Contents
Overview 1
Introduction to Templates 2
Template Groups 3
Control Metadirectory Templates 5
Control Connected Directory Templates 8
The Template Language 11
Modifying Existing Templates 15
Lab A: Modifying Existing Templates 17
Creating Templates 18
Lab B: Creating Templates to Import Data
Into the Metadirectory 29
Best Practices 30
Review 31

Module 5: Modifying
and Creating Templates

BETA MATERIALS FOR MICROSOFT CERTIFIED TRAINER PREPARATION PURPOSES ONLY

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xx Minutes

Lab:
45 Minutes

Module 5: Modifying and Creating Templates 1

BETA MATERIALS FOR MICROSOFT CERTIFIED TRAINER PREPARATION PURPOSES ONLY

Overview
!
Introduction to Templates
!
Template Groups
!
Control Metadirectory Templates
!
Control Connected Directory Templates
!
The Template Language
!
Modifying Existing Templates
!
Creating Templates
!
Best PracticesManagement agents use templates to import directory update files from their
connected directories and export update files back to them. Modifying or


Topic Objective
To provide an overview of
the module topics and
objectives.
Lead-in
In this module, you will learn
about restructuring data
between a connected
directory and the
metadirectory by modifying
the Parsing and
Construction templates.
2 Module 5: Modifying and Creating Templates

BETA MATERIALS FOR MICROSOFT CERTIFIED TRAINER PREPARATION PURPOSES ONLY

Introduction to Templates
Create
File(s)
Create
File(s)
Connected
Directory
Connected
Connected
Directory
Directory
Metadirectory
Update

how does the management agent know the format and contents of the file, and
how does it know what to do with those contents? The management agent
templates provide this information.
Though the management agents import directory update files from their
connected directories and send update files back to them. However, the
management agent templates are the programs that read or write those files.
Templates are written in a high-level, interpreted language that the management
agent, in particular the Importt program, interprets and acts upon when
importing or exporting directory data.
Templates ultimately define the import and create files in terms of directory
attributes. Templates not only specify how the data in the input file(s) is to be
placed in the metadirectory; but they also specify what attribute information
from the metadirectory is to be placed in the create files to update connected
directory attributes.
Templates are the mechanism that MMS uses to map the attributes from
different connected directories to the attributes of the metadirectory. In other
words, map the schema of the connected directory to the MMS schema.

Topic Objective
To identify the purpose
templates.
Lead-in

Delivery Tip
Use the graphic on the slide
to show that it actually the
templates and not the
management agent that
import directory update files
from connected directories

Directory
Templates
Control
Connected
Directory
Templates
Control
Metadirectory
Templates
Control
Metadirectory
Templates
Metaverse
Namespace
Entry
Metaverse
Metaverse
Namespace
Namespace
Entry
Entry
Control
Metadirectory
Templates
Control
Metadirectory
Templates
Connector
Namespace
Entry

Topic Objective
To identify the different
types of template groups
used in the functioning of
management agents.
Lead-in

4 Module 5: Modifying and Creating Templates

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Control Management Agent Operations
The script and template definitions control operations to and from a connected
directory, and the import and create files. The script, called the management
agent Control script is processed by a script engine called Zscript. The
management agent Control script is responsible for getting data from the
connected directory and creating one or more import files. The management
agent Control script also uses the create file to transfer modifications to the
connected directory. This Control script calls a program called Cdir_xx to
perform the actual communication to the connected directory.
The Cdir_xx Program
The management agent Control script invokes the Cdir_xx program during the
discovery and update phases. The Cdir_xx process, when running in the
discovery phase, produces a text file. The text file contains information, such as
name, address and mailbox from the connected directory. The _xx represents an
abbreviation for the type of management agent. For example, Cdir_ln represents
Lotus Notes.
The Importt Program
The management agent control script invokes the Importt program during the
synchronization phase. The Importt program reviews the text file data produced

Template
Connector
Namespace
Entry
Connector
Connector
Namespace
Namespace
Entry
Entry
Metaverse
Namespace
Entry
Metaverse
Metaverse
Namespace
Namespace
Entry
Entry
Parsing
Template
Parsing
Template
Control Metadirectory
TemplatesThe Control Metadirectory templates are used to build an entry, whether in the
metaverse namespace or the connector namespace. Each management agent has
a set of templates that operate as mediators between the metadirectory and the

