LDAPWiki: Modrdn

Overview[1]#

Modrdn is a LDIF directive (or moddn) is used to change the RDN of the LDAP Entry (rename or copy the entry) defined by the preceding dn: directive.

Modrdn is the LDIF changeType directive for ModifyDNRequest.

Modrdn MUST be followed by a NewRDN directive and may be followed by a DeleteOldRDN and a NewSuperior directive.

Typically depending on the LDAP Server Implementation you CANNOT rename the LDAP Entry if the entry has one or more child entries.

LDIF Examples for Modrdn:#

dn: cn=Robert Ssmith,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
# following sequence renames the above DN to
# cn=Robert Smith,ou=people.dc=example,dc=com
# and deletes the entry
# cn=Robert Ssmith,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
changetype: modrdn
newrdn: cn=Robert Smith
deleteoldrdn: 1

Here are the keywords and descriptions:

Modrdn Modrdn - Renaming an Entry#

The following example shows how to rename an entry and retain the old value:

version: 1

dn: cn=johndoe, ou=provo, ou=users, o=novell
changetype: moddn
newrdn: cn= jimmydoe
deleteoldrdn: 0

Modrdn Modrdn - Moving an Entry#

The following example shows how to move an entry from the provo container to the toronto container:

version: 1

dn: cn=johndoe, ou=provo, ou=users, o=novell
changetype: moddn
newrdn: cn=johndoe
deleteoldrdn: 1
newsuperior: ou=toronto, ou=users, o=novell

Modrdn Modrdn - Renaming and Moving an Entry#

The following example shows how to rename and move an entry in the same operation:

version: 1

dn: cn=johndoe, ou=provo, ou=users, o=novell
changetype: moddn
newrdn: cn=jimmydoe
deleteoldrdn: 0
newsuperior: ou=toronto, ou=users, o=novell

Example to move the entry from people to expeople#

# moves the entry from people to expeople
dn: cn=Robert Smith,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
changetype: modrdn
# NOTE: rdn unchanged
newrdn: cn=Robert Smith
# deletes old entry
deleteoldrdn: 1
# adds to expeople hierarchy
newsuperior: ou=expeople,dc=example,dc=com

Example to copy of the entry in expeople#

# makes a copy of the entry in expeople
dn: cn=Robert Smith,ou=people,dc=example,dc=com
changetype: modrdn
# NOTE: rdn unchanged
newrdn: cn=Robert Smith
# keeps current entry
deleteoldrdn: 0
# adds to expeople hierarchy
newsuperior: ou=expeople,dc=example,dc=comcom]

More Information#

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

[#1] - LDAP LDIF and DSML - based on information obtained 2016-07-03