PROFILE(5,F) AIX Technical Reference PROFILE(5,F) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- profile PURPOSE Sets the sh 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 /bin/sh program is executed (if so indicated in the /etc/passwd file). The sh command executes the commands in /etc/profile and then, if present, the commands in $HOME/.profile are executed. The .profile file is the individual user profile that overrides the variables set in the profile file and is used to tailor the user environment variables set in /etc/profile. The .profile file is often used to set exported environment variables and terminal modes. The person who customizes the system can use adduser to set default .profile files in each user home directory. Users can tailor their environment as desired by modifying their .profile file. EXAMPLE The following example is typical of a /etc/profile file: # Set file creation mask unmask 022 # Tell me when new mail arrives MAIL=/usr/mail/$LOGNAME # Add my /bin directory to the shell search sequence $HOME/bin:$PATH # Set terminal type TERM=hft # Make some environment variables global export MAIL PATH TERM FILES $HOME/.profile /etc/profile RELATED INFORMATION In this book: "passwd," "environment," and "TERM." The env, login, mail, sh, stty, and su commands in AIX Operating System Commands Reference. Processed November 7, 1990 PROFILE(5,F) 1