Date: Mon, 11 Aug 97 10:49:49 -0400 From: "A Ling" <al52x@nih.gov> To: "freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG" <freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: ee (default) word-wrap can cause vipw/chsh indigestion Message-ID: <199708111449.KAA07240@pop.cc.nih.gov>
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As a newbie to FreeBSD 2.2.2-R, I had set my default editor to ee (in an effort to avoid vi). When I used vipw or chsh to change the default shell (specified at the end of a line in the /etc/passwd file), ee word-wrapped (evidently obeying the right margin option is on by default), and inserted a newline in the process. Unfortunately, this resulted in pwd_mkdb errors, and no change to the default shell: "/etc/pw.000237" 14 lines, 303 characters chsh: rebuilding the database... pwd_mkdb: corrupted entry pwd_mkdb: at line #13 pwd_mkdb: /etc/pw.000237: Inappropriate file type or format chsh: /etc/master.passwd: unchanged I still think ee is easier to get started with than vi, but perhaps a caveat or other warning either in the man page for ee, or in the FAQ (even though it likely won't be frequently asked -- perhaps a troubleshooting grab bag: "warnings, pitfalls, and unanticipated interactions"? ;-) will help someone else who's digested http://www.freebsd.org/tutorials/newuser/newuser.html but still has a long way to go before knowing the ropes. To be honest, the ee man page already says: There are three states for text operation in ee: free- form, margins, and automatic formatting. "Free-form" is best used for things like programming. There are no restrictions on the length of lines, and no formatting takes place. I just needed to be hit over the head more emphatically that using chsh/vipw is a "thing like programming". Many thanks and best regards to all of you who are making FreeBSD useful to even those of us who are still learning those ropes! Alex Ling, MD AL52x@nih.gov (301) 496-7700 x235 (voice) Bldg 10, Rm 1C-660 NIH Clinical Center Bethesda, Md 20892-1182
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