ALTFILE

Changes the attributes of an existing file or directory. (Native Mode)

Syntax

ALTFILE[ FILE=] filename [ ] ;OWNER=ownername] ] [ [ ;GROUPID=] POSIXgroupname]

Parameters

filename

The filename of the object to be altered, specified in either MPE or HFS syntax. The filename may name a file, hierarchical directory, root, MPE group or account. Note that MPE groups or accounts can ONLY be named via HFS (Hierarchical File System) syntax. Temporary files are not recognized.

This is a required parameter. You may not use wildcards, back-reference a file equation, or name a system-defined file such as $NULL.

If the filename is in MPE syntax and it has a lockword, do NOT include the lockword on the command line, or you will get an error.

ownername

The name of the user who will become the owner (UID) of filename. This ownername must already exist on the system. Default is for the UID of the file to remain unchanged. Note that no qualification is done on this name; it must be fully specified. To have the ownername upshifted, enclose it in quotes.

POSIXgroupname

The name of the POSIX group (GID) that this file will belong to. This POSIXgroupname must already exist on the system. You cannot use this parameter to change the GID of an MPE group or account. Default is for the file to retain its previous GID. To have POSIXgroupname upshifted, enclose it in quotes.

Operation Notes

You use the ALTFILE command to alter a file's characteristics. Currently the attributes that you may modify are the owner (UID) and POSIX group (GID) for a file, hierarchical directory, MPE group or account, with the restriction that you may not alter the GID for MPE groups or accounts.

You must have the appropriate privilege to change the requested attribute(s). In order to change the UID of a file, you must be one of the following:

The file's account manager (your logon account matches the GID of the file and you have MPE/iX account manager (AM) capability). In this case, ownername must specify a user belonging to the account manager's logon account.
A system manager (a user who has the MPE/iX system manager (SM) user capability). In this case, ownername may specify any user existing in the user database.

In order to change the GID of a file, you must be one of the following:

The file owner (your logon name matches the UID of the file). In this case, POSIXgroupname must specify your logon account.
The file's account manager (your logon account matches the GID of the file and you have the MPE/iX account manager (AM) capability). In this case, POSIXgroupname must specify the account manager's logon account.
A system manager (you have MPE/iX system manager (SM) capability). In this case, POSIXgroupname may specify any GID existing in the group database.

You may issue the command once to modify multiple attributes. If you specify multiple attributes, all modifications must succeed for any to take effect. If you enter no attributes, the command has no effect on the specified file.

Related Information

Commands: ALTSEC, LISTFILE, RELEASE, SECURE
Manuals: Performing System Management Tasks

ALTFILE

Technical documentation

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Syntax

Parameters

Operation Notes

Related Information