CSVDE and LDIFDE

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Introduction to CSVDE and LDIFDE

The main purpose of this page is to explain the differences between Microsoft's CSVDE and LDIFDE. If you can provide data about your users, computers or contacts in a text file, then CSVDE or LDIFDE can create the corresponding account in Windows Server 2003 Active Directory.

The second purpose of this page is to act as a mini sitemap to guide you to my tutorials for importing and export with CSVDE and LDIFDE.

However, before I go into detail, here are three classic uses of the these Windows Server 2003 and 2000 commands;

Bulk import of NEW user accounts. (CSVDE)
Creation of computer accounts.
Modification of EXISTING Active Directory accounts. (LDIFDE)

CSVDE

Comma Separated Value Data Exchange.
Uses a comma-delimited file with LDAP fields in the first row, followed by rows of account data. Excel is a good vehicle to hold and manipulate CSVDE files.

When importing accounts, always try CSVDE first because the syntax is so much easier than LDIFDE.

Another advantage of Microsoft's CSVDE is it understands and thrives on CSV files. This means that you can manipulate the data in a spreadsheet before you import data into Active Directory.

Next Step

CSVDE - Export. The best way to get started.

CSVDE - Import. How to add user accounts to Active Directory.

LDIFDE

Lightweight Data Interchange Format, Data Exchange.
Has line-separated values between each record. The data is not suitable for spreadsheets.

My advice is use Microsoft's LDIFDE when ever CSVDE is not up to the job, for example, if you need to import users with passwords CSVDE will not work.

LDIFDE has more powerful verbs, for instance CSVDE can only add users, whereas LDIFDE can modify or even delete their accounts.

Next Step

LDIFDE - Export. An easy way to get started.

LDIFDE - Import. How to add, modify or delete user accounts.

Having given an honest and fair account of both CSVDE and LDIFDE, I urge you also to consider VBScript for creating Active Directory accounts. While VBScript is not as quick and is more difficult to learn, in the long term, I believe VBScript is the way to go. See more here

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