chown: missing operand after ‘root:users’












1














I try to change owner to root:users recursively below a directory, if owner is other than root:users.



cd /dir/

find . ( ! -user root -o ! -group users ) -print0 | xargs -0 chown -vc root:users


I get error:



chown: missing operand after ‘root:users’

Try 'chown --help' for more information.


Why I get the error?
How can I fix it?






bash debian find chown







share|improve this question






















  • chown -R root:users /somedir should handle this just fine.
    – jordanm
    7 hours ago
















1














I try to change owner to root:users recursively below a directory, if owner is other than root:users.



cd /dir/

find . ( ! -user root -o ! -group users ) -print0 | xargs -0 chown -vc root:users


I get error:



chown: missing operand after ‘root:users’

Try 'chown --help' for more information.


Why I get the error?
How can I fix it?






bash debian find chown







share|improve this question






















  • chown -R root:users /somedir should handle this just fine.
    – jordanm
    7 hours ago














1












1








1


1





I try to change owner to root:users recursively below a directory, if owner is other than root:users.



cd /dir/

find . ( ! -user root -o ! -group users ) -print0 | xargs -0 chown -vc root:users


I get error:



chown: missing operand after ‘root:users’

Try 'chown --help' for more information.


Why I get the error?
How can I fix it?






bash debian find chown







share|improve this question













I try to change owner to root:users recursively below a directory, if owner is other than root:users.



cd /dir/

find . ( ! -user root -o ! -group users ) -print0 | xargs -0 chown -vc root:users


I get error:



chown: missing operand after ‘root:users’

Try 'chown --help' for more information.


Why I get the error?
How can I fix it?






bash debian find chown




bash debian find chown






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 7 hours ago









klor

165114




165114












  • chown -R root:users /somedir should handle this just fine.
    – jordanm
    7 hours ago


















  • chown -R root:users /somedir should handle this just fine.
    – jordanm
    7 hours ago
















chown -R root:users /somedir should handle this just fine.
– jordanm
7 hours ago




chown -R root:users /somedir should handle this just fine.
– jordanm
7 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















7














Use the recursive switch on chown:



chown -R root:users dir


And that should do it.



More to why you have an error: if the find command doesn't find any files, then chown will be executed without an operand at the end, which generates this error.



If you are really intent on sticking with your original command format, you can add the -r switch to xargs and it should get rid of the error when no files are found.






share|improve this answer










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    1 Answer
    1






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    oldest

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    active

    oldest

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    7














    Use the recursive switch on chown:



    chown -R root:users dir


    And that should do it.



    More to why you have an error: if the find command doesn't find any files, then chown will be executed without an operand at the end, which generates this error.



    If you are really intent on sticking with your original command format, you can add the -r switch to xargs and it should get rid of the error when no files are found.






    share|improve this answer










    New contributor




    Jeff A is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.























      7














      Use the recursive switch on chown:



      chown -R root:users dir


      And that should do it.



      More to why you have an error: if the find command doesn't find any files, then chown will be executed without an operand at the end, which generates this error.



      If you are really intent on sticking with your original command format, you can add the -r switch to xargs and it should get rid of the error when no files are found.






      share|improve this answer










      New contributor




      Jeff A is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.





















        7












        7








        7






        Use the recursive switch on chown:



        chown -R root:users dir


        And that should do it.



        More to why you have an error: if the find command doesn't find any files, then chown will be executed without an operand at the end, which generates this error.



        If you are really intent on sticking with your original command format, you can add the -r switch to xargs and it should get rid of the error when no files are found.






        share|improve this answer










        New contributor




        Jeff A is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        Use the recursive switch on chown:



        chown -R root:users dir


        And that should do it.



        More to why you have an error: if the find command doesn't find any files, then chown will be executed without an operand at the end, which generates this error.



        If you are really intent on sticking with your original command format, you can add the -r switch to xargs and it should get rid of the error when no files are found.







        share|improve this answer










        New contributor




        Jeff A is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 7 hours ago





















        New contributor




        Jeff A is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.









        answered 7 hours ago









        Jeff A

        912




        912




        New contributor




        Jeff A is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.





        New contributor





        Jeff A is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






        Jeff A is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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