box_set - Linux
Overview
box_set is a versatile command-line utility for configuring and manipulating file attributes, permissions, and user/group ownership. It provides a comprehensive set of options for customizing file and directory properties on Linux systems.
Syntax
box_set [-c|-i|-u|-g|-p|-r] [-f PATTERN] [-v] [-n] [-t SCRIPTS] FILE...
Options/Flags
- -c (change): Change file or directory permissions.
- -i (info): Show information about file attributes and permissions.
- -u (user): Change file or directory owner.
- -g (group): Change file or directory group.
- -p (preserve): Preserve the original permissions after changes made with -c, -u, or -g.
- -r (recursive): Apply changes to all files and directories in the specified path recursively.
- -f PATTERN: Filter files based on a wildcard pattern.
- -v (verbose): Display detailed information about each operation.
- -n (dry-run): Show the changes that would be made without actually making them.
- -t SCRIPTS: Specify a script or command to execute after each file change operation (requires -n).
Examples
-
Change permissions:
box_set -c 755 example_file
-
Recursively change ownership (root user):
box_set -r -u root directory/path
-
Show detailed file information:
box_set -i example_file
-
Preserve permissions while changing ownership:
box_set -c 774 -p -u new_user example_file
-
Use a script to perform additional actions after changing file modes:
box_set -t 'echo "permissions changed: $f"' -n example_file
Common Issues
- Permission denied: Ensure you have sufficient permissions to perform the requested operation.
- File not found: Verify that the specified file or directory exists and is accessible.
- Invalid syntax: Check for any errors in the command syntax or arguments. Use the
man box_set
command for detailed usage instructions.
Integration
- Combined with
find
command:find . -name '*.txt' -exec box_set -c 664 '{}' +
- As part of a script:
#!/bin/bash DIR=./files box_set -r -u username "$DIR"
Related Commands
chmod
chown
chgrp
stat
find