Bash scripting - modifying /etc/passwd

[kdomitrovits]

Hi all,

I have to write a program that asks the user for an account name on the system. It has to determine whether the account exists or not (it searches the /etc/passwd file for the account). If the account does not exist, it will display "account does not exist!" and ask for another account. If the account does exist, it will ask some informational questions about that account (i.e. a name, a location, and an extension number) and is to then add these items to that user's /etc/passwd entry.

For example:

Enter account:
admin

admin:503:503::/home/admin:/bin/bash

Enter name:
Administrator

Enter location:
Earth

Enter number:
1234

admin:503:503:Administrator, Earth, 1234:/home/admin:/bin/bash

So the last line is the modified /etc/passwd entry for the account 'admin'. This is what I am trying to accomplish. I have the program made, I just do not know how to modify the /etc/passwd entry (using bash scripting) for the user's information (name,location and number). Help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Kris

[khafa]

hi,


try the command vipw.

man vipw

[knighster]

You can use the chfn command to modify the field

If the user is test1 as below
test1:503:503:test1:/home/test1:/bin/bash

You could modify it as below
chfn -f "Test Account" -o "Earth"

The entry now looks like below:
test1:503:503:Test Account,Earth:/home/test1:/bin/bash

If you're doing this for multiple users you can add the username at the end and run using sudo or as root.

[kdomitrovits]

thanks knighster! this seems to work. however, can this only work on the current account, or am I able to change another user's finger information? I need to make it so it enters the account to be changed. can I do this? thanks!

Kris

[kdomitrovits]

nevermind, i just realized you add the user to the end of the command, haha! thanks!