new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/liboctave/oct-passwd.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,192 @@
+/*
+
+Copyright (C) 1996, 1997 John W. Eaton
+
+This file is part of Octave.
+
+Octave is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
+under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the
+Free Software Foundation; either version 2, or (at your option) any
+later version.
+
+Octave is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
+ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
+for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with Octave; see the file COPYING.  If not, write to the Free
+Software Foundation, 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307, USA.
+
+*/
+
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include <config.h>
+#endif
+
+#ifdef HAVE_PWD_H
+#include <pwd.h>
+#endif
+
+#include "lo-error.h"
+#include "oct-passwd.h"
+
+string
+octave_passwd::name (void) const
+{
+  if (! ok ())
+    gripe_invalid ();
+
+  return pw_name;
+}
+
+string
+octave_passwd::passwd (void) const
+{
+  if (! ok ())
+    gripe_invalid ();
+
+  return pw_passwd;
+}
+
+uid_t
+octave_passwd::uid (void) const
+{
+  if (! ok ())
+    gripe_invalid ();
+
+  return pw_uid;
+}
+
+gid_t
+octave_passwd::gid (void) const
+{
+  if (! ok ())
+    gripe_invalid ();
+
+  return pw_gid;
+}
+
+string
+octave_passwd::gecos (void) const
+{
+  if (! ok ())
+    gripe_invalid ();
+
+  return pw_gecos;
+}
+
+string
+octave_passwd::dir (void) const
+{
+  if (! ok ())
+    gripe_invalid ();
+
+  return pw_dir;
+}
+
+string
+octave_passwd::shell (void) const
+{
+  if (! ok ())
+    gripe_invalid ();
+
+  return pw_shell;
+}
+
+octave_passwd
+octave_passwd::getpwent (void)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_GETPWENT
+  return octave_passwd (::getpwent ());
+#else
+  gripe_not_implemented ("getpwent");
+
+  return octave_passwd ();
+#endif
+}
+
+octave_passwd
+octave_passwd::getpwuid (uid_t uid)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_GETPWUID
+  return octave_passwd (::getpwuid (uid));
+#else
+  gripe_not_implemented ("getpwuid");
+
+  return octave_passwd ();
+#endif
+}
+
+octave_passwd
+octave_passwd::getpwnam (const string& nm)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_GETPWNAM
+  return octave_passwd (::getpwnam (nm.c_str ()));
+#else
+  gripe_not_implemented ("getpwnam");
+
+  return octave_passwd ();
+#endif
+}
+
+void
+octave_passwd::setpwent (void)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_SETPWENT
+  ::setpwent ();
+#else
+  gripe_not_implemented ("setpwent");
+#endif
+}
+
+void
+octave_passwd::endpwent (void)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_ENDPWENT
+  ::endpwent ();
+#else
+  gripe_not_implemented ("endpwent");
+#endif
+}
+
+octave_passwd::octave_passwd (void *p)
+  : pw_name (), pw_passwd (), pw_uid (0), pw_gid (0), pw_gecos (),
+    pw_dir (), pw_shell (), valid (false)
+{
+#ifdef HAVE_PWD_H
+  if (p)
+    {
+      struct passwd *pw = static_cast<struct passwd *> (p);
+
+      pw_name = pw->pw_name;
+      pw_passwd = pw->pw_passwd;
+      pw_uid = pw->pw_uid;
+      pw_gid = pw->pw_gid;
+      pw_gecos = pw->pw_gecos;
+      pw_dir = pw->pw_dir;
+      pw_shell = pw->pw_shell;
+
+      valid = true;
+    }
+#endif
+}
+
+void
+octave_passwd::gripe_invalid (void) const
+{
+  (*current_liboctave_error_handler) ("invalid password object");
+}
+
+void
+octave_passwd::gripe_not_supported (const string& fcn) const
+{
+  (*current_liboctave_error_handler)
+    ("%s: not supported on this system", fcn.c_str ());
+}
+
+/*
+;;; Local Variables: ***
+;;; mode: C++ ***
+;;; End: ***
+*/