Linux Scripting How to add multiple users at once from a text file

Oblivionsmist · 10-22-2017, 02:52 AM

Hi, I have a text file called userlist.txt which contains a bunch of names:

Aline Kurek *
Wendy Aldridge *
Darla Tan *
Marni Buenrostro *
Rosalina Salinas *
Eleonore Gibby *
Simon Flanigan *

i need to write a script which will add all the users from the .txt file with the useradd command.
+ remove the spacing in between their names e.g AlineKurek
+ assign a password based off of their names e.g AlineKurkek123

I can't seem to get it working this is my code so far:

#!/bin/sh
awk '{$1.$2}' /home/Documents/userlist.txt
for i in /home/Documents/userlist.txt
do
echo $i
useradd $i
done

Turbocapitalist · 10-22-2017, 03:42 AM

Welcome.

You'll need a different delimiter in your input file between the user's name and the rest of the data. Also, you'll need to look at the options available for useradd. Lastly, it will help if you can wrap your script in [code] [/code] tags here so that indenting and other whitespace is preserved.

Code:

while read i; do
        echo $i;
        ...
        useradd ... ;
done < /home/Documents/user.list.txt

Which course or class is this for?

Oblivionsmist · 10-22-2017, 03:53 AM

Thanks for the reply, i am doing an introductory course for Linux scripting

Turbocapitalist · 10-22-2017, 03:57 AM

Nice. Be sure to check the reference manuals frequently. They vary in quality but are worth getting familiar with, and that takes repeated exposure so check them often.

Code:

man useradd
man awk
man bash

That last one will be overwhelming no matter how many years you have been working with it. However, it is very useful to learn to navigate that monster.

There are also some very useful guides to check on as you go through your task:

http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashPitfalls
http://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