Help me restore the "Staff" Group please

[ThrowerGB]

I accidentally deleted the "Staff" Group. Files that previously had permissions for the Staff Group no longer have them, and the Staff Group doesn't show as attached to those files in Info. Instead, the Group "System" is now there.

When I go to Settings>Users & Groups, the Staff Group isn't listed. If I try adding it I get a message saying "Name is used by another Group".

The files I'm concerned about are created by the Banktivity app. If I create a new file with a different name, using Banktivity, the new file has the Staff Group attached and it has the permissions it should have. But Staff is still not listed in Settings>Users & Groups, and I still can't create it.

I'm running Sonoma 14.5 (23F79) on a Mac Studio M1 Max. I deleted the Staff Group on an earlier version of Sonoma.

For those of you wondering why I deleted Staff, I'm not telling. I'm too embarrassed.

 

[gilby101]

If I create a new file with a different name, using Banktivity, the new file has the Staff Group attached and it has the permissions it should have.

So you have not deleted the Staff group. Or, just possibly, you did delete Staff and it got recreated by the 14.5 update.

But Staff is still not listed in Settings>Users & Groups,

It is never listed there.

and I still can't create it.

Because it exists.

Files that previously had permissions for the Staff Group no longer have them, and the Staff Group doesn't show as attached to those files in Info. Instead, the Group "System" is now there.

To me, that seems like you have done something to the file permissions.

For those of you wondering why I deleted Staff, I'm not telling. I'm too embarrassed.

I think you are going to have to say what you did to think you have deleted the group. Then we might be able to show you how to reverse it.

Alternatively:
In System Settings > Users and Groups, click on Network account server Edit... and then choose Open Directory Utility...
In Directory Utility, select the Directory Editor tab and then Viewing Groups (not Users).
Scroll down to Staff.
Tell us either:
a) It is not there (should be next after SSH Users), or
b) The righthand pane should look like:

What do you see? Particularly, is the PrimaryGroupID 20?

 

[ThrowerGB]

So you have not deleted the Staff group. Or, just possibly, you did delete Staff and it got recreated by the 14.5 update.

It is never listed there.

Because it exists.

To me, that seems like you have done something to the file permissions.

I think you are going to have to say what you did to think you have deleted the group. Then we might be able to show you how to reverse it.

Alternatively:
In System Settings > Users and Groups, click on Network account server Edit... and then choose Open Directory Utility...
In Directory Utility, select the Directory Editor tab and then Viewing Groups (not Users).
Scroll down to Staff.
Tell us either:
a) It is not there (should be next after SSH Users), or
b) The righthand pane should look like:
View attachment 2379151
What do you see? Particularly, is the PrimaryGroupID 20?

Thanks for your detailed response.
My display of the pane is the same as yours.
I got a response from the Apple Discussions web site that said “In Get Info, when selecting the + button to add a group, hold down the Option key.” It immediately listed dozens of Group name including Staff. I was able to select it and apply to some files I was concerned with.
You were right in suggesting I’d done something to permissions. It all started last December. I think there was a short power outage. It messed up many things including backup disks.

 

[gilby101]

I didn't know that use of the Option key. One to remember.

Glad you have got a handle on what went wrong and how to fix it by redoing permissions.

You could also do commands to reset the permissions on your home folder and the well known subfolders (Documents, Desktop, etc.). I am not confident to recommend this to you, but your might like to read https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252416429?sortBy=best and https://eclecticlight.co/2022/11/18.../repairing-home-folder-permissions-a-mystery/ if only to realise how complex this can be!