GETGRENT(3)                 BSD Programmer's Manual                GETGRENT(3)

NNAAMMEE
     ggeettggrreenntt, ggeettggrrnnaamm, ggeettggrrggiidd, sseettggrroouuppeenntt, sseettggrreenntt, eennddggrreenntt - group
     database operations

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
     ##iinncclluuddee <<ggrrpp..hh>>

     _s_t_r_u_c_t _g_r_o_u_p _*
     ggeettggrreenntt(_v_o_i_d);

     _s_t_r_u_c_t _g_r_o_u_p _*
     ggeettggrrnnaamm(_c_o_n_s_t _c_h_a_r _*_n_a_m_e);

     _s_t_r_u_c_t _g_r_o_u_p _*
     ggeettggrrggiidd(_g_i_d___t _g_i_d);

     _s_t_r_u_c_t _g_r_o_u_p _*
     sseettggrroouuppeenntt(_i_n_t _s_t_a_y_o_p_e_n);

     _i_n_t
     sseettggrreenntt(_v_o_i_d);

     _v_o_i_d
     eennddggrreenntt(_v_o_i_d);

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
     These functions operate on the group database file _/_e_t_c_/_g_r_o_u_p which is
     described in group(5).  Each line of the database is defined by the
     structure _g_r_o_u_p found in the include file <_g_r_p_._h>:

           struct group {
                   char    *gr_name;       /* group name */
                   char    *gr_passwd;     /* group password */
                   gid_t   gr_gid;         /* group id */
                   char    **gr_mem;       /* group members */
           };

     The functions ggeettggrrnnaamm() and ggeettggrrggiidd() search the group database for the
     given group name pointed to by _n_a_m_e or the group id pointed to by _g_i_d,
     respectively, returning the first one encountered.  Identical group names
     or group gids may result in undefined behavior.

     The ggeettggrreenntt() function sequentially reads the group database and is in-
     tended for programs that wish to step through the complete list of
     groups.

     All three routines will open the group file for reading, if necesssary.

     The sseettggrroouuppeenntt() function opens the file, or rewinds it if it is already
     open.  If _s_t_a_y_o_p_e_n is non-zero, file descriptors are left open, signifi-
     cantly speeding functions subsequent calls.  This functionality is unnec-
     essary for ggeettggrreenntt() as it doesn't close its file descriptors by de-
     fault.  It should also be noted that it is dangerous for long-running
     programs to use this functionality as the group file may be updated.

     The sseettggrreenntt() function is identical to sseettggrroouuppeenntt() with an argument of
     zero.

     The eennddggrreenntt() function closes any open files.

RREETTUURRNN VVAALLUUEESS
     The functions ggeettggrreenntt(), ggeettggrrnnaamm(), and ggeettggrrggiidd(), return a pointer to
     the group entry if successful; if end-of-file is reached or an error oc-
     curs a null pointer is returned.  The functions sseettggrroouuppeenntt() and
     sseettggrreenntt() return the value 1 if successful, otherwise the value 0 is re-
     turned.  The functions eennddggrreenntt() and sseettggrrffiillee() have no return value.

FFIILLEESS
     /etc/group  group database file

SSEEEE AALLSSOO
     ggeettppwweenntt(_3), ggrroouupp(_5)

HHIISSTTOORRYY
     The functions eennddggrreenntt(), ggeettggrreenntt(), ggeettggrrnnaamm(), ggeettggrrggiidd(), and
     sseettggrreenntt() appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX.  The functions sseettggrrffiillee()
     and sseettggrroouuppeenntt() appeared in 4.3BSD-Reno.

CCOOMMPPAATTIIBBIILLIITTYY
     The historic function sseettggrrffiillee(), which allowed the specification of al-
     ternate password databases, has been deprecated and is no longer avail-
     able.

BBUUGGSS
     The functions ggeettggrreenntt(), ggeettggrrnnaamm(), ggeettggrrggiidd(), sseettggrroouuppeenntt() and
     sseettggrreenntt() leave their results in an internal static object and return a
     pointer to that object. Subsequent calls to the same function will modify
     the same object.

     The functions ggeettggrreenntt(), eennddggrreenntt(), sseettggrroouuppeenntt(), and sseettggrreenntt() are
     fairly useless in a networked environment and should be avoided, if pos-
     sible.

4.4BSD                           June 4, 1993                                2