profile

Purpose

     Sets the user environment at login time.

Description

     The  profile file  contains  commands to  be executed  at
     login  and variable  assignments to  be set  and exported
     into  the environment.   The  /etc/profile file  contains
     commands executed by all users at login.

     After the login program adds the LOGNAME (login name) and
     HOME (login directory) parameters to the environment, the
     commands  in  $HOME/.profile  are   executed,  if  it  is
     present.   The  .profile  file  is  the  individual  user
     profile that  overrides the variables set  in the profile
     file and is used to tailor the user environment variables
     set in /etc/profile.  The .profile  file is often used to
     set  exported environment  variables and  terminal modes.
     The person who  customizes the system can  use adduser to
     set default  .profile files in each  user home directory.
     Users can  tailor their  environment as desired  by modi-
     fying their .profile file.

Example

     The following example is typical of a /etc/profile file:

           # Set file creation mask
           unmask 022
           # Tell me when new mail arrives
           MAIL=/usr/mail/$LOGNAME
           # Add my /bin directory to the shell search sequence
           PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/etc::
           # Set terminal type
           TERM=hft
           # Make some environment variables global
           export MAIL PATH TERM

Files

     $HOME/.profile
     /etc/profile
     /etc/profile.dos

Related Information

     In this book:  "environment" and "TERM."

     The env,  login, mail, sh,  stty, and su commands  in AIX
     Operating System Commands Reference.