How to Use dua, a Command-Line Interface to the U-M Online Directory

This document explains how to use dua (directory user agent), a text-only, command-line interface to the U-M Online Directory. You can use dua to find and display directory entries, change your own entry, and create e-mail groups in the directory.

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Table of Contents

• Opening dua

• Finding An Entry

• Binding to the Directory

• Changing Your Entry

• Finding Groups of Which You Are a Member

• Finding Groups You Own

• Creating an E-Mail Group

• Changing an E-Mail Group

• Deleting an E-Mail Group

• Joining an E-Mail Group

• Exiting dua

• More Information About the Directory

• Additional Resources

Opening dua

1. Use secure software to open a terminal connection to the ITCS Login Service (login.itd.umich.edu). ITCS provides SSH Secure Shell for Windows, MacSSH PPC for Mac OS 8.6-9.2.x, and Fugu for Mac OS X in its Internet Access Kit. See the kits web page for details.
2. Log in with your uniqname and UMICH Kerberos password.
3. At the % prompt, type dua and press the Return key. You will then see the dua @ prompt.

IF YOUR BACKSPACE OR DELETE KEY DOESN'T WORK: You may need to tell your communication software how you want those keys to function. In SSH Secure Shell for Windows, for example, select Settings from the Edit menu; then, under Profile Settings, click Keyboard. You can then indicate whether you want the Delete key to backspace or if you want the Backspace key to delete. Other communication software may require you to choose backspace or delete from a Session menu. Check the built-in help (search the help index for "backspace key") for your communication software for specific instructions.

Finding An Entry

1. At the dua @ prompt, type
   search <uniqname, full name, or group name>
   and press the Return key. Substitute the name of the entry for which you are looking for uniqname, full name, or group name; do not type the angle brackets. For example, if you wanted to search for bjensen's directory entry, you would type search bjensen.
2. If found, the entry will be listed, and you will be returned to the @ prompt.

   If no match is found, the search results will say "0 matches found."

   If there is more than one match to your search request, the matches will be displayed in a numbered list. To see one of the entries in the list, type search <number of the entry>. For example, if, in the search results below, you wanted to see the entry for bjensen, you would type search 2.

HINT: If you're in a hurry, you can search for a directory entry directly from the Login Service % prompt. Type

dua <uniqname, full name, or group name>

Binding to the Directory

1. At the dua @ prompt, type: bind
2. You will see confirmation that you have successfully authenticated, or "bound," to the directory.

HINT: If you are a member of a group with administrative privileges to the directory and need to bind to the directory as a member of that group, use the bind command followed by the full name or uniqname of the group or personal entry as which you wish to bind.

Changing Your Entry

1. Bind to the directory by typing bind at the @ prompt.
2. At the @ prompt, type

   modify <your uniqname>

   (where you have substituted your own uniqname for the words your uniqname; do not type the angle brackets). For example, if your uniqname is bjensen, type modify bjensen then press the Return key to change your entry.

3. Your entry will be displayed as a numbered list; you may need to scroll to see the entire entry. At the What would you like to modify? prompt, type the number of the part of your entry you want to change. For example, in the entry displayed below, you would type 20 to modify the favorite beverage.



4. Continue responding to the prompts as appropriate. You will see different prompts depending on the nature of the part of the entry you are modifying and whether information has already been entered.
• If you are adding text to a field that is empty (such as creating a vacation message), you will see this prompt: Do you want to [A]dd, [B]ulkload? Type an a to add text directly (then go ahead and enter your text) or a b to upload the contents of a file. If you type b, you will then be prompted to enter the file name. If the file is in your IFS home directory, you can just enter the file name; if it is elsewhere, enter the file's pathname. The file should contain a list of values appropriate for the field you are modifying.
• If you are making a change to existing text, you may see a prompt asking if you want to add text, clear the current text, replace the current text with new text, or bulkload the contents of a file. In some cases, you may be prompted just to either delete or replace the text. You may sometimes have the option to delete—by typing d—a specific piece of text in a field or clearingÑby tying cÑall of the text in a field. You may be asked to type a to add text, c to clear (or delete) the current text, or r to replace the current text with new text. Type the appropriate letter and press the Return key. Then you can enter your text if you wish.
• If you are selecting between True and False (such as for the On Vacation field), you will be told the current value and asked if you want to change it. Type y for yes to change it or n for no to not change it.
5. Enter the text you want—or select the value you want. The words "Entry modified" will appear to let you know that you have successfully modified the entry.



HINT: If you are entering more than one line of text, you may find that pressing the Return key gives you a new line rather than sending your information to the directory. To stop entering text in this situation, press the Return key, then type a period (.) on the new line, and press the Return key again.

