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What does CHMOD mean?
It's short hand for CHange file MODe. Implemented on Unix type servers including Unix, Linux, Sun and Mac servers. Windows servers do not recognize the CHMOD command.
When changing the mode or properties of a file or folder, you are granting rights to read, write and/or execute the file or folder to select users and groups.
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How do I use the CHMOD command and is it case sensitive?
It is case sensitive on some servers (albeit, very few) and as such should always be typed in lowercase. CHMOD is a Unix command typed at the command line prompt, but is also supported by Perl/CGI. To Change the settings or properties for a file or directory on your server, if you're on a server that recognises the CHMOD command, download our free copy of QuickCHMOD a Perl CHMOD utility, upload it to your server and start changing file permissions.
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How do I individually CHMOD files or folders in only the Current Directory?
Load QuickCHMOD in your browser and traverse to the directory you wish to set permissions for.
1). Place a Tick in the Checkbox field on the right of the file or folder name you'd like to change permissions for.
2). Select the new file or folder properties by clicking on one of the Distinct Permissions listed to the left of the file or folder name.
3). Scroll to the bottom of the page and leave the Common Numeric Value blank, then press the Button labelled "Apply Selective".
QuickCHMOD will apply selected permissions to all selected files and folders. All other files and folders will remain unaffected.
QuickCHMOD returns a list of files and folders that where successfully CHMODed and their new permissions.
Tip: If you're applying the same setting to several files, you can enter the desired Common Numeric Value (e.g. 777) at the bottom of the page. This will then be used as the new value for all selected files and folders which do not have a Distinct Value.
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How do I recursively CHMOD a folder on my server?
Load QuickCHMOD in your browser and traverse to the directory you wish to set permissions for. Set the desired Numeric Value and press the Button labelled "Apply Recursive". QuickCHMOD will recursively set permissions on all files and sub-directories in the Current Directory, and in all sub-directories and files that exist within the Current Directory. There is no limit to the number of levels/sub-directories QuickCHMOD can fetch.
QuickCHMOD will return a full list of files and sub-directories that where successfully CHMODed along with their new properties.
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Why can't I set a Numeric Value for CHMOD that has one of the three digits value's set at less than 4?
This is a precautionary measure built in to QuickCHMOD in order to prevent inexperienced users from setting permissions for files or folders which would cause them to be either hidden or inaccessible.
For example, if you set the new mode for file to 740 or 610, you are actually telling the server to hide the file from the world (wide web). You would not even be able to see the file on your FTP server. In some cases, on some server, you may be able to delete it and re-create it via FTP.
To switch this protection mechanism off and risk the above scenario, you need to edit the qc.cgi file. On line 37, set the following variable to 1, as shown here:
$AllowDangerous = 1;
Upload the script to your server and you can now apply all Numeric values less than or equal to 777.
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What do the Numeric and Alpha permissions mean?
They are unix codes for storing data permissions associated with files and directories on a unix/linux type server.
Each digit or set of characters can have a minimum numeric value of 0 or --- and a maximum of 7 or rwx.
The first digit sets the permissions which apply to the owner or creator of the file or folder (recognized by user log in name).
The second digit sets the permissions which apply to the group members associated with the file or folder (there could be several users attached to a group).
The third digit sets the permissions which apply to the world (web surfers, anonymous FTP account holders, etc).
The three permissions which can be applied to files and folders using CHMOD are : r for read, which has a numeric value of 4; w for write, which has a numeric value of 2; and x for execute, which has a numeric value of 1. 4 + 2 + 1 = 7 = Full read/write/execute permissions. Full read/write/execute permissions can be asigned to the owner only (700), owner and group only (770) or owner, group and world (777).
If you wanted to apply full permissions to a file for all users, you would set it to [7][7][7], or [rwx][rwx][rwx], which would mean the owner, group and world would have permission to read, write and execute. You are reading a file if you have downloaded it and can view the content in a browser. Of course writing to a file would require an interactive script of some sort, and only certain types of files can be executed (cgi scripts for example).
Other alpha characters you will see when viewing a directory listing include a leading d which indicates the item is a folder or directory, and l (that's a lowercase L) which indicates the file is a symbolic link (a shortcut which points to another file or folder on the server).
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How can I CHMOD files or folders at the command line?
To CHMOD 1 file: chmod 755 filename.cgi
To CHMOD several files: chmod 755 filename1.cgi filename2.cgi
To CHMOD all files and folders in current working directory: chmod 755 *
To CHMOD all files and folders in current working directory and each subsequent sub-directory and file: chmod -R 755 *
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How do I change ownership of a file (CHOWN)?
Changing ownership of files or folders can only be executed by the current owner, or a superior user (the root user for example). Ownership of a file or folder is automatically assigned to the user creating the file or folder at the time of creation.
QuickCHMOD does not currently support ownership changing or updating. It is planned for the next release. If you have Secure Shell access to your server and would like to change the ownership attributes for files or folders, you can use one of the following commands at the prompt:
To CHOWN 1 file: chown username:group filename.cgi
To CHOWN several files: chown username:group filename1.cgi filename2.cgi
To CHOWN all files and folders in current working directory: chown username:group *
To CHOWN all files and folders in current working directory and each subsequent sub-directory and file: chown -R username:group *
Separate the username and group with a :. Changing the group attribute is optional, but leave out the : if not changing groups. Ownership attributes are sometimes stored as user id numbers and group id numbers. Owners of files of folders carry more importance than groups of users attached to files.
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