Discussion: Pulling Info from Active Directory

[anoble1]

Hi,

I am wanting to make a db that pulls user clients info from the network in Active Directory. Has anyone been able to search through Access and connect to Active Directory? Was wanting to do an number of things, like search by User ID, and pull address, phone and computer info, then remotely connect to PC etc.

Thanks,

[Rabbit]

I use an LDAP query when I need to pull data from AD.

[NeoPa]

I have some code that may help :

'GetUserObject() returns an IADs object representing either the LDAP: string
'  if passed, or the logged-on user otherwise.
Public Function GetUserObject(Optional ByVal strDN As String = "") As Object
    If strDN > "" Then
        Set GetUserObject = GetObject("LDAP://" & strDN)
    Else
        strDN = "LDAP://OU=MyBusiness," & _
                GetObject("LDAP://RootDSE").Get("rootDomainNamingContext")
        Set GetUserObject = ProcessIAD(GetObject(strDN), GetLogonName)
    End If
End Function

'ProcessIAD() is called recursively and returns an object only when it is a user
'  that matches strUser.
Private Function ProcessIAD(ByRef iadVar As Object, strUser As String) As Object
    Dim iadWork As Object

    With iadVar
        Select Case IADType(iadVar)
        Case "User"
            If .sAMAccountName = strUser Then Set ProcessIAD = iadVar
            Exit Function
        Case "organizationalUnit"
            For Each iadWork In iadVar
                Set ProcessIAD = ProcessIAD(iadWork, strUser)
                If Not ProcessIAD Is Nothing Then Exit Function
            Next iadWork
        End Select
    End With
End Function

'IADType() returns whether the IAD should be treated as a container
'  (organizationalUnit), a user (user), or simply ignored (group).
Private Function IADType(iadVar As Object) As String
    Dim varWork As Variant

    With iadVar
        Call .GetInfo
        For Each varWork In .Get("objectClass")
            Select Case varWork
            Case "user", "group", "organizationalUnit"
                IADType = varWork
                Exit For
            End Select
        Next varWork
    End With
End Function

The following procedure lists what it finds :

'ShowIADs() shows all users, groups and containers of the AD from strRoot.
Public Sub ShowIADs(Optional ByRef iadVar As Object, _
                    Optional ByVal strRoot As String = "")
    Dim iadWork As Object
    Dim strWork As String

    If iadVar Is Nothing Then
        strWork = "LDAP://" & _
                  strRoot & _
                  "OU=MyBusiness," & _
                  GetObject("LDAP://RootDSE").Get("rootDomainNamingContext")
        Set iadVar = GetObject(strWork)
    End If
    With iadVar
        strWork = IADType(iadVar)
        If strWork > "" Then
            Debug.Print strWork & "," & _
                        IIf(strWork = "user", .sAMAccountName, "") & "#" & _
                        .distinguishedName & "~";
        End If
        Select Case strWork
        Case "user"
            Exit Sub
        Case "organizationalUnit"
            For Each iadWork In iadVar
                Call ShowIADs(iadWork)
            Next iadWork
        End Select
    End With
End Sub

I don't think there are any calls in here except to standard procedures. I think most of this is found in the VBA library.

[ADezii]

I have attached a Sample Database that should clearly demonstrate how to retrieve Information from Active Directory. It also display AD Variables that can be used in this same context.

[anoble1]

Very Nice, thanks guys

[NeoPa]

No worries. I'm happy to share it.