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From: root@conexch.UUCP (Larry Dighera)
Newsgroups: comp.sources.wanted
Subject: Re: "cpmod" Copy Modes program wanted
Message-ID: <127@conexch.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 15-Aug-87 12:04:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: conexch.127
Posted: Sat Aug 15 12:04:03 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Aug-87 10:45:14 EDT
References: <1092@ttidca.TTI.COM>
Reply-To: root@conexch.UUCP (Larry Dighera)
Distribution: na
Organization: The Consultants' Exchange, Orange County, CA.  (714) 842-6348  Public Access
Lines: 94

In article <1092@ttidca.TTI.COM> sa@ttidca.TTI.COM (Steve Alter) writes:
>We could really use a "cpmod" program to copy modes/ownerships/times
>from one existing file to other existing files.  I envision the
>syntax like:
>
>       cpmod [-m] [-o] [-t] file another-file ...
>
>This would copy modes (unless -m is given), ownerships (unless -o is
>given) and times (unless -t is given) from the first file to all of
>the other files.  Note that copying of times is not possible if any
>destination file is a directory, but no error message should be
>produced in that case.  If all three options are given then an error
>message should be produced saying that there is no work left to do.
>Citicorp/TTI, Santa Monica CA  (213) 452-9191 x2541

Your proposal for a new command strikes a resonant chord with me.  I too
have been longing for a way to specify modes and ownerships with a single
cp or mv command.  An associate wrote the following "first attempt" at 
a program that combines chmod, chown, chgrp.  

-----------------------------  C U T    H E R E   ---------------------------
/*
 *   Chall ( Change all ) is a poor attempt to combined chown, chgrp, and
 *   chmod into one program. The usage of the program is as follows:
 *   chall file_name owner [group [ permissions ]]
 *
 *   Please note that group and permissions are optional.
 *   If you wish to leave one of the fields as they already exist, you can
 *   enter a - ( minus) in that field and that entry will be skipped. An
 *   example is as follows: chall foo - group 777
 *   The above entry will change the group and permissions only!
 *
 *   Written without any glory by Sanford Zelkovitz
 *
*/
#include <stdio.h>
#define OWNER "chown "
#define GROUP "chgrp "
#define PERMS "chmod "
char buffer[99];
main(argc, argv) int argc; char *argv[];
{
        if(argc < 3)
                {
                (void)fprintf(stderr, "\nUsage: chall filename owner [group perms]\n");
                exit (1);
                }
        if(argv[2][0] == '-')goto l1;
        strcpy(buffer, OWNER);
        strcat(buffer, argv[2]);
        strcat(buffer, " ");
        strcat(buffer, argv[1]);
        (void)system(buffer);
l1:
        if(argc == 3)return;
        if(argv[3][0] == '-')goto l2;
        strcpy(buffer, GROUP);
        strcat(buffer, argv[3]);
        strcat(buffer, " ");
        strcat(buffer, argv[1]);
        (void)system(buffer);
l2:
        if(argc == 4)return;
        if(argv[4][0] == '-')return;
        strcpy(buffer, PERMS);
        strcat(buffer, argv[4]);
        strcat(buffer, " ");
        strcat(buffer, argv[1]);
        (void)system(buffer);
}
-----------------------------  C U T    H E R E   ---------------------------

Perhaps this will inspire one of our resident gurus into action.  Here is what
I envision as a single command to perform the duties of cp, chmod, chown, chgrp,
and touch.

        cpx [-m xxxx] [-o owner] [-g group] [-t MMDDYYHHMM] source-file dest

Where each -option changes the destination file's mode, ownership, group, and/or
time to that option's argument.  Ideally, the full syntax of chmod would be 
supported.  A similarly smart mvx program would also be useful.

I suppose that the "proper" way to implement this type of functionality in
a command and still remain safely within the "philosophy of Un*x" would 
be to write a suitable shell script :-).

Best Regards,
Larry Dighera

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