File Permissions Made Easy - Command Line

Checking File Permission

ls -lart filename
or
ls -l filename

The file permissions can be displayed using the command:

% ls -l [filename]

For example, to display the permissions on the file myfile.txt, type the command:

% ls -l myfile.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1  lnp5jb  777  Dec 22  myfile.txt

Changing File Permissions

The easiest way is the symbolic method, which lets you specify access classes and types with single letter abbreviations.

chmod modes In the command: % chmod mode filename the mode consists of three elements: who operator permissions The following options are possible: who: u user (owner) g group o other a all operators: - remove permission + add permission = assign permission permissions: r read w write x execute For example: to add permission for everyone to read a file in the current directory named myfile, at the Terminal , The a  stands for "all", the  +  for "add", and the  r  for "read". you would enter:  chmod a+r myfile removes read and write permissions from others. chmod o-rw file1.f adds execute permission to the owner. chmod u+x test