing')).toBeTruthy()
+    component.form.get('merge').setValue(false)
+    expect(component.hint.includes('will be replaced')).toBeTruthy()
+    component.object = {}
+    expect(component.hint).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('should emit permissions and merge flag on confirm', () => {
+    const confirmSpy = jest.spyOn(component.confirmClicked, 'emit')
+    component.form.get('permissions_form').setValue(set_permissions)
+    component.confirm()
+    expect(confirmSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      permissions: set_permissions,
+      merge: true,
+    })
+  })
 })

src-ui/src/app/components/common/permissions-dialog/permissions-dialog.component.ts

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ export class PermissionsDialogComponent {
     this.o = o
     this.title = $localize`Edit permissions for ` + o['name']
     this.form.patchValue({
+      merge: true,
       permissions_form: {
         owner: o.owner,
         set_permissions: o.permissions,
@@ -43,8 +44,9 @@ export class PermissionsDialogComponent {
     return this.o
   }
 
-  form = new FormGroup({
+  public form = new FormGroup({
     permissions_form: new FormControl(),
+    merge: new FormControl(true),
   })
 
   buttonsEnabled: boolean = true
@@ -66,11 +68,21 @@ export class PermissionsDialogComponent {
     }
   }
 
-  @Input()
+  get hint(): string {
-  message =
+    if (this.object) return null
-    $localize`Note that permissions set here will override any existing permissions`
+    return this.form.get('merge').value
+      ? $localize`Existing owner, user and group permissions will be merged with these settings.`
+      : $localize`Any and all existing owner, user and group permissions will be replaced.`
+  }
 
   cancelClicked() {
     this.activeModal.close()
   }
+
+  confirm() {
+    this.confirmClicked.emit({
+      permissions: this.permissions,
+      merge: this.form.get('merge').value,
+    })
+  }
 }

src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.spec.ts

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import { PermissionsUserComponent } from '../../common/input/permissions/permiss
 import { NgSelectModule } from '@ng-select/ng-select'
 import { GroupService } from 'src/app/services/rest/group.service'
 import { NgxBootstrapIconsModule, allIcons } from 'ngx-bootstrap-icons'
+import { SwitchComponent } from '../../common/input/switch/switch.component'
 
 const selectionData: SelectionData = {
   selected_tags: [
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ describe('BulkEditorComponent', () => {
         SelectComponent,
         PermissionsGroupComponent,
         PermissionsUserComponent,
+        SwitchComponent,
       ],
       providers: [
         PermissionsService,
@@ -851,7 +853,18 @@ describe('BulkEditorComponent', () => {
     fixture.detectChanges()
     component.setPermissions()
     expect(modal).not.toBeUndefined()
-    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.next()
+    const perms = {
+      permissions: {
+        view_users: [],
+        change_users: [],
+        view_groups: [],
+        change_groups: [],
+      },
+    }
+    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.emit({
+      permissions: perms,
+      merge: true,
+    })
     let req = httpTestingController.expectOne(
       `${environment.apiBaseUrl}documents/bulk_edit/`
     )
@@ -859,7 +872,10 @@ describe('BulkEditorComponent', () => {
     expect(req.request.body).toEqual({
       documents: [3, 4],
       method: 'set_permissions',
-      parameters: undefined,
+      parameters: {
+        permissions: perms.permissions,
+        merge: true,
+      },
     })
     httpTestingController.match(
       `${environment.apiBaseUrl}documents/?page=1&page_size=50&ordering=-created&truncate_content=true`

src-ui/src/app/components/document-list/bulk-editor/bulk-editor.component.ts

@@ -540,9 +540,14 @@ export class BulkEditorComponent
     let modal = this.modalService.open(PermissionsDialogComponent, {
       backdrop: 'static',
     })
-    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.subscribe((permissions) => {
+    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.subscribe(
-      modal.componentInstance.buttonsEnabled = false
+      ({ permissions, merge }) => {
-      this.executeBulkOperation(modal, 'set_permissions', permissions)
+        modal.componentInstance.buttonsEnabled = false
-    })
+        this.executeBulkOperation(modal, 'set_permissions', {
+          ...permissions,
+          merge,
+        })
+      }
+    )
   }
 }

