


      CHFN(1)                     (bsd 4.2)                     CHFN(1)



      NAME
           chfn - change finger entry

      SYNTAX
           chfn [loginname]

      DESCRIPTION
           Chfn changes the information about users.  Chfn modifies the
           ``optional'' entry for the calling user in the /etc/passwd.
           The ``optional'' field usually contains the user's real-life
           name, office room number, office phone number, and home
           phone number.  Chfn prompts the user fort each field.
           Included in the prompt is a default value, which is enclosed
           between brackets.  The default value is accepted simply by
           typing <return>.  To enter a blank field, type the word
           'none'.  Below is a sample run:

                Name [Biff Studsworth II]:
                Room number (Exs: 597E or 197C) []: 521E
                Office Phone (Ex: 1632) []: 1863
                Home Phone (Ex: 987532) [5771546]: none


           Chfn allows phone numbers to be entered with or without
           hyphens.  Chfn insists upon a four digit number (after the
           hyphens are removed) for office phone numbers.  Also, room
           numbers must be in Evans or Cory.

           The super-user may specify loginname to change the data for
           a specific user.

      FILES
           /etc/passwd, /etc/ptmp

      SEE ALSO
           finger(1), passwd(4)

      BUGS
           The office information is relevant only at the University of
           California at Berkeley.  The office and phone number
           information format is constrained for use at Berkeley.

           For historical reasons, the user's name, etc are stored in
           the passwd file.  This is a bad place to store the
           information.

           Because two users may try to write the passwd file at once,
           a synchronization method was developed.  On rare occasions,
           a message that the password file is "busy" will be printed.
           In this case, chfn sleeps for a while and then tries to
           write to the passwd file again.




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