[Solved] write permissions

[Tiny1]

I am finding that I do not have write permissions on many of the files I want to edit. Such as sources.list, wicd.cfg and some other files. I use Kwrite. I have also used other text editors and they give me the same problems.

I am using a compaq nx9600 stock notebook computer.

I have just updated to 9.04 from 8.10 witch I had the same problem so I did a clean install instead of the update.

I am also trying to figure out how to get third party packages installed in 9.04 as in 8.10 I had a program that automatically installed all deb files for me but can not figure out which program it was.

I am having other problems but this is the first and main one I need fixed. I came across this problem while trying in vain to get my wireless system to work. Thank goodness the ethernet cable works.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I had typed into the bash inter-face sudo su for root permissions before I attempted to run kwrite.

[windows2003]

Re: write permissions

Hi,

Yes some files are protected.... If you want to access them, well I prefere "Bash Konsole". Below I will give you an example....


1. Open Bash Konsole.
2. Go to the place where the file is standing.
3. Type ls -al

Now you will see all the files in the directory standing and for the name the right you have for that file: below you have an example from a file from me:

drwxr-xr-x 2 frederik frederik 4096 2009-05-09 20:49 .
drwxr-xr-x 6 frederik frederik 4096 2009-05-09 20:48 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 frederik frederik 0 2009-05-09 20:49 file1.txt

The red letter are the rights for the file "file1.txt"
Take a note from the persions there at moment, so you can put them later back.

Now comes the most funny part

BINAIR DECIMAL PERMISSIONS
001 1 eXecute
010 2 Write
100 4 Read
011 3 Write & eXecute
101 5 Read & eXecute
110 6 Read & Write
111 7 Read & Write & eXecute


So remember that you are standing at that directory. I want for mine example "file1.txt" that I've everything from rights.

I will then type: chmod 777 file1.txt

This is the result ===> -rwxrwxrwx 1 frederik frederik 0 2009-05-09 20:49 file1.txt

It means that I can do everything with it now!

owner = rwx ==> 7
group = rwx ==> 7
other (world) = rwx ==> 7


chmod 777

with chmod you can change rights!!!! Use the table to see what is needed!!!

I recommended that you first make a test directory and a test file so you good understand what you are doing!


You can make a test directory with followed command: mkdir test
You can easely make a file with command: touch file1.txt

now you will have the same example as me, try to open it when you test the different options with "kate" or "vi" or another editor:

Frederik@Kubuntu:~/Documenten/test$ ls -al
totaal 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 frederik frederik 4096 2009-05-09 20:49 .
drwxr-xr-x 6 frederik frederik 4096 2009-05-09 20:48 ..
-rwxrwxrwx 1 frederik frederik 0 2009-05-09 20:49 file1.txt


There is also a graphical way with Dolphin:

Make the file higlighted (BLEU) and pres ALT+ENTER
Then go to AccessRights and there you have it graphicaly

So, that should be enough to fix your problem!

Greetz 8)

[Tiny1]

Re: [Solved] write permissions

Thanks for the help Windows2003. That did the trick as far as getting me the write permissions. Now I just have to figure out how to get everything back in working order.

Bright Blessings
TheTiny1

[toad]

Re: [Solved] write permissions

Yes, all files (well, almost all) outside your /home/username directory are owned by root and the most you as a normal user can do is look at them, sometimes not even that. You should not really change the permissions at all but use the tools provided to edit system files. On the CLI you could:

sudo vi /etc/sources/sources.list

or

sudo nano /etc/sourches/sources.list

For a GUI you could type on the command line:

kdesu kate

or

kdesu kwrite

But to reiterate - it is not good practice to mess with permissions. It probably will not matter that much if the computer is your own and nobody else gets access to it. If they do, however, a chmod 777 will give ANYBODY the right to mess with system files. And if your cohabs are in the least bit interested or nosy you will find that they will render your system unbootable before you can say "Oh dear, I've really messed this one up..."