LDIF and vCard

LDIF (LDAP Data Interchange Format) is the standard text format for LDAP servers. This format consists of attribute names and values, one value per line, with a blank line separating entries. An advantage of this format over tab-delimited is that there is no need to map attribute names with a separate list; the names are right there in each entry. ClickMail can import and export this format.

Exported LDIF entries always contain a full dn. When importing, if no dn is included, ClickMail creates a dn from the common name. Some software, such as Netscape and QuickMail Pro, export with incomplete dn attributes. In these cases, you must use a text editor to replace these with full dn's (or delete them).

• dn's are used to identify duplicate records. If you import an LDIF file containing duplicates, and you have changed the "Ignore partial dn" preference since the last import, duplicate entries will be added instead of updating the existing entries. So, don't change the preference mid-stream. Decide whether you want client-DN-based or common name-based DNs in ClickMail and set the preference before the first time you import into your new database.

LDIF import files must have Macintosh line endings (not DOS/Windows CRLF). Text editors such as BBEdit can convert these.

vCard is a popular format for "electronic business cards." One vCard file contains one entry. Address Book (OS X) can export and import vCards. ClickMail translates vCard data labels into their LDAP equivalents, which are included in our standard emailPerson entry type. A vCard can create one new attribute type: if it includes a name prefix ("Dr.", "Mr.", etc.), it is imported with the attribute name "salutation." ClickMail can import this format.