Overview#

Searching Using the Virtual List View Control

The Virtual List View Control allows a client to request that the server send search results in small, manageable chunks within a specific range of entries. It also allows a client to move forward and backward through the results of a search operation if configured with a GUI browser or application, or jump directly to a particular entry.

Note - The Virtual List View Control requires that the returned entries be sorted.

Together with the --virtualListView option or its short form -G, specify the following arguments:

• before. Specify the number of entries before the target to include in the results.
• after. Specify the number of entries after the target to include in the results.
• index. Specify the offset of the target entry within the result set. An index of 1 always means the first entry. If index and * content_count are equal, the last entry is selected.
• count. Specify the expected size of the result set.
  • count=0. The target entry is the entry at the specified index position, starting from 1 and relative to the entire list of sorted results. Use this argument if the client does not know the size of the result set.
  • count=1. The target entry is the first entry in the list of sorted results.
  • count>1. The target entry is the first entry in the portion of the list represented by the fraction index/count. To target the last result in the list, use an index argument greater than the count argument. Client applications can use interfaces that allow users to move around a long list by using a scroll bar. For example, for an index of 33 and a count of 100, the application can jump 33 percent of the way into the list.

The arguments (0:4:1:0) indicate that you want to show 0 entries before and 4 entries after the target entry at index 1. If the client does not know the size of the set, the count is 0.

To Search Using the Virtual List View Control

The sort order option (-S) must be used with the Virtual List View control. This example uses the Virtual List View Control options to specify the following:

• Before=0*. Specifies that 0 entries before the target should be displayed.
• After=2*. Specifies that 2 entries after the target should be displayed.
• Index=1*. Specifies that the offset of the target entry within the result set be returned.
• Count=0*. Specifies that target entry at the index position be returned, which is the first entry.

Thus, the server returns the first entry plus two entries after the target sorted in ascending order by the givenName attribute.

Use the ldapsearch command with the --virtualListView option.

Here is a LDAP Query Example Using the Virtual List View Control on a particular LDAP Server:

$ ldapsearch -h localhost -p 1389 -D "cn=Directory Manager" -w bindPassword -b dc=example,dc=com --searchScope sub --sortOrder givenName  --virtualListView "0:2:1:0" "(objectclass=*)"

dn: uid=awhite,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
objectClass: person
objectClass: organizationalPerson
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
objectClass: top
givenName: Alan
uid: awhite
cn: Alan White
sn: White
...

dn: uid=aworrell,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
objectClass: person
objectClass: organizationalPerson
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
objectClass: top
givenName: Alan
uid: aworrell
cn: Alan Worrell
sn: Worrell
...

dn: uid=alutz,ou=People,dc=example,dc=com
objectClass: person
objectClass: organizationalPerson
objectClass: inetOrgPerson
objectClass: top
givenName: Alexander
uid: alutz
cn: Alexander Lutz
sn: Lutz
...

# VLV Target Offset: 1
# VLV Content Count: 172

More Information#

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

• Searching Using Controls