Parsing
Template
Import Files
Import Files
Parsing
Template
Parsing
Template
IMPORTT.EXE
Control MA Operations Control Connected Directory Connected Directory Foreign Entries
Overview of Controlling Metadirectory
Parsing
Templates
Construction Templates
Design MA
Control
Metadirectory
Header
Add Modify Delete TrailerParsing templates describe records in the one or more import files discovered
from the connected directory. Different types of Parsing templates help the
management agent interpret different types of records in import files.
The following list describes the different types of Parsing template:
!
Add. The Add template describes a record representing a complete
connected directory entry.
!
Modify. The Modify template is similar to the Add template for those

Module 5: Modifying and Creating Templates 7

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What Are Construction Templates?
Parsing
Template
CDIR_XX.EXE
Create Files
Output
Template
IMPORTT.EXE
Connector
Namespace
Construction
Template
Connector
Namespace
Construction
Template
Metaverse
Construction
Template
Metaverse
Construction
Template
Connector
Namespace
Entry
Connector

Connector Space. This template is applied first, and its main purpose is to
create the distinguished name for the connector namespace entry and set the
MMS object class. The Connector Space template can also be used to assign
attributes to the connector namespace entry.
!
Parents. This template defines how to create the parent containers that do
not already exist in the metadirectory for imported entries. These templates
are needed if the parent container is a nonstandard object class, or if
additional attributes need to be defined for the parent container. The parent
containers are automatically created if the parent container is a standard
object class, such as O, OU, Country, and Locality by using the Importt
program’s addParent option.
!
Metaverse. This template creates metaverse namespace entries, and to create
the distinguished name and set the object class for those entries. Once this is
accomplished, then you can assign values to $mv (metaverse namespace)
attributes. Many of the existing management agents also use this template to
assign $cs (connector namespace) attributes.
!
Lists. This template only constructs searchable names for list members. If
this template exists, it is applied after the Add Parsing template to list
member records imported from a connected directory.

Topic Objective
To identify the purpose of
the Construction templates
in MMS.
Lead-in

Delivery Tip

Metaverse
Construction
Template
Connector
Namespace
Entry
Metaverse
Namespace
Entry
Metaverse
Metaverse
Namespace
Namespace
Entry
Entry
IMPORTT.EXE
Parsing
Template
Import Files
Connected
DirectoryThe Control Connected Directory templates inform the Importt program how to
build create files that are sent back to the connected directory. These templates
are used when a management agent in Creator mode wants to create a new entry
in connected directory. These templates are also used for every update
operation when the attribute flow, as defined in the Attribute Flow rules, results
in changes to attribute values in the existing connected directory entries.
The following are the two types of Control Connected Directory templates:

Namespace
Entry
Parsing
Template
Metaverse
Construction
Template
Create
Files
Create
Files
Output
Construction
Template
Output
Construction
Template
Metaverse
Entry
Metaverse
Metaverse
Entry
Entry
CDIR_XX.EXE
Design MA
Control MA Operations Control Metadirectory
Control Connected
Directory
Connected Directory Foreign Entries
Overview of Controlling Metadirectory

expected by the connected directory.

Topic Objective
To identify the purpose of
the Output Construction
templates in MMS.
Lead-in

Delivery Tip
Display the Design MA tab
and show the students the
different types of Output
templates.

10 Module 5: Modifying and Creating Templates

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What Are Output File-Description Templates?
Connected
Directory
Import Files
Connector
Namespace
Construction
Template
Connector
Namespace
Entry
Parsing

CDIR_XX.EXEThe Output File-Description templates are similar in format to the Parsing
templates, but they specify what attribute information is placed in the output
file to update attributes in connected directory entries. The following list
describes the different types of Output File-Description templates:
!
Add. This template describes a full record in the create file that is sent to the
connected directory for an update, and indicates the location (in the
connected directory) of the data for the update.
!
Modify. This template is similar to the Add Output File-Description
template for those connected directories that recognize a modify record
format containing changed rather than new entry data.
!
Delete. This template informs the management agent that is configured for
creator mode how to build a record that will result in the deletion of an entry
in the connected directory.
!
Header/Trailer. The Header and Trailer Output File-Description templates
enable you to define the form and content of the header and trailer records.
These templates are useful for the connected directories that might require
headers or trailers on files they import. In MMS Compass user interface, the Output File-Description templates
are referred to as Output Templates.