Update multiple items at once in AD

  • Thread starter Thread starter RoryD
  • Start date Start date
R

RoryD

I have a few hundred users set up in AD - I want to update their Addresses
(multiple lines) without having to do each one individually. Is there an
easy way?

TIA,

RoryD.
 
Chriss3,

I downloaded that, but if select, say, multiple users in an OU, and
right-click, there's no Properties option. I'm trying to change all
occurances of an address to a new one.

Cheers,

RoryD.
 
Hello again RoryD
have you take a look everyware in Active Directory Users and Computers?=)
anyway the Propertis are not accessed by right-click when working with
multiple objects, there is now a icon for Propertis in AD users and
computers

//Christoffer Andersson
 
Chriss3,

I see the new icon, but it is only visible if there is only one item
selected. As soon as I select more than one item, the Properties icon
disappears from the toolbar.

Are you able to select more than one user and then click on the Properties
icon?

TIA,

RoryD.
 
Hm, it look like you have't install the adminpack for Windows Server 2003
correct, do this on a WindowsXP Computer if you have one, and NOT on a
Windows 2000 Server
 
hm, sorry i told you a incorrect thing, Propertis can be used at multipel as
well
//Christoffer Andersson
 
I have it installed on an XP Pro SP1 workstation, but I still can't get it
to work.

I'll see if I can try it on another workstation.

RoryD.
 
do one need to effectivelly have a 2003 server/controler to gain access
to the new functionnality or do one only need to use the admin pack on
an XP station even with only 2K controlers ?

Pierre.
 
if you had the Windows2000 adminpack version installed, make sure you
uninstall it first.

//Christoffer Andersson
 
Rory,

I am going to jump in here for a second. Chriss, hope that you do not mind.

What Chriss is telling you is indeed one method. It is a very good method.
There are a lot of nice things that have been changed in WIN2003 ( or so I
am learning slowly and surely ). I have not messed with that too much as I
have simply not had the time yet!

Anyway, there are two other methods that quickly come to mind: 1) ADModify
and 2) ldifde.

ADModify is a utility that two MS guys wrote. It is really a God send for
those of us who can not script. It is located at the MS FTP Site. Below is
a link to an excellent article from Mark Fugatt. It is about changing the
display name ( partly for the GAL in Exchange 2000/Outlook ) and briefly
mentions ADModify and provides the link to the FTP Site. I thought that you
might also benefit from this web site if you have Exchange 2000 in your
environment:

http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/MF023.html

LDIFDE is a command-line utility that allows you to add objects, modify
objects, delete objects, etc. It is very useful but does have a bit of a
learning curve. Don't worry about that, though. If I can figure it out
with all the help that is available then I am very sure that you can....;-)
The key here would be the syntax. LDIFDE is very unforgiving!

An example would be, assuming that your domain is called 'yourdomain.com'
and that you have three employees named Billy Smith, Jane Williams and Juan
Valdez ( I mean, you need to have good coffee! ):

DN: CN=Billy Smith,CN=Users,DC=yourdomain,DC=com
changeType: modify
replace: streetAddress
streetAddress: 1234 Main Street
-
replace: l ****** this is a lower case letter 'L', not a number '1'
******
l: Roanoke
-
replace: st
st: VA
-
replace: postalCode
postalCode: 24014
-
replace: c
c: US
-
replace: co
co: United States
-
replace: countryCode
countryCode: 840

DN: CN=Jane Williams,CN=Users,DC=yourdomain,DC=com
changeType: modify
replace: streetAddress
streetAddress: 1234 Main Street
-
replace: l ****** this is a lower case letter 'L', not a number '1'
******
l: Roanoke
-
replace: st
st: VA
-
replace: postalCode
postalCode: 24014
-
replace: c
c: US
-
replace: co
co: United States
-
replace: countryCode
countryCode: 840

DN: CN=Juan Valdez,CN=Users,DC=yourdomain,DC=com
changeType: modify
replace: streetAddress
streetAddress: 1234 Main Street
-
replace: l ****** this is a lower case letter 'L', not a number '1'
******
l: Roanoke
-
replace: st
st: VA
-
replace: postalCode
postalCode: 24014
-
replace: c
c: US
-
replace: co
co: United States
-
replace: countryCode
countryCode: 840

As with everything, you might want to test this in a lab environment before
using in your production environment.


Here are some links to help on ldifde:

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2256.txt
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2798.txt
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2849.txt

HTH,

Cary
 
You are welcome.

I would also keep ldifde in the back of my mind. There are some things that
ADModify can not do ( well, version 1.5 anyway ). ldifde is really not as
bad as it seems. Just play with it - IN A TEST LAB - for a week or so when
you have time. Soon it will not look so intimidating. But for this
particular task you will find that ADModify will fit the bill nicely.

What Chriss was telling you about would also be something to keep at the
forefront of your mind. I am not sure why it is not working for you. I
just quickly looked through those many posts. I would keep that dialog
going with Chriss and straighten out that matter! Chriss is a very bright
young man!

Cary
 
I wounder why the new adminpack is't applied form him, he can easy se if it
applies or not if the new 2003 tools are there or not. or if it has some
thing to do with just the dsa.msc snapin. the version of the adminpack can
also be diffrent, i don't know but i think it is arround 3 versions out for
windows server 2003, the first one or the secound works on WindowsXP without
SP1, the last one requieres SP1 i think, i don't know if the multipel
support was added to the first versions. what do you think?

//Christoffer Andersson
 
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