</refmeta>
<refnamediv id='name'>
<refname>chfn</refname>
- <refpurpose>change real user name and information</refpurpose>
+ <refpurpose>change full user name and information</refpurpose>
</refnamediv>
<refsynopsisdiv id='synopsis'>
<refsect1 id='description'>
<title>DESCRIPTION</title>
<para>
- The <command>chfn</command> command changes user fullname,
+ The <command>chfn</command> command changes the user's full name,
office room number, office phone number, and home phone number information
- for a user's account. This information is typically printed by
+ for an account in the respective fields of <filename>/etc/passwd</filename>.
+ This information is typically printed by
<citerefentry><refentrytitle>finger</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum>
</citerefentry> and similar programs. A normal user may only change
the fields for her own account, subject to the restrictions in
numbers. The <emphasis remap='I'>other</emphasis> field is used to
store accounting information used by other applications.
</para>
-
+ <para>
+ If <replaceable>LOGIN</replaceable> is not specified, <command>chfn</command>
+ acts on the current user, and prompts for the current user's password.
+ </para>
</refsect1>
<refsect1 id='options'>
Apply changes in the <replaceable>CHROOT_DIR</replaceable>
directory and use the configuration files from the
<replaceable>CHROOT_DIR</replaceable> directory.
- Only absolute paths are supported.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>
<para>
- If none of the options are selected, <command>chfn</command>
- operates in an interactive fashion, prompting the user with the
+ If none of the options is selected, <command>chfn</command> operates
+ in an interactive fashion, prompting the user with the
current values for all of the fields. Enter the new value to change
the field, or leave the line blank to use the current value. The
- current value is displayed between a pair of <emphasis remap='B'>[
- ]</emphasis> marks. Without options, <command>chfn</command>
- prompts for the current user account.
+ current value is displayed between a pair of <emphasis remap='B'>
+ []</emphasis> marks.
</para>
</refsect1>