[freudling]

Hi:

I have a stubborn file that is read only. Get Info will not allow me to convert it into a read and write file, I even logged in as root. I have even clicked on "Ignore permissions" under Get Info. How do I change the file permission (.txt file) in Terminal? I understand it is possible to change permissions on these read only files in Terminal. Thanks.

[dowNNshift]

You're gonna need to use the "chmod" command to fix POSTIX permissions in Terminal.app.

Besure to insert the "sudo" command before "chmod" (i.e. # sudo chmod), so that you can perform the action as if you were logged in as root.

A great resource detailing "chmod": Understanding UNIX permissions and chmod

If this doesn't work and it's not a forked or packaged file.... then another solution is to move the file to a FAT formatted disk and then back again, because FAT doesn't observe or retain POSTIX permissions.

Good luck!

[besson3c]

dowNNshift: it's "posix", not "postix".

sudo chmod +w <path to file> will do it. You can drag the file into your Terminal to have the path name automatically generated for you.

You'll need to do this as an admin user.

[CatOne]

Is it actually set to read-only or is it locked (with the lock icon)?

chmod is the one if it's read-only (permissions will be r--r--r--, or equivalent).

If it's locked (you should see a tiny lock icon in Finder), it's possible the uchg flag has been set. It's an arcane command... basically you have to do:

sudo chflags -nouchg <filename>

Which should unset it.