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. HFS was replaced with the Apple File System (APFS) in 2017.
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.
Where indicated below attributes can be applied to folders in addition to files.
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)
Z | z Busy (allowed on folders)
-c creator Specifies the file’s creator, where creator is a string of
exactly four characters.
-d date Set 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 Set 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/
Return Values
0 - attributes set
1 - syntax error
2 - any other error
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
“Drunk with power isn’t the same as being drunk with booze” ~ Craig Ferguson
Local man page: setfile - Command line help page on your local machine.
chflags - Change a file or folder’s flags.
GetFileInfo - Get attributes of HFS+ files.
textutil - Manipulate text files in various formats.