Creating a Login Message for CDE Users

You want to display a message to CDE users.

Although you can specify the message to be displayed as a command line option I recommend creating a file to hold the message. The usual place for this message is in /etc/motd (Message Of The Day). By placing the message in /etc/motd users telneting into your system will get the same message.

If it does not exist create the directory path /etc/dt/config/Xsession.d

Create a shell script in /etc/dt/config/Xsession.d. Files in the Sun supplied directory (/usr/dt/config/Xsession.d) have four digit numeric prefixes to control execution order. I have followed that custom.
Here is my /etc/dt/config/Xsession.d/5000.localmessage:

   #!/bin/ksh
   #
   #
   #  Purpose:        Provide local message of the day 
   #
   #  Description:    The dthello command does the work.  It displays the
   #                  /etc/motd file in a window with white text
   #                  (-fground white) on a blue background (-bground
   #                  blue).  If you omit the background option Sun's
   #                  Welcome screen will be used as the background.  To
   #                  me the message is more noticable if you change the
   #                  background.
   #
   #                  As soon as the window manager gains control of your
   #                  screen it will replace the dthello screen.  So to
   #                  give people time to read the message the script
   #                  sleeps before exiting.  Make sure that the sleep
   #                  time is sufficient for people to read the message.
   #                  Long messages will require long sleep times.
   #                  
   #                  dthello does not support formatting of your
   #                  message.  Spacing in the file will be collapsed.
   #                  
   #                  Also, at the top of the screen will be displayed
   #                  the following 2 lines:
   #                     Starting the
   #                     Common Desktop Environment
   #
   #  Invoked by:     /usr/dt/bin/Xsession
   #
   #  Product:        @(#)Common Desktop Environment 1.0
   #
   #  Note:           Please refer to the dthello(1) man page for 
   #                  more information.
   #
   #
   #
   #
   ################################################################

   /usr/dt/bin/dthello -fground white -bground blue -file /etc/motd &
   /usr/bin/sleep 20

Make the script executable,

   chmod 555 /etc/dt/config/Xsession.d/5000.localmessage

Edit /etc/motd to contain the message you want displayed.

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