Feature Request: Tab on file and directory properties for viewing and changing attribues, like the chattr command line and permissions tab

[nognognoggynog]

Feature Request: Tab on file and directory properties for viewing and changing attribues, like the chattr command line and permissions tab

We can view and change permissions on folders and files with Nemo properties window, it would be nice to be able to view and change attributes also (chattr on the command line)

Then we can set files as immutable and append only and so forth from Nemo

File/Folder attributes https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/File_permissions_and_attributes#File_attributes

[BujuArena]

I would like a way to easily set immutable on particular files, like for example, scummvm settings files for a set of children's games that I want to be able to run the same way every time I run them from Steam. Steam keeps overwriting the settings once in a while so when my son launches the game, its aspect ratio's all stretched, the sound doesn't work, etc. If the files were immutable, that couldn't happen, as Steam couldn't change them. There are many games that have this problem and being able to set the immutable flag easily from within Nemo instead of having to use a CLI tool for it would be ideal.

[Jeremy7701]

Presumably if Steam believes it needs to write data to a file - but cannot - then it will simply fail.

[BujuArena]

Yes. That's exactly why I'd like to be able to see and modify the immutable attribute directly in Nemo. I'm glad you're caught up.

[Jeremy7701]

I haven't "caught up". -;)
Either the file is immutable and Steam fails;
or
The file is mutable and gets overwritten.

[BujuArena]

Now you're starting to get it. Yes, that's exactly what happens in my example if the file is immutable. I've already tested it with chattr +i and it works to prevent Steam from resetting the scummvm settings, which is the intended goal of setting the file to immutable.

My comment was intended to explain a use case for being able to set files to immutable via the Nemo GUI, not a big conversation about whether my example works. It does work, so we're past that now. Now we're back on the feature request of having immutability of a file visible in the file properties menu in Nemo. It would save me and surely others time when they want to set a bunch of files in various locations to immutable.

[fredcw]

Nemo, being the default file manager for Cinnamon, is expected to be used by complete novices and non-technical users. Such a feature runs the risk of making linux appear too complicated and technical for the average user and even for linux veterans, it's still a rarely used and obscure feature. Each addition to the UI, while useful for some, makes the UI more complex for everyone else so there is a balance to be struck.

However, a nemo extension for this might be useful for those who want it.

[BujuArena]

Even Windows Explorer has this exposed in its file properties menu, with a simple "read-only" checkbox. It's nothing new or difficult for a new user to understand. If the user is already opening the file properties, they are looking for the properties of the file. Also, "Sticky" is already exposed in Nemo's file properties and that's a lot more complex for a new user. I personally had to research "Sticky" online to understand, since it provided no tooltip when my cursor was hovering over it and I've been using computers for many years.

Just adding "Immutable (Read-only)" right below "Sticky" in the "Special flags" section would be simple as can be.

[Jeremy7701]

AFAIK you need root authority to use chattr, so you would need to present a authentication dialog.
Furthermore, (but not tried it) chattr attributes are ignored by rsync.

It is actually very easy to make a file read-only; just change the file owner and group and remove 'others' write authority.

[BujuArena]

AFAIK you need root authority to use chattr, so you would need to present a authentication dialog.

If you don't have permission, just grey it out with a tooltip saying "Permission denied" or something like that. An authentication dialog (or none and it just working if polkit's set up for your user to allow file attribute changes) would be nice to have, but not strictly necessary for the feature request.

Furthermore, (but not tried it) chattr attributes are ignored by rsync.

That sounds like something involving different software, and is irrelevant to this conversation.

It is actually very easy to make a file read-only; just change the file owner and group and remove 'others' write authority.

That doesn't make it read-only. There are still users that can write to the file in that case. Regardless, the feature request is to be able to view and set file attributes in the Nemo GUI, not figure out alternative ways to simulate those attributes.

[github-actions]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had
any activity in over 2 years.

If this issue is still relevant:

• Please test on a current version of this package.
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[BujuArena]

This is still a valuable improvement.

[leigh123linux]

Not planned.