chflags in Mac OS X
By: Strauss K
Change a file or folder's flags.
Syntax chflags [-R [-H | -L | -P]] flags file ... Options -R Recurse: Change the file flags of file hierarchies rooted in the files instead of just the files themselves. -R -H Follow symbolic links on the command line (by default Symbolic links within the tree are not followed.) -R -L All symbolic links are followed. -R -P No symbolic links are followed. (default)
The flags are specified as an octal number or a comma separated list of keywords.
hidden set the hidden flag [Hide item from GUI]
Keywords and keyword aliases - Owner or Super-user only:
opaque set the opaque flag nodump set the nodump flag uappnd, uappend set the user append-only flag uchg, uchange, uimmutable set the user immutable flag uunlnk, uunlink set the user undeletable flag
Keywords and keyword aliases - Ssuper-user only:
arch, archived set the archived flag sappnd, sappend set the system append-only flag schg, schange, simmutable set the system immutable flag sunlnk, sunlink set the system undeletable flag
The
immutable flag is equivalent to locking the file in the Finder's Show Info box.
Putting the letters `no' before an option causes the flag to be turned off.
For example: nouchg means the file can be changed (immutable bit cleared) uchg means the file cannot be changed
Symbolic
links do not have flags, so unless the -H or -L option is set, chflags on a
symbolic link always succeeds and has no effect. The -H, -L and -P options are
ignored unless the -R option is specified. In addition, these options override
each other and the command's actions are
determined by the last one specified.
The
sappnd and schg flags may only be unset when the system is in single-user mode.
chflags(2).
You can use "ls -lo" to see the flags of existing files.
The return status is zero if the mode is successfully changed,and >0 if an error occurs.
Examples
Lock the file or folder named "finance" against changes
$
chflags uchg finance
Make the file "MyLogs.txt" append-only
$
chflags uappnd MyLogs.txt
Unlock your Documents directory and everything in it
$
chflags -R nouchg ~/Documents
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