Attrib DOS Command

ATTRIB

Attrib is an external command that allows a user to change the properties of a specified file. Using attrib, the user has the capability of changing the file to have either Read-only, Archived, Hidden or System attributes. The file attributes are bits that are turned on (set to 1) or turned off (set to 0).

If a file has an attribute of -R, it can be both read from or written to (it is referred to as read/write). If a file has an attribute of +R, it can be read from, but not written to (for example, you can use your word processor to look at it but not to alter it).

Syntex to displays or changes file attributes.

ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A ] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [[drive:] [path] filename] [/S [/D]]

+ :Sets an attribute.

- :Clears an attribute.

R :Read-only file attribute.

A :Archive file attribute.

S :System file attribute.

H :Hidden file attribute.

/S :Processes files in all directories in the specified path.

/D :Process folders as well.

Multiple attributes can be set/cleared by combining switches (separated by spaces).

Examples

attrib
Typing attrib by itself will display all files in the current directory and each of their attributes. If any file is hidden it will also display those files.

attrib directoryname
To display the attributes of a directory

attrib filename
To display the attributes of a file

attrib +r customer.xls
Add the read-only attribute to the customer.xls file so it cannot be modified until the read only attribute is taken off. This is helpful for important system files or any other file that you do not want to have mistakenly edited or changed.
If this file was located on C:\business\customer.xls and you want to make it read-only then you would use the following attrib +r C:\business\customer.xls

attrib +h config.sys Add the hidden attribute to the config.sys file causing it to be not be seen by the average user. attrib -h config.sys This command will do the opposite of the above command. Instead of hiding the file it will unhide the file if hidden. attrib -a resume.txt Turn off archive status. attrib . To determine the current attribute settings for all of the files in the current directory attrib . /s To determine the current attribute settings for all files & subdirectories
attrib, *.txt If a comma is typed directly after the command's name all attributes will be removed from the targeted files (in this case, all .txt files in the folder). In most versions, if a target isn't specified, then all attributes will be removed from the folder currently being browsed in DOS.