src-ui/src/app/components/manage/mail/mail.component.spec.ts

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import { TagsComponent } from '../../common/input/tags/tags.component'
 import { FormsModule, ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms'
 import { EditDialogMode } from '../../common/edit-dialog/edit-dialog.component'
 import { NgxBootstrapIconsModule, allIcons } from 'ngx-bootstrap-icons'
+import { SwitchComponent } from '../../common/input/switch/switch.component'
 
 const mailAccounts = [
   { id: 1, name: 'account1' },
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ describe('MailComponent', () => {
         PermissionsGroupComponent,
         PermissionsDialogComponent,
         PermissionsFormComponent,
+        SwitchComponent,
       ],
       providers: [CustomDatePipe, DatePipe, PermissionsGuard],
       imports: [
@@ -267,11 +269,11 @@ describe('MailComponent', () => {
     rulePatchSpy.mockReturnValueOnce(
       throwError(() => new Error('error saving perms'))
     )
-    dialog.confirmClicked.emit(perms)
+    dialog.confirmClicked.emit({ permissions: perms, merge: true })
     expect(rulePatchSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(toastErrorSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
     rulePatchSpy.mockReturnValueOnce(of(mailRules[0] as MailRule))
-    dialog.confirmClicked.emit(perms)
+    dialog.confirmClicked.emit({ permissions: perms, merge: true })
     expect(toastInfoSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith('Permissions updated')
 
     modalService.dismissAll()
@@ -299,8 +301,7 @@ describe('MailComponent', () => {
     expect(modal).not.toBeUndefined()
     let dialog = modal.componentInstance as PermissionsDialogComponent
     expect(dialog.object).toEqual(mailAccounts[0])
-    dialog = modal.componentInstance as PermissionsDialogComponent
+    dialog.confirmClicked.emit({ permissions: perms, merge: true })
-    dialog.confirmClicked.emit(perms)
     expect(accountPatchSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })
 })

src-ui/src/app/components/manage/mail/mail.component.ts

@@ -200,22 +200,27 @@ export class MailComponent
     const dialog: PermissionsDialogComponent =
       modal.componentInstance as PermissionsDialogComponent
     dialog.object = object
-    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.subscribe((permissions) => {
+    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.subscribe(
-      modal.componentInstance.buttonsEnabled = false
+      ({ permissions, merge }) => {
-      const service: AbstractPaperlessService<MailRule | MailAccount> =
+        modal.componentInstance.buttonsEnabled = false
-        'account' in object ? this.mailRuleService : this.mailAccountService
+        const service: AbstractPaperlessService<MailRule | MailAccount> =
-      object.owner = permissions['owner']
+          'account' in object ? this.mailRuleService : this.mailAccountService
-      object['set_permissions'] = permissions['set_permissions']
+        object.owner = permissions['owner']
-      service.patch(object).subscribe({
+        object['set_permissions'] = permissions['set_permissions']
-        next: () => {
+        service.patch(object).subscribe({
-          this.toastService.showInfo($localize`Permissions updated`)
+          next: () => {
-          modal.close()
+            this.toastService.showInfo($localize`Permissions updated`)
-        },
+            modal.close()
-        error: (e) => {
+          },
-          this.toastService.showError($localize`Error updating permissions`, e)
+          error: (e) => {
-        },
+            this.toastService.showError(
-      })
+              $localize`Error updating permissions`,
-    })
+              e
+            )
+          },
+        })
+      }
+    )
   }
 
   userCanEdit(obj: ObjectWithPermissions): boolean {

src-ui/src/app/components/manage/management-list/management-list.component.spec.ts

@@ -264,13 +264,19 @@ describe('ManagementListComponent', () => {
       throwError(() => new Error('error setting permissions'))
     )
     const errorToastSpy = jest.spyOn(toastService, 'showError')
-    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.emit()
+    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.emit({
+      permissions: {},
+      merge: true,
+    })
     expect(bulkEditPermsSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(errorToastSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
 
     const successToastSpy = jest.spyOn(toastService, 'showInfo')
     bulkEditPermsSpy.mockReturnValueOnce(of('OK'))
-    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.emit()
+    modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.emit({
+      permissions: {},
+      merge: true,
+    })
     expect(bulkEditPermsSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
     expect(successToastSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
   })

