NAME

chownall − systematic ownership change on a subtree

SYNOPSIS

chownall [ − ] [ −nname ] [ −a ] [ −g# ] [ −u# ] directory ... 

DESCRIPTION

Chownall systematically changes ownerships of files in the subtree rooted at each base directory.  The format of the changes is determined by the ownership of the base directory and well as the options specified.  The options are − for terse, −a for all, and −g and −u for specifying new decimal user and group options.  The −n option can be used to conveniently give the new user number via a user name.  Four uses can be distinguished:

1) Only −g flag specified
The base directory must be owned by user 0 in a group other than group 0. All files in the subtree owned by any user of this group are changed to be owned by the same user (numerically) in the specified new group.

2) Only −u flag specified
The base directory must be owned by a person who is not user number 0 in his group. All files in the subtree owned by this person are changed to be owned by the specified new user number in the same group.

3) Both −g and −u flags specified
All files in the subtree owned by the owner of the base directory become owned by the specified group and user.

4) −A, −g, and −u flags specified, or −n flag given
All files in the subtree rooted at the given directory are changed to be owned by the newly specified user and group. This option requires confirmation which may be given on the command line via the ‘-’ terse option.

EXAMPLES

chownall −g64 /mnt/comc
If /mnt/compc is owned by group 138 user 0, this command changes all files in the tree rooted there which are presently owned by members of group 138 to be owned by the same relative user in group 64.

chownall −nbill /mnt/bill

SEE ALSO

chown (I), chown (II)

AUTHOR

William Joy

BUGS

Shouldn’t need −n as it should be the “default” so that chownall would work like chown.  The −g and −u flags are of questionable value.