Set attributes of HFS+ files. It attempts to be similar to the setfile command in MPW. It can apply rules to more than one file with the options applying to all files listed.
Syntax
SetFile [-a attributes] [-c creator] [-d date] [-m date] [-t type] file
...
Key
-a attributes Sets the file attributes bits where attributes is a string
of case sensitive letters. Each letter corresponds to a
file attribute: an uppercase letter indicates that the
attribute bit is set (1), a lowercase letter indicates
that it is not (0). Note: attributes not specified remain
unchanged.
A | a Alias file
B | b Has bundle
C | c Custom icon (allowed on folders)
D | d Located on the desktop (allowed on folders)
E | e Extension is hidden (allowed on folders)
I | i Inited - Finder is aware of this file and has
given it a location in a window. (allowed on
folders)
L | l Locked
M | m Shared (can run multiple times)
N | n File has no INIT resource
S | s System file (name locked)
T | t "Stationery Pad" file
V | v Invisible (allowed on folders)
-c creator Specifies the file's creator, where creator is a string of
exactly four characters.
-d date Sets the creation date, where date is a string of the
form: "mm/dd/[yy]yy [hh:mm:[:ss] [AM | PM]]" Notes:
Enclose the string in quotation marks if it contains
spaces. Period '.' represents the current date and time.
[yy]yy < 100 assumes 21th century, e.g.20yy.
-m date Sets the modification date where date is a string of the
form in -d above. (mm/dd/[yy]yy [hh:mm:[:ss] [AM | PM]])
-t type Sets the file type, where type is a string of exactly four
characters.
SetFile is part of
/Developer/Tools/
Examples
Set the creator and type for the ResEqual tool:
$ SetFile -c "MPS " -t MPST ResEqual
Set the modification date of "myFile":
$ SetFile -m "8/4/2001 16:13" myFile
Set myfile.txt to be invisible in the finder:
$ SetFile -a V myfile.txt
Set myfile.txt to be visible in the finder:
$ SetFile -a v myfile.txt
Return Values
0 - attributes set
1 - syntax error
2 - any other error
“Drunk with power isn't the same as being drunk with booze” ~ Craig Ferguson
Related macOS commands:
chflags - Change a file or folder's flags.
GetFileInfo - Get attributes of HFS+ files
textutil - Manipulate text files in various formats