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For 2023 (and 2024 ...) - we are now fully retired from IT training.
We have made many, many friends over 25 years of teaching about Python, Tcl, Perl, PHP, Lua, Java, C and C++ - and MySQL, Linux and Solaris/SunOS too. Our training notes are now very much out of date, but due to upward compatability most of our examples remain operational and even relevant ad you are welcome to make us if them "as seen" and at your own risk.

Lisa and I (Graham) now live in what was our training centre in Melksham - happy to meet with former delegates here - but do check ahead before coming round. We are far from inactive - rather, enjoying the times that we are retired but still healthy enough in mind and body to be active!

I am also active in many other area and still look after a lot of web sites - you can find an index ((here))
What does x on a linux directory mean?

Trick question (I don't ask too many, I hope ... and those that I do ask are designed to be thought provoking):

What does the x bit in permission strings mean?

Most delegates who've done a bit of Unix or Linux before will tell me it's the exexcutable bit - says whether a file can be run as a program direct from the command line, and for a plain file they are correct. But for a directory, it means Access of should I say Axess?

One a directory, the r setting still means "readable" but without the x set on, I can only read the file names - I cannot access the full details of each file, nor can I delve deeper into the directory.

To illustrate this, I temporarily turns the "x" off on one of my directories and did some directory listings:

[trainee@easterton ~]$ chmod a-x dbn
[trainee@easterton ~]$ ls dbn
dbn/ac_20090716 dbn/mediawiki-1.14.0.tar.gz
dbn/apache-tomcat-5.5.27.tar.gz dbn/mysql-5.1.34-linux-i686-glibc23.tar.gz
dbn/httpd-2.2.11.tar.gz dbn/palace_of_westminster.jpg
dbn/jdk-6u14-linux-i586.bin dbn/php-5.2.9.tar.gz
dbn/latmjdemo.war dbn/somewhere_else
dbn/mediawiki-1.13.5.tar.gz
[trainee@easterton ~]$ ls -l dbn
total 0
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/ac_20090716
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/apache-tomcat-5.5.27.tar.gz
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/httpd-2.2.11.tar.gz
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/jdk-6u14-linux-i586.bin
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/latmjdemo.war
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/mediawiki-1.13.5.tar.gz
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/mediawiki-1.14.0.tar.gz
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/mysql-5.1.34-linux-i686-glibc23.tar.gz
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/palace_of_westminster.jpg
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/php-5.2.9.tar.gz
?--------- ? ? ? ? ? dbn/somewhere_else


and as you can see, you're able to see what's there, but not do much more.

Is this used / useful? There are places within the operating system that you'll find one just one of r and x on a directory, but advise for newcomers on our Linux Basics course is that - for a directory - you should normally treat them as a pair.
(written 2009-07-21, updated 2009-07-23)

 
Associated topics are indexed as below, or enter http://melksh.am/nnnn for individual articles
A101 - Web Application Deployment - Linux -An Introduction For Users
  [73] vi - full circle - (2004-10-04)
  [74] pushd and popd - (2004-10-05)
  [152] Aladdin, or careful what you wish. - (2004-12-15)
  [249] An easy way out - (2005-03-17)
  [430] Linux commands - some basics - (2005-08-31)
  [431] File permissions of Linux and Unix systems - (2005-08-31)
  [593] Finding where the disc space has gone - (2006-02-06)
  [659] Web Application Components - (2006-03-28)
  [679] More or less on the edge of the page - (2006-04-11)
  [703] Copying files and preserving ownership - (2006-04-28)
  [710] Linux training Glasgow, Python programming course Dundee - (2006-05-05)
  [711] THE home directory or MY home directory - (2006-05-06)
  [749] Cottage industry or production line data handling methods - (2006-06-07)
  [984] Cardinal numbers and magic numbers - (2006-12-14)
  [1012] Moving files between Windows / DOS and Linux / Unix - (2006-12-30)
  [1013] Copy multiple files - confusing error message from cp - (2006-12-30)
  [1068] ls -l report, Linux / Unix - types and permssions - (2007-02-06)
  [1259] Where am I and how did I get here? - (2007-07-05)
  [1287] Work and play at Well House Manor - Football and Shell Shortcuts - (2007-08-02)
  [1288] Linux run states, shell special commands, and directory structures - (2007-08-03)
  [1366] awk - a powerful data extraction and manipulation tool - (2007-09-25)
  [1408] Wireless hotel tips - FTP and Skype connections failing - (2007-10-26)
  [1438] Copy and paste / cut and paste and other vi techniques - (2007-11-20)
  [1527] Selecting file names in a shell - one word or another - (2008-02-02)
  [1651] ls command - favourite options - (2008-05-23)
  [1764] Yank and Push - copy and move in vi - (2008-08-21)
  [1803] FTP passive mode - a sometimes cure for upload hangs - (2008-09-20)
  [1893] Some Linux and Unix tips - (2008-11-18)
  [1897] Keeping on an even keel - (2008-11-21)
  [1902] sstrwxrwxrwx - Unix and Linux file permissions - (2008-11-23)
  [1904] Ruby, Perl, Linux, MySQL - some training notes - (2008-11-23)
  [2201] Running straight from the jar, but not from a tar - (2009-05-26)
  [2203] Always use su with minus. And where do programs come from? - (2009-05-27)
  [2299] How much space does my directory take - Linux - (2009-07-20)
  [2479] Accidentally typed ci rather than vi? - (2009-10-27)
  [2494] Making Linux Politically correct - (2009-11-06)
  [2636] Linux - useful tips including history and file name completion - (2010-02-15)
  [2831] Recording (a macro) in vi - (2010-06-27)
  [3179] Oops - I typed ci not vi, and have lost my file ... - (2011-02-21)
  [3256] Displaying a directory or file system tree - Linux - (2011-04-22)
  [3791] The Kernel, Shells and Daemons. Greek Gods in computing - (2012-07-01)
  [3819] Packing a tar, jar or war file - best practise - (2012-07-26)


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Mistaken identity?
What does x on a linux directory mean?
Melksham Carnival Parade - the people
Standing on the corner, Melksham Carnival
Variable scope - what is it, and how does it Ruby?
The dog is not in trouble
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This is a page archived from The Horse's Mouth at http://www.wellho.net/horse/ - the diary and writings of Graham Ellis. Every attempt was made to provide current information at the time the page was written, but things do move forward in our business - new software releases, price changes, new techniques. Please check back via our main site for current courses, prices, versions, etc - any mention of a price in "The Horse's Mouth" cannot be taken as an offer to supply at that price.

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