src-ui/src/app/components/manage/management-list/management-list.component.ts

@@ -279,12 +279,13 @@ export abstract class ManagementListComponent<T extends ObjectWithId>
       backdrop: 'static',
     })
     modal.componentInstance.confirmClicked.subscribe(
-      (permissions: { owner: number; set_permissions: PermissionsObject }) => {
+      ({ permissions, merge }) => {
         modal.componentInstance.buttonsEnabled = false
         this.service
           .bulk_update_permissions(
             Array.from(this.selectedObjects),
-            permissions
+            permissions,
+            merge
           )
           .subscribe({
             next: () => {

src-ui/src/app/services/rest/abstract-name-filter-service.spec.ts

@@ -53,10 +53,14 @@ export const commonAbstractNameFilterPaperlessServiceTests = (
         },
       }
       subscription = service
-        .bulk_update_permissions([1, 2], {
+        .bulk_update_permissions(
-          owner,
+          [1, 2],
-          set_permissions: permissions,
+          {
-        })
+            owner,
+            set_permissions: permissions,
+          },
+          true
+        )
         .subscribe()
       const req = httpTestingController.expectOne(
         `${environment.apiBaseUrl}bulk_edit_object_perms/`

src-ui/src/app/services/rest/abstract-name-filter-service.ts

@@ -26,13 +26,15 @@ export abstract class AbstractNameFilterService<
 
   bulk_update_permissions(
     objects: Array<number>,
-    permissions: { owner: number; set_permissions: PermissionsObject }
+    permissions: { owner: number; set_permissions: PermissionsObject },
+    merge: boolean
   ): Observable<string> {
     return this.http.post<string>(`${this.baseUrl}bulk_edit_object_perms/`, {
       objects,
       object_type: this.resourceName,
       owner: permissions.owner,
       permissions: permissions.set_permissions,
+      merge,
     })
   }
 }

src/documents/bulk_edit.py

@@ -129,13 +129,17 @@ def redo_ocr(doc_ids):
     return "OK"
 
 
-def set_permissions(doc_ids, set_permissions, owner=None):
+def set_permissions(doc_ids, set_permissions, owner=None, merge=False):
     qs = Document.objects.filter(id__in=doc_ids)
 
-    qs.update(owner=owner)
+    if merge:
+        # If merging, only set owner for documents that don't have an owner
+        qs.filter(owner__isnull=True).update(owner=owner)
+    else:
+        qs.update(owner=owner)
 
     for doc in qs:
-        set_permissions_for_object(set_permissions, doc)
+        set_permissions_for_object(permissions=set_permissions, object=doc, merge=merge)
 
     affected_docs = [doc.id for doc in qs]
 

src/documents/serialisers.py

@@ -916,6 +916,8 @@ class BulkEditSerializer(DocumentListSerializer, SetPermissionsMixin):
         )
         if "owner" in parameters and parameters["owner"] is not None:
             self._validate_owner(parameters["owner"])
+        if "merge" not in parameters:
+            parameters["merge"] = False
 
     def validate(self, attrs):
         method = attrs["method"]
@@ -1258,6 +1260,12 @@ class BulkEditObjectPermissionsSerializer(serializers.Serializer, SetPermissions
         write_only=True,
     )
 
+    merge = serializers.BooleanField(
+        default=False,
+        write_only=True,
+        required=False,
+    )
+
     def get_object_class(self, object_type):
         object_class = None
         if object_type == "tags":

