randstr is a simple utility that implements the minimal functionality of
the fortune program.  Give it the name of a strfile text or data
(pointer) file, and it will randomly select and print one text string.

It isn't intended to do a lot; it's supposed to be a sample
implementation of a minimal strfile type random text retrieval function,
such as might be used to generate random .signature files.

For example:

  Create a file of signatures in strfile format (none more than four lines
  long, please!).  Call it signatures, for ease of understanding.
  
  Run it through strfile to create the pointer file; put both files in a
  safe place--your home directory, for instance.
  
  In your .login or .profile, add the line:
  randstr $HOME/signatures >.signature
  
  Each time you log in, your signature will change randomly to one of those
  in the file signatures.  If you change the file, be sure to update the
  pointers file!  (use strfile)

  If you happen to have root privileges, you might be able to hack Pnews
  to change the sig randomly whenever you post.  The solution is left as
  an exercise for the student (gee, I *always* wanted to say that!).
  
Another example:

  As root, create a shell or Perl script to read /etc/passwd and create
  a strfile text file containing login name (line one) and GECOS (line
  two).
  
  Add an entry to crontab.root that runs that script once a month, then
  uses strfile to create the data file, and randstr to select one entry
  at random.
  
  Give valuable prizes to the winning login.  The script can also auto-mail
  to the user, with Cc: root.
  
  Any other 'lottery'-style function could be implemented the same way.

Both of these examples are more easily implemented with randstr (which
doesn't care where the files are, and accepts no parameters) than with
fortune, which expects files to be in a place specified at compile-time.

Amy A. Lewis	[email protected]