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(python2.1-lib.info)grp

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The group database
==================

The group database (`getgrnam()' and friends).

This module provides access to the UNIX group database.  It is
available on all UNIX versions.

Group database entries are reported as 4-tuples containing the
following items from the group database (see `<grp.h>'), in order:

Index                    Field                    Meaning
------                   -----                    -----
0                        gr_name                  the name of the group
1                        gr_passwd                the (encrypted) group
                                                  password; often empty
2                        gr_gid                   the numerical group ID
3                        gr_mem                   all the group member's
                                                  user  names

The gid is an integer, name and password are strings, and the member
list is a list of strings.  (Note that most users are not explicitly
listed as members of the group they are in according to the password
database.  Check both databases to get complete membership information.)

It defines the following items:

`getgrgid(gid)'
     Return the group database entry for the given numeric group ID.
     `KeyError' is raised if the entry asked for cannot be found.

`getgrnam(name)'
     Return the group database entry for the given group name.
     `KeyError' is raised if the entry asked for cannot be found.

`getgrall()'
     Return a list of all available group entries, in arbitrary order.

See also:
     Note: pwd An interface to the user database, similar to this.