CHGRP(1) General Commands Manual CHGRP(1)
NAME
chgrpchange group
SYNOPSIS
chgrp
[-R [-H | -L | -P]] [-fhv] group file ...
DESCRIPTION
The chgrp utility sets the group ID of the file named by each file operand to the group ID specified by the group operand.
 
Options:
-H
If the -R option is specified, symbolic links on the command line are followed. (Symbolic links encountered in the tree traversal are not followed.)
-L
If the -R option is specified, all symbolic links are followed.
-P
If the -R option is specified, no symbolic links are followed.
-R
Change the group ID for the file hierarchies rooted in the files instead of just the files themselves.
-f
The force option ignores errors, except for usage errors and doesn't query about strange modes (unless the user does not have proper permissions).
-h
If file is a symbolic link, the group of the link is changed.
-v
Cause chgrp to be verbose, showing files as they are processed.
 
If -h is not given, unless the -H or -L option is set, chgrp on a symbolic link always succeeds and has no effect. The -H, -L and -P options are ignored unless the -R option is specified. In addition, these options override each other and the command's actions are determined by the last one specified.
 
The group operand can be either a group name from the group database, or a numeric group ID. Since it is valid to have a group name that is numeric (and doesn't have the numeric ID that matches its name) the name lookup is always done first. Preceding the ID with a ``#'' character will force it to be taken as a number.
 
The user invoking chgrp must belong to the specified group and be the owner of the file, or be the super-user.
 
Unless invoked by the super-user, chgrp clears the set-user-id and set-group-id bits on a file to prevent accidental or mischievous creation of set-user-id or set-group-id programs.
 
The chgrp utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.
FILES
/etc/group
Group ID file
SEE ALSO
STANDARDS
The chgrp utility is expected to be POSIX 1003.2 compatible.
 
The -v option and the use of ``#'' to force a numeric group ID are extensions to IEEE Std 1003.2 (“POSIX.2”).