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.\" .\" Randstr: grab a random text string from a specified text file .\" Amy A. Lewis, October, 1995 .\" .TH RANDSTR 1 "October 1995" "Linux hackery" .SH NAME randstr \- fetch a random text string from a specified file .SH SYNOPIS .BI "randstr " filename .SH DESCRIPTION In essence, .B randstr is a stripped-down, minimalist version of the popular .BR fortune (6) program. .PP It reads files with the same structure as the fortunes databases, and displays a random string. .SS Usage .B randstr might be used, with a database of signatures created with a text editor and the .BR strfile "(8) and " unstr (8) utilities, to randomly change the .I $HOME/.signature file. To do so, create the necessary database as, for example, .IR signatures " and " signatures.dat in the home directory, and add the following line to .IR .profile " or " .login : .RS .BI "randstr " signatures .RI > .signature .RE .PP As superuser, a similar sort of thing could be placed in the .BR Pnews "(1) or " Rnmail (1) scripts, although it should certainly test to be certain that the files exist, and creating the files of signatures might require a good deal of help for a lot of users. .PP Also as superuser, one might use .B randstr with a shell or .B Perl script to read the .I etc/passwd database and create a .I strfile type database, and use this database to run a monthly lottery. .SH BUGS None known. .SH SEE ALSO .BR fortune "(6), " strfile (1)
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