Permission Denied

Nobby Hall

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Hi All and salutations,

I have just installed Ubuntu and running terminal to access a program I need to run, but for some reason it keeps coming up with 'Permission Denied' when I try to run the ./conv.conf the program I need to amend.

It runs fine on my Mac but need it to run on my laptop.

Any advice gratefully received.
 


As you maybe aware, I am new to this as I have taken the lazy route over the last 20 odd years.
I believe it is there as I typed in sudo and it gave me loads of options.
Just going to look at your link, thank you
 
I can read the .conf but need the .conv program to run so I can see where the problem lies as it will not send out emails automatically.
Like I say, I run it fine on the Mac so I guess I have some bits and bobs to install still?
 
Hi All and salutations,

I have just installed Ubuntu and running terminal to access a program I need to run, but for some reason it keeps coming up with 'Permission Denied' when I try to run the ./conv.conf the program I need to amend.

It runs fine on my Mac but need it to run on my laptop.

I think we're missing a piece of the puzzle. A .conf is a configuration file.... but there is no program (that I can find) that is named just conv by itself. It is a part of a filename for some "conversion" type programs, but that's about all. Ubuntu 18.04 doesn't have a program built in by this name, nor will it install one (unable to locate package conv).

So, Nobby... tell us what this is, and where you got it? If it's a Mac or Windows program, then it won't run "natively" on Linux... it would need some special help, and even then it may not work.

Cheers
 
Yeah, a bit more information is needed to help you out. Is the conv.conf file meant to be run on it's own? If it's a text/script can you give us the top line in the file? That should indicate which program it wants to use to execute it. If it's a configuration file for the 'conv' application, you may need something like /path/to/conv -c /path/to/conv.conf

Edit: If you truly think you should be able to run that file on it's own, you can chmod its permissions to allow execute like: chmod +x /path/to/conv.conf
 
I’ll try to explain in more detail. When I get home I’ll post a screenshot also so you can see what I am up against.
A mate who recently passed away wants me to keep his project going but he died before we had time to go through all the individual routines, but here we go.
He wrote a programme which allows anyone on shift work to be able to track their duties.
I have to run it through terminal and once in the correct directory, I type in ./conv and it runs through until it finishes and produces rosters by using Libra Office.
It then should send everyone on the mailing list their copies of the roster via Thunderbird.
Here lies the problem, we didn’t get time to sit down and go through the final stage so now I am trying to work my way through the routine and work out where it has gone wrong
Like I say it has to run through terminal and it was scripted using Linux, or so I am led to believe.
Sorry for being so vague but I am slightly in the dark.
 
I should say that I have been editing the .conf files by using Brackets text editor.
It may make more sense when I post some script tomorrow.
 
Ok, yes, that does make more sense. So he wrote a script called 'conv' which likely takes the conv.conf file as input which has all of the users, paths, etc..
That’s correct. Each section has its own conf file and does its own little task as it works its way along.
Tomorrow may make more sense.
Thanks for alll the replies at least I now know I am not going mad.
 
Tomorrow may make more sense.
It already makes more sense! :D

Without knowing more at this point, I'd guess that your only mistake is trying to execute the config file instead of the script. If the config file has all edits you think it needs, open a terminal where the files are located and try this:
Code:
./conv
# If permission denied error, try:
sudo ./conv #give it your password

Just guessing until you give us the full details. I'm a shift worker myself, so I'm interested in how this works... but it sounds more complicated than I can probably comprehend.

Cheers
 
And I'll just mention @JasKinasis so he'll be aware.

Hi Nobby :) - Jas is one of our scripting wizards, and he is British too so same timezone may help.

Night all, avagudweegend.

Wiz
 
Hi All,
I have attached a screenshot of just how big the program and files are.
is it OK to post the .conf on here or will it clogs the machinery up as it is quite large?

It already makes more sense! :D

Without knowing more at this point, I'd guess that your only mistake is trying to execute the config file instead of the script. If the config file has all edits you think it needs, open a terminal where the files are located and try this:
Code:
./conv
# If permission denied error, try:
sudo ./conv #give it your password

Just guessing until you give us the full details. I'm a shift worker myself, so I'm interested in how this works... but it sounds more complicated than I can probably comprehend.

