Index: files.el
===================================================================
RCS file: /sources/emacs/emacs/lisp/files.el,v
retrieving revision 1.959
diff -b -u -w -r1.959 files.el
--- files.el	30 Jan 2008 21:25:08 -0000	1.959
+++ files.el	11 Feb 2008 23:38:35 -0000
@@ -5464,7 +5464,7 @@
 	  (t
 	   (apply operation arguments)))))
 
-;; Symbolic modes and read-file-modes.
+;; Symbolic modes, ls-type modes, and read-file-modes.
 
 (defun file-modes-char-to-who (char)
   "Convert CHAR to a who-mask from a symbolic mode notation.
@@ -5543,13 +5543,38 @@
 	  (error "Parse error in modes near `%s'" (substring modes 0))))
       num-modes)))
 
+(defun file-modes-number-to-ls (modes)
+  "Convert the numerical MODES into the `ls' notation."
+  (let (string)
+    (dotimes (i 3 string)
+      (let* ((is-executable (/= 0 (logand modes 1)))
+	     (exec-bit
+	      (or (cond ((and (= i 0) ;; Sticky.
+			      (/= 0 (logand modes #o1000)))
+			 (if is-executable "t" "T"))
+			((or (and (= i 1) ;; Set-gid.
+				  (/= 0 (logand modes #o200)))
+			     (and (= i 2) ;; Set-uid.
+				  (/= 0 (logand modes #o40))))
+			 (if is-executable "s" "S")))
+		  (if is-executable "x" "-"))))
+	(setq string (concat (if (/= 0 (logand modes 4)) "r" "-")
+			     (if (/= 0 (logand modes 2)) "w" "-")
+			     exec-bit string))
+	(setq modes (lsh modes -3))))))
+
 (defun read-file-modes (&optional prompt orig-file)
   "Read file modes in octal or symbolic notation.
-PROMPT is used as the prompt, default to `File modes (octal or symbolic): '.
-ORIG-FILE is the original file of which modes will be change."
+PROMPT is used as the prompt, default to `File modes, octal or symbolic'
+followed by the current modes of ORIG-FILE.
+ORIG-FILE is the file of which modes will be changed."
   (let* ((modes (or (if orig-file (file-modes orig-file) 0)
 		    (error "File not found")))
-	 (value (read-string (or prompt "File modes (octal or symbolic): "))))
+	 (ls-type-modes (when orig-file
+			  (concat " (current: " (file-modes-number-to-ls modes)
+				  ")")))
+	 (value (read-string (or prompt (concat "File modes, octal or symbolic"
+						ls-type-modes ": ")))))
     (save-match-data
       (if (string-match "^[0-7]+" value)
 	  (string-to-number value 8)


Diffs between working revision and workfile end here.