[comp.sys.next] MOTD Application

lane@sumex-aim.stanford.edu (Christopher Lane) (07/18/89)

Since NeXT logins via the console startup the Workspace application instead of
a Unix shell, they don't do the traditional display of the /etc/motd file
(NeXT logins via the network do, however).  To correct for this, I've written
an application, MOTD, designed to run as a LoginHook under loginwindow which
displays the contents of the /etc/motd file in a window when a user logs on.

The application checks the modification date of the motd file against the
user's last login (as recorded in /usr/adm/wtmp) and does nothing if the motd
file hasn't changed.  The MOTD display has two buttons, one to hold the window
on the screen (it goes away automatically in 25 seconds, the hold button
displays the count down) and another to quit and proceed with the login.

I've FTP'd the source, binary, script and README files (in compressed tar
format) to the submissions directory on the cs.orst.edu NeXT archive.

- Christopher

PS: I hope this counts as 'useful' despite my being one of those 'nerds who
neither know how to dance nor how to drink' who are apparently believed to be
impacting non-positively on the news group.

lane@sumex-aim.stanford.edu (Christopher Lane) (07/28/89)

I've FTP'd a new version of the MOTD application to the submissions
directory of the cs.orst.edu NeXT archive with the following changes:

    If the designated motd file starts with a '{', it is interpreted as
    an RTF file.

    There is a 'Cancel Login' button which is only enabled when MOTD is
    used as a LoginHook.

    FTP entries in the wtmp file are now ignored when checking user login
    times against the motd file creation times.

    MOTD is better behaved when launched as an application instead of a
    LoginHook.

There was a request to increase the window size (it only displayed a dozen
lines in the visible part of the ScrollView) but I only increased it by one
line (not what the requestor had in mind I'm sure)--being a triskaidekaphile,
I just couldn't resist.  The MOTD window can, of course, be sized to suit
using the Interface Builder.

Comments/suggestions welcome,

- Christopher