File: fileutils.info,  Node: chown invocation,  Next: chgrp invocation,  Up: Changing file attributes

`chown': Change file owner and group
====================================

   `chown' changes the user and/or group ownership of each given file.
Synopsis:

     chown [OPTION]... NEW-OWNER FILE...

   The first non-option argument, NEW-OWNER, specifies the new owner
and/or group, as follows (with no embedded white space):

     [OWNER] [ [:.] [GROUP] ]

   Specifically:

OWNER
     If only an OWNER (a user name or numeric user id) is given, that
     user is made the owner of each given file, and the files' group is
     not changed.

OWNER`.'GROUP
OWNER`:'GROUP
     If the OWNER is followed by a colon or dot and a GROUP (a group
     name or numeric group id), with no spaces between them, the group
     ownership of the files is changed as well (to GROUP).

OWNER`.'
OWNER`:'
     If a colon or dot but no group name follows OWNER, that user is
     made the owner of the files and the group of the files is changed
     to OWNER's login group.

`.'GROUP
`:'GROUP
     If the colon or dot and following GROUP are given, but the owner
     is omitted, only the group of the files is changed; in this case,
     `chown' performs the same function as `chgrp'.

   The program accepts the following options.  Also see *Note Common
options::.

`-c'
`--changes'
     Verbosely describe the action for each FILE whose ownership
     actually changes.

`-f'
`--silent'
`--quiet'
     Do not print error messages about files whose ownership cannot be
     changed.

`-h'
`--no-dereference'
     Act on symbolic links themselves instead of what they point to.
     Only available if the `lchown' system call is provided.

`-v'
`--verbose'
     Verbosely describe the action (or non-action) taken for every FILE.

`-R'
`--recursive'
     Recursively change ownership of directories and their contents.

