[SOLVED] Question regarding CHMOD terminal command...

In the past, I have typed in a terminal:

Quote:

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chmod 777 filepath

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and it changed the permissions of all the files and subdirectories. However, I have also learned that the only way to change the permissions of all the subdirectories is to type in a terminal:

Quote:

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chmod --r 777 filepath

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I guess my question is, what's the difference if they both do the same thing?

It shouldn't do that.
chmod should not recurse unless called with -R (uppercase!).

If it does, I assume your distributor made a macro called by that name which is mapped to chmod with the recursive option.

Try to call explicitly /bin/chmod and see if it is any different.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SkittleLinux18

In the past, I have typed in a terminal:

Code:

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chmod 777 filepath

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and it changed the permissions of all the files and subdirectories.

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I certainly hope not :eek:

Calling `chmod 777 /path/to/file` should only change permissions on 'file' in '/path/to/' and not anything else. You can make it recursive with the -R option, yes, if that is your intent. But it shouldn't be default. That might just make your entire collection of nature pictures world readable.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GNU-Fan

It shouldn't do that.
chmod should not recurse unless called with -R (uppercase!).

If it does, I assume your distributor made a macro called by that name which is mapped to chmod with the recursive option.

Try to call explicitly /bin/chmod and see if it is any different.

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I pulled up the help menu for chmod in the terminal, and --R was definitely listed as an option in there. I must have typed --R in the past and, for some freakish reason, just can't remember. Thanks, guys.