How to read contents of a file into variable :(

My file is in this format :

username : student information : default shell : student ID

Eg :

joeb:Joe Bennett:/bin/csh:1234
jerryd:Jerry Daniels:/bin/csh:2345
deaverm: Deaver Michelle:/bin/bash:4356
joseyg:Josey Guerra:/bin/bash:8767
michaelh:Michael Hall:/bin/ksh:1547

I have to read the contents of each field for creating user accounts.

I have to use each field in my useradd command for creating user accounts.

Later i even have to create password based on username and student id..

All i need is an idea.

am struck at retrieving the values from file. :wall:

Any help would be greatly appreciated .

Thank you .. :):):slight_smile:

---------- Post updated at 04:28 PM ---------- Previous update was at 04:26 PM ----------

Am using Fedora 14 :slight_smile:

---------- Post updated at 04:42 PM ---------- Previous update was at 04:28 PM ----------

can anyone help me :frowning:

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