chgrp − change group ownership of files

chgrp [options] group file...

POSIX options: [−R] [−−]

POSIX 1003.1-2001 options: [−hHLPR]

GNU group denotation: [−−reference=rfile]

GNU options (shortest form): [−cfvR] [−−help] [−−version] [−−]

chgrp changes the group ownership of each given file to group, which can be either a group name or a numeric group ID.

−R

Recursively change the group ownership of directories and their contents. (And continue even when errors are encountered.)

−−

Terminate option list.

−h

For each file operand given that is a symlink, change the group ownership of the symlink itself, rather than the object it points to. If the system does not support a group ownership for symlinks, do nothing for a symlink.

−H (half-logical)

(When given together with −R.) For each file operand given that is a symlink to a directory, change the group ownership of the directory and all files in the file hierarchy below it.

−L (logical)

(When given together with −R.) For each file, either command line operand or encountered during the tree walk, that is a symlink to a directory, change the group ownership of the directory and all files in the file hierarchy below it.

−P (physical)

(When given together with −R.) For each file, either command line operand or encountered during the tree walk, that is a symlink, change the group ownership of the symlink itself, rather than the object it points to. If the system does not support a group ownership for symlinks, do nothing for a symlink. This is the default.

−R

Recursively change the group ownership of directories and their contents.

A GNU extension (new in fileutils 4.0) allows one to use −−reference=rfile as a group description: the same group as that of rfile.

−c, −−changes

Verbosely describe the action for each file whose group actually changes.

−f, −−silent, −−quiet

Do not print error messages about files whose group 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 the group ownership of directories and their contents.

−−help

Print a usage message on standard output and exit successfully.

−−version

Print version information on standard output, then exit successfully.

−−

Terminate option list.

The variables LANG, LC_ALL, LC_CTYPE and LC_MESSAGES have the usual meaning. For an XSI-conforming system: NLSPATH has the usual meaning.

POSIX 1003.2 only requires the −R option. Use of other options may not be portable.

This page describes chgrp as found in the fileutils-4.0 package; other versions may differ slightly. Mail corrections and additions to aeb@cwi.nl. Report bugs in the program to fileutils-bugs@gnu.ai.mit.edu.