NAME
bbdb-export - export emacs bbdb info to ldif, or update in ldap.VERSION
version 0.015
SYNOPSIS
bbdb-export [-h[elp]] [-v[erbose]] <-ldap|-ldif|-mailalias>OPTIONS
The following options are supported by this command
- -ldif
-
Create a .ldif file. LDIF is the LDAP Data Interchange Format. It can be imported into an ldap server using, e.g. ldapadd, or into clients such as the Mac OS X Address Book.
- -ldap
-
For every entry in the bbdb database, update the ldap entry to match the bbdb entry. This is done by removing the entry using ldapdelete, and then adding it back using ldapadd. Entries are processed one at a time, so if a failure occurs, the script will continue running.
- -mailalias
-
Create a .mail_aliases file, useful for clients such as mutt.
- -vcard
-
Create vcards. The -out param controls the directory where the vCards should be written.
- -bbdb
-
Specify location of .bbdb file.
- -out
-
Specify location of file to be created. If using -vCards, the directory where vcards should be written. If using -ldap, this is a just a temporary file.
- -help
-
Display documentation.
- -verbose
-
Enable verbose output. If you see errors running the command, -v will help determine which records are producting errors.
DESCRIPTION
Export your bbdb data to formats supported by BBDB::Export.
HOW I USE THIS SCRIPT
I run this script occasionally to update my ldap database with the latest data in my .bbdb.
I'm running Mac OS X. I installed openldap from fink and configured it (see link to ldap article in SEE ALSO section below). I set up Apple's Address Book application to point at my LDAP server on localhost, so I can search through my contact list. Also, in the apple mail program, it's possible to auto-complete names from my bbdb.
I wasn't able to sync contacts from ldap directly to my palm. Instead, I had to export to a .ldif file, and then manually import the .ldif file into Address Book. Then I could sync entries to my CLie.
From there, I was able to sync the contacts to my palm desktop on windows so I could then sync to my mobile phone.
PREREQUISITES
- BBDB - perl module to read .bbdb file
- Term::ANSIColor - colorized output
- Pod::Usage - for embedded documentation
BUGS OR OTHER GENERAL ANNOYANCES
The first time you run this script using -LDAP, you will see lots of errors as it attempts to remove ldap records that don't actually exist. Each time you add a new user, you will also see this error. You can usually just ignore any errors deleting users, as long as the add works. The "Errors Encountered" total printed in the summary does not include the number of errors encountered deleting records.
This script relies on the standard ldap schema, inetOrgPerson. Unfortunately it's a pretty limited schema that doesn't let you define many of the things you'd like. Lots of fields in your client may not be supported.
Also if you have things like font information in fields in your bbdb, the bbdb perl library may not like it. This is not a bug in bbdb2ldap.pl, but in BBDB.pm. The result is that your .bbdb will not be parsed, so you will get nada. I have an idea about how to fix some of these problems, but haven't put together a patch for BBDB.pm yet.
SEE ALSO
- bbdb - an emacs mode for managing information about contacts
- BBDB - perl module for parsing a .bbdb file
- OpenLDAP - open source ldap implementation
- http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2003/03/27/ldap_ab.html - how to set up ldap.
- http://www.geekfarm.org - download bbdb2ldap.
- PlannerMode - also on geekfarm. A module for exporting emacs todo lists and schedule info to other clients including palm.
AUTHOR
wu <VVu@geekfarm.org>COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
Copyright (c) 2005, VVu@geekfarm.org All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
- Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
- Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
- Neither the name of the geekfarm.org nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. *