LDIF(5)

NAME
ldif - LDAP Data Interchange Format

DESCRIPTION
The LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF) is used to represent LDAP entries in text form. LDAP tools, such as ldapadd(1) and ldapsearch(1), read and write LDIF.

The basic form of an LDIF entry is:

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

The value may be specified as ASCII text or as base64 encoded data, or a URL 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=Open
	 LDAP, dc=org

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:// URL. e.g., the value contained in the file /tmp/value would be listed like this:

	cn:< file://tmp/value

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

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

	dn: cn=Barbara J Jensen, dc=OpenLDAP, dc=Org
	cn: Barbara J Jensen
	cn: Babs Jensen
	objectclass: person
	description:< file://tmp/barbara
	sn: Jensen
	dn: cn=Bjorn J Jensen, dc=OpenLDAP, dc=Org
	cn: Bjorn J Jensen
	cn: Bjorn Jensen
	objectclass: person
	sn: Jensen
	dn: cn=Jennifer J Jensen, dc=OpenLDAP, dc=Org
	cn: Jennifer J Jensen
	cn: Jennifer Jensen
	objectclass: person
	sn: Jensen
	jpegPhoto:: /9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAAAAAQABAAD/2wBDABALD
	 A4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQ
	 ERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVG
	...

Notice that the jpegPhoto in Jennifer Jensen's entry is encoded using base 64.

SEE ALSO
ldap(3), ldapsearch(1), ldapadd(1)

"The SLAPD and SLURPD Administrator's Guide"

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.