DESCRIPTION

     The chflags utility modifies the file flags of the listed files as speci-
     fied by the flags operand.

     The options are as follows:

     -H      If the -R option is specified, symbolic links on the command line
             are followed.  (Symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal
             are not followed.)

     -h      If the file is a symbolic link, change the mode of the link
             itself rather than the file to which it points.

     -L      If the -R option is specified, all symbolic links are followed.

     -P      If the -R option is specified, no symbolic links are followed.
             This is the default.

     -R      Change the file flags for the file hierarchies rooted in the
             files instead of just the files themselves.

     The flags are specified as an octal number or a comma separated list of
     keywords.  The following keywords are currently defined:

           arch, archived
                   set the archived flag (super-user only)

           opaque  set the opaque flag (owner or super-user only)

           nodump  set the nodump flag (owner or super-user only)

           sappnd, sappend
                   set the system append-only flag (super-user only)

           schg, schange, simmutable
                   set the system immutable flag (super-user only)

           sunlnk, sunlink
                   set the system undeletable flag (super-user only)

           uappnd, uappend
                   set the user append-only flag (owner or super-user only)

           uchg, uchange, uimmutable
                   set the user immutable flag (owner or super-user only)

           uunlnk, uunlink
                   set the user undeletable flag (owner or super-user only)

     Putting the letters ``no'' before or removing the letters ``no'' from a
     keyword causes the flag to be cleared.  For example:
           4   Translates to the uappnd keyword.

           10  Translates to the opaque keyword.

           20  translates to the uunlnk keyword.

     Other combinations of keywords may be placed by using the octets
     assigned; however, these are the most notable.

     Unless the -H, -L, or -h options are given, chflags on a symbolic link
     always succeeds and has no effect.  The -H, -L and -P options are ignored
     unless the -R option is specified.  In addition, these options override
     each other and the command's actions are determined by the last one spec-
     ified.

     You can use "ls -lo" to see the flags of existing files.

     Note that the ability to change certain flags is dependent on the current
     kernel securelevel setting.  See security(7) for more information on this
     setting.

EXIT STATUS

     The chflags utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.

SEE ALSO

     ls(1), chflags(2), stat(2), fts(3), security(7), symlink(7)

HISTORY

     The chflags command first appeared in 4.4BSD.

BUGS

     Only a limited number of utilities are chflags aware.  Some of these
     tools include ls(1), cp(1), find(1), install(1), dump(8), and restore(8).
     In particular a tool which is not currently chflags aware is the pax(1)
     utility.

BSD                              March 3, 2006                             BSD