!!! Overview
[{$pagename}] depends on [context]


!! [eDirectory]

! [LDIF] File
In an [LDIF] file, the record to add an [entry] can come before the record to add its parent container. In [eDirectory] which guarantees [Referential Integrity], this situation generates an error because the entry's parent does not exist. The -F option for the LDAP destination handler solves this problem. It enables the creation of a forward reference for the parent container. When the record to create the parent is processed, the forward reference is replaced with a normal entry.

It is possible, that after the entire [LDIF] file is processed, that a few [{$pagename}]s will remain because the [LDIF] file did not contain records to add them. Such forward references remain in the directory as [ObjectClass=unknown] objects, and the entries below them remain and function as normal entries. You can either add these remaining forward references as entries or move the subordinate entries to another container.

To identify the unknown objects in your directory, you can:
* Use [ConsoleOne] or [Imanager] where unknown objects are represented by a round yellow icon with a question mark in the center.
* Use an LDAP search with the search filter set to [ObjectClass=unknown].
Both of these methods display all entries that have an [ObjectClass=unknown], not just the entries that are [{$pagename}]. From these entries, you need to select the entries to add.

When [eDirectory] processes an [Add Request] for an [ObjectClass=unknown] that already exists as a [{$pagename}], [eDirectory] transforms the existing [{$pagename}] entry into a normal entry.

When [eDirectory] processes an [Add Request] for an [ObjectClass=unknown] that isn't a [{$pagename}], [eDirectory] returns an [LDAP Result Code] of [LDAP_ALREADY_EXISTS]

!! [Microsoft Active Directory]
A [{$pagename}] (or [Forward link]) is a system, used with [Microsoft Active Directory], in which an object's group memberships are listed as the values of an attribute (the Member Attribute) of the Group object as part of a [Linked Attribute] pair.

The [MemberOf] attribute (and each of its values) is a [Virtual Attribute] or as Microsoft sometimes refers to it as a "[BackLink]"

%%information
We have also seen [Microsoft] use the term [Forward Reference] used but as far as we know, both these terms are the same as [Virtual Attribute]
%%

For example, an attribute named [memberOf] or [groupMembership] might be used to list the groups of which the object is a member. 

Typically, a forward reference identifies actual group objects to which the member object belongs. The group objects themselves may be static or dynamic. 

!! Not limited to Group
It should be noted that a [{$pagename}] could also be used merely to tag members of groups without there being a corresponding group object. Such tags might also be used to associate an object with other types of objects such as roles or other relationships.

!! More Information
There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:
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