Using the Domino Directory to define an LDAP attribute for a new object class

The preferred method for extending the LDAP schema is to use the Domino® LDAP Schema database. Use the Domino Directory to extend the schema only if Notes® or Web users require access to the new schema elements through documents in the directory.

Before you begin

Make sure of the following:
  • You are working in a copy of the Domino Directory template (ACMENAMES.NTF for example).
  • You have Designer or Manager access in the ACL.

About this task

To define an attribute for a new object class you have added to the Domino Directory, add a field to the appropriate subform.

Note: Do not add the fields ListName or ServerName.

Procedure

  1. From the Domino Administrator or Notes client, choose the name for the attribute, and then complete these steps to determine whether the attribute is already being used:
    1. Open the Domino LDAP Schema database (SCHEMA.NSF) on a server that runs the LDAP service.
    2. Select the All Schema Documents > LDAP Attribute Types view.
    3. Do a full-text search for the name of the attribute you plan to define for the object class.
    4. Do one of the following:
    • If the search returns a document whose LDAP name field contains the name of the attribute for which you searched, use the corresponding value in the Notes mapping field in the Attribute document as the name of the new field.
    • If the search does not return a document whose LDAP name field contains the name of the attribute for which you searched, use the name of the attribute for which you searched.
  2. From the Domino Designer, open a copy of the Domino Directory (ACMENAMES.NTF for example).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • To define an attribute for a new auxiliary object class, open the subform for the auxiliary object class -- for example, the subform named building.
    • To define an attribute for a new structural object class, open the $xxxInheritableSchema subform for the object class -- for example, the subform $acmePrinterInheritableSchema -- and then select the Mandatory tab if the attribute will be required, or select the Optional tab if the attribute will not be required.
  4. Choose Create > Field.
  5. Next to the Name property, assign the field a name as described in Step 1.
  6. Next to the Type property, choose one of the following data types, and keep Editable selected:
    Table 1. Data types

    Choose this Domino data type

    For this LDAP attribute syntax

    Text

    Directory string

    Date/Time

    Generalized time

    Number

    Integer

    Names

    Distinguished name
  7. Optional: Do the following to require that all entries include a value for this attribute:
    1. Select the field.
    2. Select Input Validation in the Objects pane at the end of the subform.
    3. Enter the following input validation formula:
      @V2If(fieldname = ""; @Failure("fieldname is required"); @Success)

      Where fieldname is the name you gave the new field.

      For example, if you add the field shoesize and you want to require that all entries include values for the field, enter this formula:

      @V2If(shoesize = ""; @Failure("shoesize is required"); @Success)
  8. Close and save the subform.