Elektra: kdb-setmeta(1) -- Set the value of a metakey

Elektra 0.8.24

kdb-setmeta(1) -- Set the value of a metakey

`kdb setmeta <key name> <metaname> [<metavalue>]`

Where `key name` is the name of the key that the metakey is associated with, `metaname` is the name of the metakey the user would like to set the value of (or create), and `metavalue` is the value the user wishes to set the metakey to. If no `metavalue` is given, the metakey will be removed.

## DESCRIPTION

This command allows the user to set the value of an individual metakey. If a key does not already exist and the user tries setting a metakey associated with it, the key will be created with a null value. There is some special handling for the metadata atime, mtime and ctime. They will be converted to time_t.

For cascading keys, the namespace will default to `spec`, because that is the place where you usually want to set metadata.

## OPTIONS

- `-H`, `--help`: Show the man page.
- `-V`, `--version`: Print version info.
- `-p`, `--profile <profile>`: Use a different kdb profile.
- `-C`, `--color <when>`: Print never/auto(default)/always colored output.
- `-v`, `--verbose`: Explain what is happening.
- `-q`, `--quiet`: Suppress non-error messages.

## KDB

- `/sw/elektra/kdb/#0/current/verbose`: Same as `-v`: Explain what is happening.
- `/sw/elektra/kdb/#0/current/quiet`: Same as `-q`: Suppress default messages.
- `/sw/elektra/kdb/#0/current/namespace`: Specifies which default namespace should be used when setting a cascading name. By default the namespace is `user`, except `kdb` is used as root, then `system` is the default.

## EXAMPLES

To set a metakey called `description` associated with the key `user/example/key` to the value `Hello World!`:
`kdb setmeta spec/example/key description "Hello World!"`

To create a new key `spec/example/newkey` with a null value (if it did not exist before) and a metakey `namespace/#0` associated with it to the value `system`:
`kdb setmeta /example/newkey "namespace/#0" system`

To create an override link for a `/test` key:

        kdb set /overrides/test "example override"
        sudo kdb setmeta spec/test override/#0 /overrides/test

To remove it:

        sudo kdb setmeta spec/test override/#0

## SEE ALSO

- How to get metadata: kdb-getmeta(1)
- elektra-metadata(7) for an explanation of the metadata concepts.
- elektra-key-names(7) for an explanation of key names.