Finding Groups of Which You Are a Member

1. Search for your entry by typing search followed by your uniqname.
2. Show Membership will be listed as an action at the bottom of your entry. Type the action command followed by the number for Show Membership. In most cases, you would type action 1. However, for some entries, the numbers may be different. Read the list to be sure you type the action number of the action you want.



HINT: A numbered list of the groups of which you are a member will be displayed. If you want to see the entry of a particular group in the list, type the search command, followed by the number of the entry you want to see (for example, search 5).

Finding Groups You Own

1. Search for your entry by typing search followed by your uniqname.
2. Show Ownership will be listed as an action at the bottom of your entry. Type the action command followed by the number for Show Ownership. In most cases, you would type action 2. However, for some entries, the numbers may be different. Read the list to be sure you type the action number of the action you want.



HINT: A numbered list of the groups you own will be displayed. If you want to see the entry of a particular group in the list, type the search command, followed by the number of the entry you want to see (for example, search 7).

Creating an E-Mail Group

1. Bind to the directory by typing bind at the @ prompt.
2. At the @ prompt, type add <groupname>, where you have substituted the name you want your group to have for groupname; do not type the angle brackets. For example, if you want to create an e-mail group called "class project team," type class project team.
3. At the Enter the number of the template you would like to use? prompt, type 1 for group. (Those with directory administration privileges may be able to select from additional templates.) You will see the words "Entry added," confirming that your group entry has been added to the directory.



HINT: To add members to your group, you need to modify the group entry.

Changing an E-Mail Group

1. Bind to the directory by typing bind at the @ prompt.
2. At the @ prompt, type modify <groupname>, where you have substituted the name of the group you want to modify for groupname; do not type the angle brackets. For example, to modify the "class project team" in the example above, type modify class project team.
3. The entry will be displayed as a numbered list. At the What would you like to modify? prompt, type the number of the part of the entry you want to change. In the example below, you would type 11 to add members to the group. (Note that University Members are members of the U-M community who have entries in the directory; Non-University Members are people outside the University.)



NOTE: The numbers may change if the directory template for individual entries on the Login Service changes (to make more or less information available), so always check the numbers to be sure you are entering the one you want.

4. Follow the prompts as appropriate. You will be prompted for different information depending on what part of your group entry you are modifying. The example below shows the addition of a group member. After you make your change, the words "Entry modified" will confirm that the change has been made.



NOTE: You will need to add members one at a time.

Deleting an E-Mail Group

1. Bind to the directory by typing bind at the @ prompt.
2. At the @ prompt, type delete <groupname>, where you have substituted the name of the group you want to delete for groupname; do not type the angle brackets. For example, to delete the "history project group," you would type delete history project group.
3. 3. At the Are you sure you want to delete this entry [y/n] prompt, type y for yes. The entry will be deleted, and the words "Entry deleted" will appear to confirm the deletion.

Joining an E-Mail Group

To Join

1. Bind to the directory by typing bind at the @ prompt.
2. Search for the group you want to join by typing search followed by the group name. The available actions will be listed at the end of the group entry.
3. Type the action command followed by the number of the action you wish to take. In the example below, you would type action 1 to join the group.

To Remove Yourself from a Joinable Group

1. Bind to the directory by typing bind at the @ prompt.
2. Type the modify command followed by the name of the group from which you want to remove yourself.
3. At the What would you like to modify? prompt, type the number and letter for your name under the University Members item. In this example, to modify the member jmfeaton, 11b was entered.



4. You then have the option to delete the member or replace the member with someone else. Type d to remove yourself from the list.

Exiting dua

More Information About the Directory

Information about group management, including the following topics and more, is in Working With E-Mail Groups Using the U-M Online Directory On the Web (S4277):

• Tips for naming your group
• Moderated e-mail groups
• Rights and responsibilities of e-mail group owners
• Saving and restoring an e-mail group using your IFS home directory

Additional Resources

Technical information about dua is on the dua web page.

There is a man page (standard Unix documentation) for dua on the Login Service. At the Login Service % prompt, type man dua to see it.

Visit ITCS's Information System to obtain ITCS computer documentation and other resources. A list of relevant documents follows:

The U-M Online Directory Via the Web: Finding and Changing Your Personal Entry (S4276)

Working With E-Mail Groups Using the U-M Online Directory On the Web (S4277)

Forwarding or Redirecting Your E-Mail Using the U-M Online Directory Via the Web (S4279)

Online Directory Manager Access Policies, Procedures, and Agreement (R1452)

We welcome your comments; please send e-mail.

ITCS's Online Help Desk provides a variety of computing help resources.

For further help with dua or the U-M Online Directory, send e-mail or phone (734) 764-HELP.