Immutable attribute is a problem for editors
 

I want to be able to make a file write protected so I do not accidentally write over it.

So I set the immutable attribute.

Unfortunately no editor will let me save it under a different name.

Any workaround ?

I am using Linux Puppy which is root by default.

This is a shot in the dark, as I've never mucked about with the immutable attribute: Copy the contents of the file to the clipboard, open a new file in an editor, paste the contents into it, then save that file.

Alternatively, unset the immutable attribute: http://www.aboutlinux.info/2005/11/m...hich-even.html, then make a copy of the file.

Which editor(s) are giving you a problem? I just tried that with gedit, vim, and emacs, and none of them had any problem with writing to a different name.

Do you perhaps not have write permission in the directory?

You should 'muck' around more with the immutable attribute.

It is quite handy as even root users can not edit or delete it. :-)

Even the "all powerful" rm cannot touch it without first removing the attribute.

Your method is a clunky workaround at best. No offense.

Geany and Open office writer.

Slacko Puppy has root access by default.

I tried geany in tahrpup-6.0.5 and had no problem reading an immutable file and writing it to a new name. I can't get Slacko Puppy 6.3.0 to run well enough in a VM to test anything (major issues with X-windows and mouse tracking).

Did you make the directory immutable too? That would prevent creating a new file there.

Geany does work by saving to a different file name.