Hey guys,

I have a directory structure with a bunch of directories and source files in those directories, with no filename extensions. I made the mistake of double clicking one in Rox which promptly sent the system into an unrecoverable, smoking tailspin as it tried to execute a few thousand lines of source as a shell script because everything in the directory had the executable bit set on. I had to power the machine off. Good ole Reiserfs- I didn't lose anything.

How do I fix this? I need executable turned on on directories, or I can't cd. But I want it turned off on files, these are source files. Is there a way to do a chmod to fix this? Or something else?

Thanks,
Rand

I wrote a script to use chmod to recursively change the permissions of files while maintaining the executable bit on the directories it recurses into. My problem was caused because i migrated all my data from FAT partitions when i made the grand switch =)

You can find the details of it here: http://www.kaear.co.uk/default.asp?pageID=33
And a direct link here: http://www.kaear.co.uk/linux/massfileset.sh

This will correct the problem, but won't stop it recurring (say if you copy stuff off a memory key regularly). If you go to Types in Rox options (right click --> options --> Types on left menu), you'll see a tickbox at the top: "Ignore eXecutable bit for known extensions". Ticking this will stop anything like you describe happening above.

Of course, the above is only relevant if you have file extensions on your source files. If I may ask, what source files have no extension?

- Piete.

PS: I hope there is enough clarity and DIRECT LINKS there for you.

PPS: The script has NOT been written exceptionally defensively, so I take no responsibility for misuse and/or loss of data.

PPPS: Seriously, it's not my fault if you don't follow instructions to the letter.

Ok, so the good news is that I didn't miss anything obvious. I thought that as soon as I wrote a script someone would point out that I could have issued a four character command and everything would have been fixed

Understood, thanks.

It's some work I imported from another platform.

LOL your answers are always complete and helpful, Piete. That wasn't directed at you. But people should realize that there's a lot going on in the world and not everybody is an expert in Linux, etc. What might be enough for one person wasn't enough for me in that case- which should have been obvious- because anyone who had to ask the question obviously had some gaps.

I guess I'm used to people coming from all different backgrounds so I try not to assume they know something. But that can also be a mistake.

But what if I do...?

Thanks a lot,
Rand

Then I will take full credit for fixing your box =D

Take it easy,
- Piete.

i'm using rox-filer 2.3 and i don't find the the tick box in my options. all i see is mime types and themes. am i missing something? this has got my curiousity up now....lol

Bizarrely enough it seems as though I'm using 2.2.0 ... i'm pretty sure i've got 2.3 at work, and the same box is there *somewhere*, have a hunt around for it ... meanwhile, I shall think about upgrading!