Default directory permissions

gwroy20 · 08-27-2005, 03:54 PM

Is it possible to have a default set of permissions for newly created directories? And, if so, is it possible to set this on a per-directory basis?

For example, say I have a directory ~/somedir

Is it possible to have all directories created inside of somedir have a default set of permissions?

spooon · 08-27-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gwroy20
Is it possible to have a default set of permissions for newly created directories?

you can set default permissions for directories and files using the "umask" command. The argument are octal digits representing permissions which are not given by default. For example, the common "umask 022" sets directories to 755 permissions and files to 644 permissions (i.e. the write permission, 2, for group and world are taken away from the full 777 and 666 permissions for directories and files respectively).

mherring02 · 08-27-2005, 04:13 PM

is umask a global command that affects multiple directories or does it really set the system to setup NEW directories in a certain way.
I think maybe the OP was looking for the latter

gwroy20 · 08-28-2005, 03:03 AM

Yes, I was looking for a way to have new directories be set up with a default set of permissions.

spooon · 08-28-2005, 03:24 AM

Yes, umask affects the default permissions for new files and directories.

eddiebaby1023 · 08-28-2005, 02:57 PM

The umask mask doesn't allow you to set default permissions, it only ensures that the bits in the mask are not set. If you have a umask of 022 and create a file with a mode of 766 it'll be created with permissions of 744.

Tinkster · 08-28-2005, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by eddiebaby1023
The umask mask doesn't allow you to set default permissions, it only ensures that the bits in the mask are not set. If you have a umask of 022 and create a file with a mode of 766 it'll be created with permissions of 744.

You got me curious: how do you explicitly create a file
with 766?

Cheers,
Tink

mherring02 · 08-28-2005, 04:30 PM

I don't know about CREATING, but here's the command to change access:

chmod <XYZ> <filename>

X, Y, and Z are the octal codes for the permission flags---for example: 7 (octal) = 111 (binary) ---this sets read, write and execute all true.

You have to be logged in as the file owner to run this.

For more info: man chmod