3.2 Using Identifier Variables

Many login script commands allow you to take advantage of identifier variables to make login scripts more efficient and flexible.

Use identifier variables to enter a variable (such as LAST_NAME) rather than a specific name (such as Smith) in a login script command. When the login script executes, it substitutes real values for the identifier variables.

By using the variable, you can make the same login script command applicable to multiple users.

When using variables within login script commands, observe the following conventions:

Type the variable exactly as shown.
To use environment variables as identifiers, enclose them in angle brackets (< >).
Identifier variables are used most often with commands such as IF...THEN, MAP, and WRITE. They can also be used with commands that you can specify a path for, such as COMSPEC.
Identifier variables can be placed within literal text strings in a WRITE statement. However, the identifier variable must be in uppercase letters and preceded by a percent sign (%). (Literal text is the text that is displayed on the screen, such as “Sales report is due today.” Literal text must be enclosed in quotation marks.)

For example, using the %LAST_NAME variable substitutes the user's actual last name for the LAST_NAME variable in the command when the user logs in. For example:

WRITE "Hello, ";LAST_NAME

WRITE "Hello, %LAST_NAME"

displays the following message on Bob Smith's workstation screen when he logs in:

Hello, SMITH

The percent sign (%) is used only within literal text strings (that is, within quotation marks (“ “)). The semicolon (;) is used to concatenate the literal text string and the identifier variable.

Using the %GREETING_TIME variable displays the time of day. If Bob Smith logs in during the morning, both of the following lines display the same message (Good morning, SMITH) on his screen:

WRITE "Good "; GREETING_TIME;", "; LAST_NAME

WRITE "Good %GREETING_TIME,%LAST_NAME"

The following table lists the identifier variables that work for both Linux and Windows workstations.

Table 3-2 Identifier Variables for Linux and Windows

Category	Identifier Variable	Function
Date	DAY	Day number (01 through 31)
	DAY_OF_WEEK	Day of week (Monday, Tuesday, etc.)
	MONTH	Month number (01 through 12)
	MONTH_NAME	Month name (January, February, etc.)
	NDAY_OF_WEEK	Weekday number (1 through 7; 1=Sunday)
	SHORT_YEAR	Last two digits of year (99, 00, 01)
	YEAR	All four digits of year (1999, 2000, 2001)
DOS Environment	variable	Any DOS environment variable can be used in angle brackets. To use a DOS environment variable in MAP, COMSPEC, INCLUDE, DISPLAY, and FIRE PHASERS commands, add a percent sign (%) in front of the variable.
Miscellaneous	ACCESS_SERVER	Shows whether the access server is functional (TRUE = functional; FALSE = nonfunctional)
	ERROR_LEVEL	An error number (0 = no errors)
	%n	Replaced by parameters the user enters at the command line with the login utility See Login Parameters with %n Variables.
NetWare Mobile	DIALUP	0 = Not using DIALUP 1 = Using NetWare Mobile Client DIALUP profile
	OFFLINE	0 = Not offline 1 = Disconnected login
Network	FILE_SERVER	NetWare server name
	NETWORK_ADDRESS	Internal number assigned by the network specifying where a device can be located in the network cabling system
Object Properties	property_name	You can use property values of eDirectory objects as variables. Use the property values just as you do any other identifier variable. If the property value includes a space, enclose the name in quotation marks. To use a property name with a space within a WRITE statement, you must place it at the end of the quoted string: WRITE “Given name=%GIVEN_NAME” IF “MESSAGE SERVER”=”MS1” THEN MAP INS S16:=MS1\SYS:EMAIL END
Time	AM_PM	a.m. or p.m.
	GREETING_TIME	Time of day (morning, afternoon, evening)
	HOUR	Hour (12-hour scale; 1 through 12)
	HOUR24	Hour (24-hour scale; 00 through 23)
	MINUTE	Minute (00 through 59)
	SECOND	Second (00 through 59)
User	CN	User's full login name as it exists in eDirectory
	LOGIN_ALIAS_CONTEXT	“Y” if REQUESTER_CONTEXT is an alias
	FULL_NAME	User's unique username. It is the value of the FULL_NAME property for both eDirectory and bindery-based NetWare. Spaces are replaced with underscores ( _ ).
	LAST_NAME	User's surname in eDirectory or full login name in bindery-based NetWare
	LOGIN_CONTEXT	User's context
	LOGIN_NAME	User's unique login name (long names are truncated to eight characters)
	MEMBER OF “group"	Group object that the user is assigned to
	NOT MEMBER OF “group"	Group object that the user is not assigned to
	PASSWORD_EXPIRES	Number of days before password expires
	REQUESTER_CONTEXT	Context when login started
	USER_ID	Number assigned to each user
Workstation	MACHINE	Type of computer (IBM_PC, etc.)
	NETWARE_REQUESTER	Version of the NetWare Requester for OS/2 or VLM users
	OS	Type of operating system on the workstation
	OS_VERSION	Operating system version on the workstation
	P_STATION	Workstation's node number (12-digit hexadecimal)
	PLATFORM	Workstation's operating system platform
	SHELL_TYPE	Version of the workstation's DOS shell; supports NetWare 2 and NetWare 3 shells and NetWare 4 Requester for DOS.
	SHELL_VERSION	The version of the Novell Client, as displayed in the property pages. Provides a more effective testing of the Novell Client version from the login script.
	SMACHINE	Short machine name (IBM, etc.)
Workstation (cont'd)	STATION	Workstation's connection number
	WINVER	Version of the workstation's Windows operating system

3.2.1 Login Parameters with %n Variables

Some variables in a login script can be indicated by a percent sign (%) followed by a number from 0 through 9.

NOTE:Only four variables (%2 through %5) can be changed in the login screen.

When a user logs in, additional parameters can be entered that the LOGIN utility passes to the login script. The utility then substitutes these parameters for any %n variables in the login script. These variables are replaced in order by the parameters the user entered when logging in.

The %0 variable is replaced by the name of the NetWare server entered in the Login dialog box, and %1 is replaced by the user's fully distinguished login name. The remaining variables change, depending on what the user types when executing the LOGIN utility. The %n variables must precede all command line options.

The SHIFT command allows you to change the order in which these %n variables are substituted.