Mac OS X in a Nutshell

Name

chflags

Synopsis

chflags [options] flags files
                  

Changes the file flags of one or more files. flags is a comma-separated list of file flags, described below. To unset a flag, use the same command but with no added to the front of the flag’s name. To view a file’s current flags, use the ls -lo command.

Options

-H

If any of the pathnames given in the command line are symbolic links, follow only those links during recursive operation. Works only with the -R option.

-L

Follow all symbolic links during recursive operation. Works only with the -R option.

-P

Follow no symbolic links during recursive operation. Works only with the -R option (the default).

-R

Recursively descend through the directory, including subdirectories and symbolic links, changing the specified file flags as it proceeds.

Flags

Flag name	Flag set	Who can change
arch	archived	Superuser only
opaque	opaque	Owner or superuser only
nodump	nodump	Owner or superuser only
sappend	system append-only	Superuser only
schg	system immutable	Superuser only
uappend	user append-only	Owner or superuser only
uchg	user immutable	Owner or superuser only

Though the system append-only (sappend) and system immutable (schg) flags can be set by the superuser in normal system mode, you can only unset them while in single-user mode.

Examples

Setting the user immutable (uchg) flag for a file prevents it from being deleted, changed, or moved. By locking a file in the Finder, you’re actually setting its user ...