LDAP data source

[Michael Maher]

Does anyone have any information on the best way to import data into FM tables via an LDAP query?

This is in a University situation in which the IT Div is asking us to pull details via LDAP requests, rather than they push data to us via dumps.

Anyone know of a way to do this from inside FMP, or a plugin that will facilitate it?

Michael

[mr_vodka]

You can use VBScript to query and generate a results file; then import that into FileMaker.

[Ted S]

If you're open to using a plugins check out the Smartpill PHP Edition plugin from Scodigo. It can do LDAP queries and a LOT of other things.

[Michael Maher]

Thanks for those suggestions - I will look into them.

I have also discovered it is possible to access LDAP through ODBC, but don't know if that is possible with FileMaker.

Anyone know about this?

It would be great if possible, as I could import directly from within an FM script.

[elo]

Once you have an ODBC driver for the particular LDAP directory used by your organization you will also need to setup a DSN to point to the specific LDAP directory instance.

Then you can take a look at for example MSFT's website for some hints at writing SQL queries to get information out of LDAP

[Michael Maher]

Thanks for that link - could be useful.

Unfortunately, although accessing LDAP via ODBC looks like a great idea, it can't work because FileMaker left out the necessary drivers in their provided SequeLink. Bit odd that. Saving money no doubt.

Means I have to get a full SequeLink from the organisation, which there are rumours of one existing, but I have not been successful finding yet. They also say SequeLink is dodgy.

My next attempt will be with SmartPill, when I find the time.

Michael

[elo]

Your LDAP directory provider NOT FileMaker would be responsible for giving you the ODBC drivers for LDAP.

What LDAP directory service are you using? I'm 80%+ sure that both OpenLDAP and Microsoft Active Directory have either free (as in beer or open source) ODBC drivers.

If you list the name of your LDAP service I can probably help you further.

[Michael Maher]

I meant to return to this earlier, but just too busy - I would love to get this LDAP via ODBC working as I only need to retrieve basic information dynamically, for many databases.

They are using openLDAP as their primary, but they also have an up-to-date duplicate on Active Directory.

So either would be viable. If you could point me to the drivers for either, it would help.

I have often wondered how FMS finds the LDAP to authenticate as I don't recall setting in a path for it. Which leaves me uncertain which LDAP it has found. The IT people are also unhappy about that as they say there are numerous LDAP servers, not all of which are appropriate. In any case, it works perfectly.

[ste5e]

I'm in the same position at a University with the same need.

Did you have any success with either approach? If so, please post or message me.

Thanks!

[Michael Maher]

I have not been successful with the LDAP approach, and in truth, it will only give me basic details. Our university also has a web service I can query for more details, so I will try to go this way.

Can't say if it is going to be as quick as the LDAP/ODBC in dynamically adding new valid records when an unknown user tries to login to the database.

I will be looking at SmartPill, however I have become a little jaded at the PHP approach, as the PHP pages have to go somewhere, and our ITD is not supporting a server for this - god knows why - which leaves them strewn around on servers that are not reliable. I am tired of having to get three or more different machines to constantly work for every web solution - one for the database, one for the client to do recurring tasks like emailing Excel and PDF exports, and one for the PHP and/or Web stuff.

If they were all supported by the ITD, I would feel better, but FileMaker solutions are still not fashionable with IT people.

But that is probably a university issue more than a generic FileMaker issue - there are common problems for us who work within universities, and I am currently talking with FMI about some kind of regional communications between those work within universities.

Apple once had such a concept - a conference thing, which they called Apple University Conference or AUC. We could do the same with FileMaker - FUC.

[Ted S]

Michael,

With the SmartPill plug-in there is no need for any server to be running PHP. The PHP is all contained within the PC that is running standard FM Pro. Here's a video clip of the beta version of SmartPill in action. Give the video a look and it should answer a lot of questions that you have.

http://www.filemakermagazine.com/videos/smartpill-php-plugin-for-filemaker.html