<code lang="Python">
"""
converts a permission mask in symbolic format (ex.: drwxr-xr-x) to a
string that's usable in a chmod command

ex.: chmod u=rwx,g=,o= ~/myscripts/convert_mask.py

Created by Bert Heymans on 2006-10-12. This code is public domain.
"""
class SymbolicPermission:
	
	def __init__(self, symbolicString):
	"""
			split up into user, group, other 
		"""
		self.user = symbolicString[1:4]
		self.group = symbolicString[4:7]
		self.other = symbolicString[7:10]
		pass
	
	def toUsableString(self):
	"""
			format to a usable string, that can be used in a chmod command
			ex.: u=rwx,g=,o=
		"""
		def replaceAll(perm):
			perm = perm.replace('-','')
			perm = perm.replace('s','sx')
			perm = perm.replace('t','tx')
			# don't reverse order of S and s replacement (obvious)
			perm = perm.replace('S','s')
			perm = perm.replace('T','t')
			return perm
		self.user = replaceAll(self.user)
		self.group = replaceAll(self.group)
		self.other = replaceAll(self.other)
		return "u=%s,g=%s,o=%s" % (self.user, self.group, self.other)

</code>