LDIF change records are used to represent directory change requests. Each change record starts with line indicating the distinguished name of the entry being changed:
dn: <distinguishedname>
changetype: <[modify|add|delete|modrdn]>
Finally, the change information itself is given, the format of which depends on what kind of change was specified above. For a changetype of modify, the format is one or more of the following:
add: <attributetype>
<attrdesc>: <value1>
<attrdesc>: <value2>
...
-
Or, for a replace modification:
replace: <attributetype>
<attrdesc>: <value1>
<attrdesc>: <value2>
...
-
If no attributetype lines are given to replace, the entire attribute is to be deleted (if present).
Or, for a delete modification:
delete: <attributetype>
<attrdesc>: <value1>
<attrdesc>: <value2>
...
-
If no attributetype lines are given to delete, the entire attribute is to be deleted.
For a changetype of add, the format is:
<attrdesc1>: <value1>
<attrdesc1>: <value2>
...
<attrdescN>: <value1>
<attrdescN>: <value2>
For a changetype of modrdn or moddn, the format is:
newrdn: <newrdn>
deleteoldrdn: 0 | 1
newsuperior: <DN>
where a value of 1 for deleteoldrdn means to delete the values forming the old rdn from the entry, and a value of 0 means to leave the values as non-distinguished attributes in the entry. The newsuperior line is optional and, if present, specifies the new superior to move the entry to.
For a changetype of delete, no additional information is needed in the record.
Note that attribute values may be presented using base64 or in files as described for entry records. Lines in change records may be continued in the manner described for entry records as well.