CHFLAGS(1) General Commands Manual CHFLAGS(1)
NAME
chflagschange file flags
SYNOPSIS
chflags
[-R [-H | -L | -P]] [-h] flags file ...
DESCRIPTION
The chflags utility modifies the file flags of the listed files as specified by the flags operand.
 
The options are as follows:
-H
If the -R option is specified, symbolic links on the command line are followed. (Symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal are not followed.)
-L
If the -R option is specified, all symbolic links are followed.
-P
If the -R option is specified, no symbolic links are followed.
-R
Change the file flags for the file hierarchies rooted in the files instead of just the files themselves.
-h
If the file or a file encountered during directory traversal is a symbolic link, the file flags of the link itself is changed.
 
Flags are a comma separated list of keywords. The following keywords are currently defined:
Keyword
Flag
Permission
arch
archived
super-user only
opaque
opaque
owner or super-user
nodump
nodump
owner or super-user
sappnd
system append-only
super-user only
schg
system immutable
super-user only
uappnd
user append-only
owner or super-user
uchg
user immutable
owner or super-user
 
Putting the letters “no” before an option causes the flag to be turned off. For example:
 
nouchg
the immutable bit should be cleared
 
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 -o option of ls(1) is used to display the flags.
 
The chflags utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.
 
The kernel does not allow the flags on block and character devices to be changed except by the super-user.
SEE ALSO