4.3BSD-UWisc/man/cat8/chown.8
CHOWN(8) UNIX Programmer's Manual CHOWN(8)
NAME
chown - change owner
SYNOPSIS
/etc/chown [ -f -R ] owner[.group] file ...
DESCRIPTION
_C_h_o_w_n changes the owner of the _f_i_l_e_s to _o_w_n_e_r. The owner
may be either a decimal UID or a login name found in the
password file. An optional group may also be specified.
The group may be either a decimal GID or a group name found
in the group-ID file.
Only the super-user can change owner, in order to simplify
accounting procedures. No errors are reported when the -f
(force) option is given.
When the -R option is given, _c_h_o_w_n recursively descends its
directory arguments setting the specified owner. When sym-
bolic links are encountered, their ownership is changed, but
they are not traversed.
FILES
/etc/passwd
SEE ALSO
chgrp(1), chown(2), passwd(5), group(5)
Printed 12/27/86 May 22, 1986 1