In article <1995Feb22.165851.40245@miavx1>, [log in to unmask] (Bob
Williams) writes:
> This is a pretty dumb question, but here goes.
>
> Is there any way to use aliases with non-mail commands, such as finger? It is
a
> real pain not being able to. I have to list the aliases, copy the one I want,
> then paste it as I type the command. It would be great to just, say, FINGER
> MYALIAS.
 
Not currently...but the following program should do it:
 
$!  NewFinger.COM
$!
$!  Initialization
$!
$   fingerAddress = f$edit(p1,"lowercase")
$!
$!  Try to find fingerAddress in aliases.dat file.
$!
$   open/read/error=doFinger aliasFile sys$login:aliases.dat
$   read aliasFile aliasRecord/index=0/key="''f$fao("!80AS",fingerAddress)'"-
      /error=doFinger
$   addressSize = f$cvui(0,8,f$extract(80,1,aliasRecord))
$   fingerAddress = f$extract(82,addressSize,aliasRecord)
$!
$!  Close Alias File
$!
$closeAliasFile:
$   close aliasFile
$!
$!  Issue Finger command
$!
$doFinger:
$   finger 'fingerAddress
$!
$!  Exit Program
$!
$done:
$   exit
 
--
                                     Kent Covert, Software Coordinator
                                     Miami Computing and Information Services
                                     Miami University, Oxford, OH
                                     [log in to unmask]  (internet)
                                     kacovert@miavx1                 (bitnet)