Re: Encoded entries on LDIF file

[Jonathan Clarke <jonathan@phillipoux.net>]

On 01/04/2010 07:33 PM, Diego Lima wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I'm trying to import an LDIF file where some users have values that
> appear to be encoded on the file. The values have two : (i.e. ::) and
> appear like this:
>
> # entry-id: 36545
> dn: uid=someuser,ou=funcionarios,ou=pessoal,o=xxx,c=xxx
> l:: UkYgLSAyqiBFc3RhbmNpYQ==
>
>
> This isn't consistent with other entries, as most of them are on this
> format:
>
> # entry-id: 36546
> dn: uid=otheruser,ou=funcionarios,ou=pessoal,o=xxx,c=xxx
> l: DRA-01 NSI
>
>
> Is there any reason why some entries would show up on a different
> format? I've seen some entries where other attributes are like that,
> such as sn, telephoneNumber, cn or title.

These values are base64 encoded. The LDIF format uses base64 encoded 
values to represent some characters, most notably any non-ASCII 
characters (think accents, etc).

To read the values, try something like:
echo "UkYgLSAyqiBFc3RhbmNpYQ==" | openssl base64 -d

Hope this helps,
Jonathan