XADM: Removing E-mail Addresses Through Directory Import

ID: Q184536

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.0, 5.5

SYMPTOMS

It is not possible to use ~DEL during directory import to remove a single value from a multi-valued field.

Example:

You want to remove a value from the E-Mail Addresses field for all users for a connector that has been removed. You can remove them individually through the Exchange Server Administrator program, but you cannot accomplish this in bulk through directory import.

CAUSE

The ~DEL value is available as part of the Bulk Import functionality. ~DEL is used to remove data from specific fields in the user properties. However, ~DEL will not remove a single value from a multi-valued field such as E-Mail Addresses.

Example from an import file:


Obj-Class,Directory Name,Home-Server,E-mail addresses
Mailbox,Someone,SERVER,CCMAIL:Someone at SITE
%MS:MSMAILSERVER/MSMAILSITE/SOMEONE%SMTP:Someone@SITE.microsoft.com
%TEST:someone@microsoft%X400:c=US;a= ;p=Org;o=SITE;s=Someone;

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0.

A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. service pack for Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.5. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

MORE INFORMATION

An updated version of Dapi.dll enhances the functionality of ~DEL to allow removal of a single value from a multi-value field.

Using the above import example, you can remove the "TEST:" address type that currently has a value of "someone@microsoft" by using the following syntax in the import file:


   Obj-Class,Directory Name,Home-Server,E-mail addresses

   Mailbox,Someone,SERVER,~del<TEST:someone@microsoft>

NOTE: For this method to work, you can ONLY include the value you want to delete in the multi-valued property. If you include any other values, ~DEL does not remove the value.

Example that does not work:


   Obj-Class,Directory Name,Home-Server,E-mail addresses

   Obj-Class,Directory Name,Home-Server,E-mail addresses
   Mailbox,Someone,SERVER,CCMAIL:Someone at SITE
   %MS:MSMAILSERVER/MSMAILSITE/SOMEONE%SMTP:Someone@SITE.microsoft.com
   %~<TEST:someone@microsoft>%X400:c=US;a= ;p=Org;o=SITE;s=Someone;

The sample e-mail address depicted herein is fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product, person or event is intended or should be inferred.

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:5.0,5.5
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug