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diff --git a/content/fortunes/fortune-cookies-HOWTO.sgml b/content/fortunes/fortune-cookies-HOWTO.sgml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7bf6a89 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/fortunes/fortune-cookies-HOWTO.sgml @@ -0,0 +1,119 @@ +<!doctype linuxdoc system> + +<article> + +<title>Fortune Mini-HOWTO (english)</title> +<author>Walter Harms </author> +<date>Version 0.01, 19.05.2004</date> + +<abstract> +How to use use fortune to generate cookies. +</abstract> + +<toc> + +<sect>Introduction +<p> +When a user logs into a system normally the /etc/motd is displayed. ( You can +disable this by creating the file ˜/.hushlogin.) You will be greeted +by something like ''welcome to 127.0.0.1''. That is boring. + +Here comes ''fortune'' to the rescue. The package comes with 3 programs: +fortune,strfile and unstr. + +<sect>Usage of fortune, strfile and unstr +<p> +The programs have clear distinguished jobs: presentation, assembly and +disassembly of the fortune databases. + +<sect1>Fortune +<p> +fortune is the presenter program. A simple application is to call the +program in the crontab and modify the /etc/motd. e.g.: +<code> + */10 * * * * /usr/bin/fortune >/etc/motd + +To select a given database with quotes simply add the database as argument. + + */10 * * * * /usr/bin/fortune myquotes >/etc/motd +</code> +You can also specify more than one database file. Then fortune will consider +both files equally often. +<code> + +> fortune myquotes startrek +</code> +Some people like some quotes more than others. So your can manipulate the +equilibrium by adding probabilities. +<code> + +> fortune 90% myquotes 10% startrek +</code> +fortune has some additional command line switches but its beyond the +scope of this document to explain them. check the man page instead. + +<sect1>generating a fortune database +<p> +Now we come to terms. Pick a list of quotes. There are several sources. +Of cause the Internet will provide you with a long list. Choose quotes +you like they will appear regularly now. Collect the quotes in one file. +Every quote separated with a line containing a single % e.g.: +<code> +quote 1 +% +quote 2 +% +quote 3 +% +quote 5 +</code> +This is not a very effective way. Therefor is the strfile program.It will +process the ASCII-file and add a binary helper. The <myquotes> will +accompanied by <myquotes>.dat . +<code> + +> strfile myquotes +</code> +The <myquotes>.dat will by copied into the directory where the datafiles are stored. +This is usually <tt>/usr/share/fortune</tt>. Check the installation with: +<code> +>fortune myquotes +</code> + +<sect1> unstr +<p> +This is what the man-page says: +<code> +The purpose of unstr is to undo the work of strfile. It prints out the +strings contained in the file source_file in the order that they are +listed in the header file source_file.dat to standard output. It is +possible to create sorted versions of input files by using -o when strfile +is run and then using unstr to dump them out in the table order. +</code> + +<sect> other files to have fun with +<p> +An other possible target is <tt>.signature</tt>. +Any selfrespecting mailprogram will add that to an outgoing mail. + +<sect> remarks +<p> +The patchnames mentioned here are based on the actual fortune package. +Distribution may change the place to somewhere. +<p> +Beside fortune there are several other programs that select random +quotes from a database. +<p> +Be carefull when choosing quotes. There are people who take them serious like: +<code> +====### legal notice ###====------------------------------------------- +Microsoft Network is prohibited from redistributing this work in any form, in +whole or in part. License to distribute this post is available to Microsoft +for $499. Posting without permission constitutes an agreement to these terms. +walter@linux:~/bericht/fortune> fortune myquotes +"You have the right to remain silent, but I wouldn't encourage you to do + so. Anything you say will be taken down, altered to my satisfaction and + used in a court of law to send you down for a good many years!" +</code> + +</article>
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