src/documents/test_bulk_edit.py

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+from unittest import mock
+
+from django.contrib.auth.models import Group
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.test import TestCase
+from guardian.shortcuts import assign_perm
+from guardian.shortcuts import get_groups_with_perms
+from guardian.shortcuts import get_users_with_perms
+
+from documents.bulk_edit import set_permissions
+from documents.models import Document
+from documents.tests.utils import DirectoriesMixin
+
+
+class TestBulkEditPermissions(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+
+        self.doc1 = Document.objects.create(checksum="A", title="A")
+        self.doc2 = Document.objects.create(checksum="B", title="B")
+        self.doc3 = Document.objects.create(checksum="C", title="C")
+
+        self.owner = User.objects.create(username="test_owner")
+        self.user1 = User.objects.create(username="user1")
+        self.user2 = User.objects.create(username="user2")
+        self.group1 = Group.objects.create(name="group1")
+        self.group2 = Group.objects.create(name="group2")
+
+    @mock.patch("documents.tasks.bulk_update_documents.delay")
+    def test_set_permissions(self, m):
+        doc_ids = [self.doc1.id, self.doc2.id, self.doc3.id]
+
+        assign_perm("view_document", self.group1, self.doc1)
+
+        permissions = {
+            "view": {
+                "users": [self.user1.id, self.user2.id],
+                "groups": [self.group2.id],
+            },
+            "change": {
+                "users": [self.user1.id],
+                "groups": [self.group2.id],
+            },
+        }
+
+        set_permissions(
+            doc_ids,
+            set_permissions=permissions,
+            owner=self.owner,
+            merge=False,
+        )
+        m.assert_called_once()
+
+        self.assertEqual(Document.objects.filter(owner=self.owner).count(), 3)
+        self.assertEqual(Document.objects.filter(id__in=doc_ids).count(), 3)
+
+        users_with_perms = get_users_with_perms(
+            self.doc1,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(users_with_perms.count(), 2)
+
+        # group1 should be replaced by group2
+        groups_with_perms = get_groups_with_perms(
+            self.doc1,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(groups_with_perms.count(), 1)
+
+    @mock.patch("documents.tasks.bulk_update_documents.delay")
+    def test_set_permissions_merge(self, m):
+        doc_ids = [self.doc1.id, self.doc2.id, self.doc3.id]
+
+        self.doc1.owner = self.user1
+        self.doc1.save()
+
+        assign_perm("view_document", self.user1, self.doc1)
+        assign_perm("view_document", self.group1, self.doc1)
+
+        permissions = {
+            "view": {
+                "users": [self.user2.id],
+                "groups": [self.group2.id],
+            },
+            "change": {
+                "users": [self.user2.id],
+                "groups": [self.group2.id],
+            },
+        }
+        set_permissions(
+            doc_ids,
+            set_permissions=permissions,
+            owner=self.owner,
+            merge=True,
+        )
+        m.assert_called_once()
+
+        # when merge is true owner doesn't get replaced if its not empty
+        self.assertEqual(Document.objects.filter(owner=self.owner).count(), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(Document.objects.filter(id__in=doc_ids).count(), 3)
+
+        # merge of user1 which was pre-existing and user2
+        users_with_perms = get_users_with_perms(
+            self.doc1,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(users_with_perms.count(), 2)
+
+        # group1 should be merged by group2
+        groups_with_perms = get_groups_with_perms(
+            self.doc1,
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(groups_with_perms.count(), 2)

src/documents/tests/test_api_bulk_edit.py

@@ -765,6 +765,58 @@ class TestBulkEdit(DirectoriesMixin, APITestCase):
         self.assertCountEqual(args[0], [self.doc2.id, self.doc3.id])
         self.assertEqual(len(kwargs["set_permissions"]["view"]["users"]), 2)
 
+    @mock.patch("documents.serialisers.bulk_edit.set_permissions")
+    def test_set_permissions_merge(self, m):
+        m.return_value = "OK"
+        user1 = User.objects.create(username="user1")
+        user2 = User.objects.create(username="user2")
+        permissions = {
+            "view": {
+                "users": [user1.id, user2.id],
+                "groups": None,
+            },
+            "change": {
+                "users": [user1.id],
+                "groups": None,
+            },
+        }
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            "/api/documents/bulk_edit/",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "documents": [self.doc2.id, self.doc3.id],
+                    "method": "set_permissions",
+                    "parameters": {"set_permissions": permissions},
+                },
+            ),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+
+        m.assert_called()
+        args, kwargs = m.call_args
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs["merge"], False)
+
+        response = self.client.post(
+            "/api/documents/bulk_edit/",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "documents": [self.doc2.id, self.doc3.id],
+                    "method": "set_permissions",
+                    "parameters": {"set_permissions": permissions, "merge": True},
+                },
+            ),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+
+        m.assert_called()
+        args, kwargs = m.call_args
+        self.assertEqual(kwargs["merge"], True)
+
     @mock.patch("documents.serialisers.bulk_edit.set_permissions")
     def test_insufficient_permissions_ownership(self, m):
         """

src/documents/tests/test_api_permissions.py

@@ -700,8 +700,8 @@ class TestBulkEditObjectPermissions(APITestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
 
