Displaying File permissions

by: rccharles

Last modified: Dec 4, 2021 5:02 PM

0 5616 Last modified Dec 4, 2021 5:02 PM

In solving problems, you learn more about your system.

Macos has two sets of permissions: traditional UNIX and access control lists (Window's). The UNIX permissions are shown more prominently. Access control lists (Window's) are more hidden. I don't know how much you know about the Terminal, but permissions are easier to sort through from the terminal.

See my user tip on Unix navigation. Macos support Unix commands.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-11071?login=true

after skimming through the tips, I suggest these commands.

ls /Volumes/

mac $  ls /Volumes/ 
4T Backup - Time Machine/    Copy High Sierra Production/ Recovery HD/                 internal/
4T Virtual Machines/         Macintosh SSD/               TimeMachine/
4T prior VMs/                Mojave@                      Update/
Boot/

ls -l gets you the Unix permissions.


mac $ ls -l /Volumes/internal/installer.failurerequests 
-rw-r--r--@ 1 root  wheel   313B Feb  7  2018 /Volumes/internal/installer.failurerequests
mac $

ls -la@hbefO gets you the print access control lists and any funny stuff.


ls -la@hbefO 

ls options:
l -- long
a -- all
@ -- extended attributes
h -- human readable size
b -- print odd characters as escape codes
e -- print access control lists
f -- append file type info
O -- print file flags

mac $ ls -la@hbefO /Volumes/internal/installer.failurerequests 
-rw-r--r--@ 1 root  wheel  hidden  313B Feb  7  2018 /Volumes/internal/installer.failurerequests
	com.apple.FinderInfo	  32B 
mac $

The word hidden means an ACL hide the file. I can only guess about the meaning of "com.apple.FinderInfo 32B".