1998-10-27
Function
Displays detailed information that is made accessible by the owner of an e-mail address.
Applications
Finding the contact information of an e-mail address owner.
Current Features
May be run as a command-line utility application, a desktop GUI runnable JAR application, an applet, and a servlet.
Demonstrates the use of reusing the same HTML servlet interface code in a desktop application by using code that can parse and display HTML as well as intercept form-tag submit events.
Future Features
Querying a server to determine who's online.
Command-line help.
More online help and information.
Known Bugs
None.

Version

The latest version is 1.0a, 1998-10-27.

Requires Java 1.1 with Swing 1.1 beta 3 or Java 1.2.

License

Finger
Version 1.0a, 1998-10-27
Binary Code License

This binary code license ("License") contains rights and
restrictions associated with use of the accompanying

Finger Version 1.0a, 1998-10-27

software and documentation ("Software"). Read the License
carefully before using the Software. By using the Software
you agree to the terms and conditions of this License.

1.  License to Distribute. Licensee is granted a royalty-free
right to reproduce and distribute the Software provided that
Licensee: (i) distributes the Software complete and
unmodified; (ii) does not distribute additional software
intended to replace any component(s) of the Software; (iii)
does not remove or alter any proprietary legends or notices
contained in the Software; (iv) only distributes the Program
subject to a license agreement that protects ANSER's
interests consistent with the terms contained herein; and
(v) agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend ANSER and
its licensors from and against any claims or lawsuits,
including attorneys' fees, that arise or result from the use
or distribution of the Program. 

2.  Restrictions. (a) Software is confidential copyrighted
information of ANSER and title to all copies is retained by
ANSER and/or its licensors. Except as otherwise provided by
law for purposes of decompilation of the Software, Licensee
shall not translate, reverse engineer, disassemble,
decompile, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code of
Software. Software may not be leased, assigned, or
sublicensed, in whole or in part, except as specifically
authorized in Section 1. (b) Software is not designed or
intended, and ANSER expressly disclaims any representations or
warranties (either expressed or implied), for use (i) in
online control of aircraft, air traffic, aircraft navigation
or aircraft communications; or (ii) in the design,
construction, operation or maintenance of any nuclear
facility.  

3.  Trademarks and Logos. This License does not authorize
Licensee to use any ANSER name, trademark or logo.

4.  Disclaimer of Warranty. Software is provided "AS IS,"
without a warranty of any kind. ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT, ARE HEREBY EXCLUDED.

5.  Limitation of Liability.   IN NO EVENT WILL ANSER OR ITS
LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST REVENUE, PROFIT OR DATA, OR
FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL OR
PUNITIVE DAMAGES, HOWEVER CAUSED AND REGARDLESS OF THE
THEORY OF LIABILITY, RELATING TO THE USE, DOWNLOAD,
DISTRIBUTION OF OR INABILITY TO USE SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ANSER
HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

6.  Termination.  Licensee may terminate this License at any
time by destroying all copies of Software. This License will
terminate immediately without notice from ANSER if Licensee
fails to comply with any provision of this License. Upon
such termination, Licensee must destroy all copies of
Software.

7.  Maintenance and Support.  No upgrades or support are to
be provided to Licensee under the terms of this License.

8.  Export Regulations. Software, including technical data,
is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the U.S.
Export Administration Act and its associated regulations,
and may be subject to export or import regulations in other
countries. Licensee agrees to comply strictly with all such
regulations and acknowledges that it has the responsibility
to obtain licenses to export, re-export, or import Software.
Software may not be downloaded, or otherwise exported or
re-exported (i) into, or to a national or resident of, Cuba,
Iraq,Iran, North Korea, Libya, Sudan, Syria or any country
to which the U.S.has embargoed goods; or (ii) to anyone on
the U.S. Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated
Nations or the U.S. Commerce Department's Table of Denial
Orders.

9.  Restricted Rights. Use, duplication or disclosure by the
United States government is subject to the restrictions as
set forth in the Rights in Technical Data and Computer
Software Clauses in DFARS 252.227-7013(c) (1) (ii) and FAR
52.227-19(c) (2) as applicable.

10. Governing Law. Any action related to this License will
be governed by West Virginia law and controlling U.S. federal
law. No choice of law rules of any jurisdiction will apply.

11. Severability. If any of the above provisions are held to
be in violation of applicable law, void, or unenforceable in
any jurisdiction, then such provisions are herewith waived
or amended to the extent necessary for the License to be
otherwise enforceable in such jurisdiction.   However, if in
ANSER's opinion deletion or amendment of any provisions of the
License by operation of this paragraph unreasonably
compromises the rights or increase the liabilities of ANSER or
its licensors, ANSER reserves the right to terminate the
License and refund the fee paid by Licensee, if any, as
Licensee's sole and exclusive remedy.

Installation and Execution

  1. Download finger.zip.
    Extract finger.jar from the zip file.

  2. Install Java on your computer if you do not already have it.

  3. If you are using Java 1.1 instead of Java 1.2, include the location of the downloaded JAR file in your CLASSPATH environment variable.

    Example:

         set classpath=%classpath%;J:\lib\finger.jar
         

  4. To run as system command line prompt utility, run
         java -jar finger.jar 
         
    if you have Java 1.2 or
         java org.anser.proj.timc.prog.croft.app.finger.FingerFrame 
         
    if you have Java 1.1.

    You may wish to use a DOS batch file or Unix script.
    Example DOS batch files (finger.bat):

    java -jar finger.jar %1
         
    or
    java org.anser.proj.timc.prog.croft.app.finger.FingerFrame %1
         

  5. To run as a GUI application, run the program without the e-mail address argument. You will be prompted with a window.

  6. To run the program as an applet, use an HTML page such as this:
    <HTML>
    <HEAD>
    <TITLE>
    Finger
    </TITLE>
    </HEAD>
    <BODY>
    <CENTER>
    <APPLET
      ARCHIVE="finger.jar"
      CODE="org.anser.proj.timc.prog.croft.app.finger.FingerApplet.class"
      WIDTH=640
      HEIGHT=480
    >
    A Java applet would be here.
    </APPLET>
    </CENTER>
    </BODY>
    </HTML>
         
    Note that this may not work due to applet security restrictions when attempting to finger an e-mail address other than those on the same server as the applet host.

    The applet is available on this server for testing: FingerApplet.

  7. To run the program as a servlet, load the class org.anser.proj.timc.prog.croft.app.finger.FingerServlet.

    The servlet is available on this server for testing: FingerServlet.

Usage

Note that not all servers and user provide finger information. This information is available on a strictly voluntary basis. Typically, users can edit the information available on a Unix system by modifying a file in their home directory.

If your Internet connection is down, "Unknown host error: server not found" may be displayed.

Sample Output

Login name: croft                       In real life: David W. Croft
Directory: /home/croft                  Shell: /bin/csh
Never logged in.
New mail received Tue Sep 15 08:43:15 1998;
  unread since Mon Mar 30 17:33:21 1998
Plan:
http://www.alumni.caltech.edu/~croft/

Version History

First release.

Feedback

Feature suggestions, bug reports, comments, and questions may be directed to David Wallace Croft at croftd@nexos.anser.org.

The latest version of this web page can be found at
http://nexos.anser.org:8080/java/app/finger/