Re: suggestion for set-file-modes

[Juri Linkov]

>> The standard convention when reading a value in the minibuffer is to put
>> the default value in the prompt and make it available for editing by M-n.
>> When the permission bits are retrieved in such notation from the default
>> value then editing them is just like toggling that is convenient.
>
> Soooo, why not convert it to an appropriate "input form" for putting in
> the prompt/default ?
>
> E.g., -rwxrwxrw- => "ug=rwx,o=rw"
>
> That has the advantage that such "input forms" are a bit more robust,
> because they aren't fixed-width with position-senstive fields.  They're
> also somewhat more self-documenting.

That would be nice, maybe with separating every part even with the same
permissions, e.g. "u=rwx,g=rwx,o=rw" for less editing when the user and
group part need different permissions.

-- 
Juri Linkov
http://www.jurta.org/emacs/