Cheers

atoner, I tried your command as shown and although it asked for a password, like you said, it returned command not found. Not sure why it won't run on the laptop but fine on the Mac albeit with a email glitch.
 

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What are the file attributes of conv?
Is the file flagged as executable?
What is the output of the following command?:
Code:
ls -lh ./conv
If the permissions string does not have any x's in it, the file is not executable. That may cause the permission related error when trying to run conv.

If the permissions string looks something like this:
rwxr-xr-x
The file is already executable and the issue is something else.

But if the permissions look something like this:
rw-r--r--

The file is NOT executable and you will have to make the script executable by changing the permissions using chmod.
E.g.
Code:
chmod +x ./conv

And you'd need to do the same for any other scripts that are not flagged as executable.

Thinking offhand - if conv is already executable, it could be that one of the lines in the script is failing and causing that error message to be displayed. In which case you could try to debug the script in the terminal using the command:
Code:
bash -x ./conv

That will output every line of the script that is executed and might yield some insight into where it is going wrong.

It could also be another script that requires executable permissions, or it could be that there is a program that is called by one of the scripts which is not installed on your Linux pc.

Other than that, there are a lot of other possibilities. Without being able to browse through the files myself, I'm not sure offhand what the problem might be!

If none of these suggestions help and you are completely stuck - feel free to PM me a .zip of the source code with any other relevant info and I'll happily take a look at it for you.

I am a professional software developer. I also tinker with free software in my spare time. If you do send any source code to me, I promise I will not do anything to damage the software or compromise / leak any private/confidential information it contains. I'll send back a zip containing any changes I make and when you're happy that the issue is fixed, I will securely delete any copies that I have when I am finished.

I've got the whole week off work this week - to spend some time with my wife and kids, but I should hopefully get some time to myself too, so I should be able to look it over at some point.
 
What are the file attributes of conv?
Is the file flagged as executable?
What is the output of the following command?:
Code:
ls -lh ./conv
If the permissions string does not have any x's in it, the file is not executable. That may cause the permission related error when trying to run conv.

If the permissions string looks something like this:
rwxr-xr-x
The file is already executable and the issue is something else.

But if the permissions look something like this:
rw-r--r--

The file is NOT executable and you will have to make the script executable by changing the permissions using chmod.
E.g.
Code:
chmod +x ./conv

And you'd need to do the same for any other scripts that are not flagged as executable.

Thinking offhand - if conv is already executable, it could be that one of the lines in the script is failing and causing that error message to be displayed. In which case you could try to debug the script in the terminal using the command:
Code:
bash -x ./conv

That will output every line of the script that is executed and might yield some insight into where it is going wrong.

It could also be another script that requires executable permissions, or it could be that there is a program that is called by one of the scripts which is not installed on your Linux pc.

Other than that, there are a lot of other possibilities. Without being able to browse through the files myself, I'm not sure offhand what the problem might be!

If none of these suggestions help and you are completely stuck - feel free to PM me a .zip of the source code with any other relevant info and I'll happily take a look at it for you.

I am a professional software developer. I also tinker with free software in my spare time. If you do send any source code to me, I promise I will not do anything to damage the software or compromise / leak any private/confidential information it contains. I'll send back a zip containing any changes I make and when you're happy that the issue is fixed, I will securely delete any copies that I have when I am finished.

I've got the whole week off work this week - to spend some time with my wife and kids, but I should hopefully get some time to myself too, so I should be able to look it over at some point.

Firstly, thank you for the in depth response.
When I entered chmod it will now run the first part ie ./conv but as soon as it get to ./conv00, within the.conv script, it says permission denied.
I am not sure why it runs on the mac but not on the laptop.
I'll send you the code and see what you make of it. I know 'Ned' spent hours on it and was keen for me to keep it running, which I determined to do.
I have a couple of weeks before the new rosters come out so fingers crossed, with the help on here, I will be able to run it fully automated which was his intention.
The .conv09 is the part that send out the emails but that will make more sense when you read it.

Once i get this project finished, he also left me another one which is for Car enthusiasts which is to do with carburettors and their jetting needles, but thats for another thread.
 

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