shadow/man/chfn.1.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<refentry id='chfn.1'>
  <!-- $Id: chfn.1.xml,v 1.23 2006/11/12 19:20:34 kloczek Exp $ -->
  <refmeta>
    <refentrytitle>chfn</refentrytitle>
    <manvolnum>1</manvolnum>
    <refmiscinfo class="sectdesc">User Commands</refmiscinfo>
  </refmeta>
  <refnamediv id='name'>
    <refname>chfn</refname>
    <refpurpose>change real user name and information</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>

  <refsynopsisdiv id='synopsis'>
    <cmdsynopsis>
      <command>chfn</command>
      <arg choice='opt'>-f <replaceable>full_name</replaceable></arg>
      <arg choice='opt'>-r <replaceable>room_no</replaceable></arg>
      <arg choice='opt'>-w <replaceable>work_ph</replaceable></arg>
      <arg choice='opt'>-h <replaceable>home_ph</replaceable></arg>
      <arg choice='opt'>-o <replaceable>other</replaceable></arg>
      <arg choice='opt'><replaceable>user</replaceable></arg>
    </cmdsynopsis>
  </refsynopsisdiv>

  <refsect1 id='description'>
    <title>DESCRIPTION</title>
    <para>
      The <command>chfn</command> command changes user fullname,
      office number, office extension, and home phone number information
      for a user's account. This information is typically printed by
      <citerefentry><refentrytitle>finger</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry> and similar programs. A normal user may only change
      the fields for her own account, subject to the restrictions in
      <filename>/etc/login.defs</filename>. (The default configuration is to
      prevent users from changing their fullname.) The superuser may change
      any field for any account. Additionally, only the superuser may use
      the <option>-o</option> option to change the undefined portions of the
      GECOS field.
    </para>

    <para>The only restriction placed on the contents of the fields is that
      no control characters may be present, nor any of comma, colon, or
      equal sign. The <emphasis remap='I'>other</emphasis> field does not
      have this restriction, and is used to store accounting information
      used by other applications.
    </para>

    <para> If none of the options are selected, <command>chfn</command>
      operates in an interactive fashion, prompting the user with the
      current values for all of the fields. Enter the new value to change
      the field, or leave the line blank to use the current value. The
      current value is displayed between a pair of <emphasis remap='B'>[
      ]</emphasis> marks. Without options, <command>chfn</command>
      prompts for the current user account.
    </para>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='files'>
    <title>FILES</title>
    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/login.defs</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>Shadow password suite configuration.</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
	<term><filename>/etc/passwd</filename></term>
	<listitem>
	  <para>User account information.</para>
	</listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
  </refsect1>

  <refsect1 id='see_also'>
    <title>SEE ALSO</title>
    <para>
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>chsh</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>login.defs</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>,
      <citerefentry>
	<refentrytitle>passwd</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum>
      </citerefentry>.
    </para>
  </refsect1>
</refentry>