ALTFILE

This command changes the attributes of an existing file or directory.

SYNTAX

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

   [[;GROUPID=] POSIXgroupname]

PARAMETERS

filename

The file name of the object to be altered. 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 cannot use wildcarding to specify file names, nor can you use back-referenced file equations. This parameter cannot name a system-defined file (such as $NULL). You can specify file names using both MPE and HFS syntaxes. MPE-syntax names may not include lockwords; the lockword for a lockworded file is not needed for this command to succeed, and if included in the filename results in 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. This name will be upshifted if it is NOT quoted. [Optional]

POSIXgroupname

The name of the group (GID) that this file will belong to. This POSIXgroupname must already exist on the system. This parameter cannot be used to change the GID of an MPE group or account. The default is for the file to retain its previous GID. This name is upshifted when you enclose it in quotes.

Operation Notes

Usage
You use the ALTFILE command to alter a file's characteristics. You can modify the owner (UID) and POSIX group (GID) for a file, hierarchical directory, MPE group or account. You cannot alter the GID of MPE groups or accounts.
Required Capabilities
The user must have the appropriate privilege to change the requested attribute. To change the UID of a file, you must be one of the following:
- The file's account manager whose logon account matches the GID of the file and who has the MPE/iX account manager capability. In this case, ownername must specify a user belonging to the account manager's logon account.
- A system manager who has the MPE/iX system manager user capability. In this case, ownername may specify any user existing in the user database.
To change the GID of a file, you must be one of the following:
- The file owner (a user whose logon name matches the UID of the file). In this case, POSIXgroupname must specify the user's logon account.
- The file's account manager whose logon account matches the GID of the file and who has the MPE/iX account manager (AM) user capability. In this case, POSIXgroupname must specify the account manager's logon account.
- A system manager who has the MPE/iX system manager user capability. In this case, POSIXgroupname may specify any GID existing in the group database.

You can use ALTFILE to modify multiple attributes at the same time. If you try modifying multiple attributes, all changes must succeed for any to take effect. If you do not specify any attributes, the command has no effect on the file specified.

Related Commands

   ALTSEC

ALTFILE

Technical documentation

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SYNTAX

PARAMETERS

Operation Notes

Related Commands