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LDIF(5)                                                                                              LDIF(5)



NAME
       ldif - LDAP Data Interchange Format

DESCRIPTION
       The  LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF) is used to represent LDAP entries and change records in text
       form. LDAP tools, such as ldapadd(1)and.BRldapsearch(1),readandwriteLDIFentry records.  ldapmodify(1)
       reads LDIF change records.

       This  manual  page provides a basic description of LDIF.  A formal specification of LDIF is published
       in RFC 2849.

ENTRY RECORDS
       LDIF entry records are used to represent directory entries.  The basic form of an entry record is:

            dn: <distinguished name>
            <attrdesc>: <attrvalue>
            <attrdesc>: <attrvalue>
            <attrdesc>:: <base64-encoded-value>
            <attrdesc>:< <URL>
            ...

       The value may be specified as UTF-8 text or as base64 encoded data, or a URI may be provided  to  the
       location of the attribute value.

       A line may be continued by starting the next line with a single space or tab, e.g.,

            dn: cn=Barbara J Jensen,dc=exam
             ple,dc=com

       Lines beginning with a sharp sign ('#') are ignored.

       Multiple attribute values are specified on separate lines, e.g.,

            cn: Barbara J Jensen
            cn: Babs Jensen

       If  an value contains a non-printing character, or begins with a space or a colon ':', the <attrtype>
       is followed by a double colon and the value is encoded in base 64 notation. e.g., the value "  begins
       with a space" would be encoded like this:

            cn:: IGJlZ2lucyB3aXRoIGEgc3BhY2U=

       If  the  attribute  value is located in a file, the <attrtype> is followed by a ':<' and a file: URI.
       e.g., the value contained in the file /tmp/value would be listed like this:

            cn:< file:///tmp/value
       Other URI schemes (ftp,http) may be supported as well.

       Multiple entries within the same LDIF file are separated by blank lines.

ENTRY RECORD EXAMPLE
       Here is an example of an LDIF file containing three entries.

            dn: cn=Barbara J Jensen,dc=example,dc=com
            cn: Barbara J Jensen
            cn: Babs Jensen
            objectclass: person
            description:< file:///tmp/babs
            sn: Jensen

            dn: cn=Bjorn J Jensen,dc=example,dc=com
            cn: Bjorn J Jensen
            cn: Bjorn Jensen
            objectclass: person
            sn: Jensen

            dn: cn=Jennifer J Jensen,dc=example,dc=com
            cn: Jennifer J Jensen
            cn: Jennifer Jensen
            objectclass: person
            sn: Jensen
            jpegPhoto:: /9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAAAAAQABAAD/2wBDABALD
             A4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQ
             ERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVG
            ...

       Note that the description in Barbara Jensen's entry is read from file:///tmp/babs and  the  jpegPhoto
       in Jennifer Jensen's entry is encoded using base 64.

CHANGE RECORDS
       LDIF  change records are used to represent directory change requests.  Each change record starts with
       line indicating the distinguished name of the entry being changed:

            dn: <distinguishedname>

            changetype: <[modify|add|delete|modrdn]>

       Finally, the change information itself is given, the format of which depends on what kind  of  change
       was specified above.  For a changetype of modify, the format is one or more of the following:

            add: <attributetype>
            <attrdesc>: <value1>
            <attrdesc>: <value2>
            ...
            -Or, ...Or,

       Or, for a replace modification:

            replace: <attributetype>
            <attrdesc>: <value1>
            <attrdesc>: <value2>
            ...
            -If ...If

       If no attributetype lines are given to replace, the entire attribute is to be deleted (if present).

       Or, for a delete modification:

            delete: <attributetype>
            <attrdesc>: <value1>
            <attrdesc>: <value2>
            ...
            -If ...If

       If no attributetype lines are given to delete, the entire attribute is to be deleted.

       For a changetype of add, the format is:

            <attrdesc1>: <value1>
            <attrdesc1>: <value2>
            ...
            <attrdescN>: <value1>
            <attrdescN>: <value2>

       For a changetype of modrdn or moddn, the format is:

            newrdn: <newrdn>
            deleteoldrdn: 0 | 1
            newsuperior: <DN>

       where  a  value  of 1 for deleteoldrdn means to delete the values forming the old rdn from the entry,
       and a value of 0 means to leave the values as non-distinguished attributes in the entry.  The  newsu-perior newsuperior
       perior line is optional and, if present, specifies the new superior to move the entry to.

       For a changetype of delete, no additional information is needed in the record.

       Note  that attribute values may be presented using base64 or in files as described for entry records.
       Lines in change records may be continued in the manner described for entry records as well.

CHANGE RECORD EXAMPLE
       The following sample LDIF file contains a change record of each type of change.

            dn: cn=Babs Jensen,dc=example,dc=com
            changetype: add
            objectclass: person
            objectclass: extensibleObject
            cn: babs
            cn: babs jensen
            sn: jensen

            dn: cn=Babs Jensen,dc=example,dc=com
            changetype: modify
            add: givenName
            givenName: Barbara
            givenName: babs
            -replace: babsreplace:
            replace: description
            description: the fabulous babs
            -delete: babsdelete:
            delete: sn
            sn: jensen
            -dn: jensendn:

            dn: cn=Babs Jensen,dc=example,dc=com
            changetype: modrdn
            newrdn: cn=Barbara J Jensen
            deleteoldrdn: 0
            newsuperior: ou=People,dc=example,dc=com

            dn: cn=Barbara J Jensen,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
            changetype: delete


SEE ALSO
       ldap(3), ldapsearch(1), ldapadd(1), ldapmodify(1), slapd.replog(5).

       "LDAP Data Interchange Format," Good, G., RFC 2849.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
       OpenLDAP is developed and maintained by The OpenLDAP Project (http://www.openldap.org/)  OpenLDAP is
       derived from University of Michigan LDAP 3.3 Release.



OpenLDAP 2.3.27                                  2006/08/19                                          LDIF(5)