-        user = User.objects.create_superuser(username="temp_admin")
+        self.temp_admin = User.objects.create_superuser(username="temp_admin")
-        self.client.force_authenticate(user=user)
+        self.client.force_authenticate(user=self.temp_admin)
 
         self.t1 = Tag.objects.create(name="t1")
         self.t2 = Tag.objects.create(name="t2")
@@ -822,6 +822,79 @@ class TestBulkEditObjectPermissions(APITestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
         self.assertEqual(StoragePath.objects.get(pk=self.sp1.id).owner, self.user3)
 
+    def test_bulk_object_set_permissions_merge(self):
+        """
+        GIVEN:
+            - Existing objects
+        WHEN:
+            - bulk_edit_object_perms API endpoint is called with merge=True or merge=False (default)
+        THEN:
+            - Permissions and / or owner are replaced or merged, depending on the merge flag
+        """
+        permissions = {
+            "view": {
+                "users": [self.user1.id, self.user2.id],
+                "groups": [],
+            },
+            "change": {
+                "users": [self.user1.id],
+                "groups": [],
+            },
+        }
+
+        assign_perm("view_tag", self.user3, self.t1)
+        self.t1.owner = self.user3
+        self.t1.save()
+
+        # merge=True
+        response = self.client.post(
+            "/api/bulk_edit_object_perms/",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "objects": [self.t1.id, self.t2.id],
+                    "object_type": "tags",
+                    "owner": self.user1.id,
+                    "permissions": permissions,
+                    "merge": True,
+                },
+            ),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        self.t1.refresh_from_db()
+        self.t2.refresh_from_db()
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        # user3 should still be owner of t1 since was set prior
+        self.assertEqual(self.t1.owner, self.user3)
+        # user1 should now be owner of t2 since it didn't have an owner
+        self.assertEqual(self.t2.owner, self.user1)
+
+        # user1 should be added
+        self.assertIn(self.user1, get_users_with_perms(self.t1))
+        # user3 should be preserved
+        self.assertIn(self.user3, get_users_with_perms(self.t1))
+
+        # merge=False (default)
+        response = self.client.post(
+            "/api/bulk_edit_object_perms/",
+            json.dumps(
+                {
+                    "objects": [self.t1.id, self.t2.id],
+                    "object_type": "tags",
+                    "permissions": permissions,
+                    "merge": False,
+                },
+            ),
+            content_type="application/json",
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
+        # user1 should be added
+        self.assertIn(self.user1, get_users_with_perms(self.t1))
+        # user3 should be removed
+        self.assertNotIn(self.user3, get_users_with_perms(self.t1))
+
     def test_bulk_edit_object_permissions_insufficient_perms(self):
         """
         GIVEN:

src/documents/views.py

@@ -1385,6 +1385,7 @@ class BulkEditObjectPermissionsView(GenericAPIView, PassUserMixin):
         object_class = serializer.get_object_class(object_type)
         permissions = serializer.validated_data.get("permissions")
         owner = serializer.validated_data.get("owner")
+        merge = serializer.validated_data.get("merge")
 
         if not user.is_superuser:
             objs = object_class.objects.filter(pk__in=object_ids)
@@ -1396,12 +1397,21 @@ class BulkEditObjectPermissionsView(GenericAPIView, PassUserMixin):
         try:
             qs = object_class.objects.filter(id__in=object_ids)
 
-            if "owner" in serializer.validated_data:
+            # if merge is true, we dont want to remove the owner
-                qs.update(owner=owner)
+            if "owner" in serializer.validated_data and (
+                not merge or (merge and owner is not None)
+            ):
+                # if merge is true, we dont want to overwrite the owner
+                qs_owner_update = qs.filter(owner__isnull=True) if merge else qs
+                qs_owner_update.update(owner=owner)
 
             if "permissions" in serializer.validated_data:
                 for obj in qs:
-                    set_permissions_for_object(permissions, obj)
+                    set_permissions_for_object(
+                        permissions=permissions,
+                        object=obj,
+                        merge=merge,
+                    )
 
             return Response({"result": "OK"})
         except Exception as e: