source: branches/samba-3.5.x/docs/manpages/ldb.3

'\" t
.\"     Title: ldb
.\"    Author: [see the "Author" section]
.\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets v1.75.2 <http://docbook.sf.net/>
.\"      Date: 12/14/2012
.\"    Manual: C Library Functions
.\"    Source: Samba 3.5
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "LDB" "3" "12/14/2012" "Samba 3\&.5" "C Library Functions"
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.nh
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.SH "NAME"
ldb \- A light\-weight database library
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.sp
.nf
#include <ldb\&.h>
.fi
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.PP
ldb is a light weight embedded database library and API\&. With a programming interface that is very similar to LDAP, ldb can store its data either in a tdb(3) database or in a real LDAP database\&.
.PP
When used with the tdb backend ldb does not require any database daemon\&. Instead, ldb function calls are processed immediately by the ldb library, which does IO directly on the database, while allowing multiple readers/writers using operating system byte range locks\&. This leads to an API with very low overheads, often resulting in speeds of more than 10x what can be achieved with a more traditional LDAP architecture\&.
.PP
In a taxonomy of databases ldb would sit half way between key/value pair databases (such as berkley db or tdb) and a full LDAP database\&. With a structured attribute oriented API like LDAP and good indexing capabilities, ldb can be used for quite sophisticated applications that need a light weight database, without the administrative overhead of a full LDAP installation\&.
.PP
Included with ldb are a number of useful command line tools for manipulating a ldb database\&. These tools are similar in style to the equivalent ldap command line tools\&.
.PP
In its default mode of operation with a tdb backend, ldb can also be seen as a "schema\-less LDAP"\&. By default ldb does not require a schema, which greatly reduces the complexity of getting started with ldb databases\&. As the complexity of you application grows you can take advantage of some of the optional schema\-like attributes that ldb offers, or you can migrate to using the full LDAP api while keeping your exiting ldb code\&.
.PP
If you are new to ldb, then I suggest starting with the manual pages for ldbsearch(1) and ldbedit(1), and experimenting with a local database\&. Then I suggest you look at the ldb_connect(3) and ldb_search(3) manual pages\&.
.SH "TOOLS"
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

ldbsearch(1)
\- command line ldb search utility
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

ldbedit(1)
\- edit all or part of a ldb database using your favourite editor
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

ldbadd(1)
\- add records to a ldb database using LDIF formatted input
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

ldbdel(1)
\- delete records from a ldb database
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

ldbmodify(1)
\- modify records in a ldb database using LDIF formatted input
.SH "FUNCTIONS"
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_connect(3)\fR
\- connect to a ldb backend
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_search(3)\fR
\- perform a database search
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_add(3)\fR
\- add a record to the database
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_delete(3)\fR
\- delete a record from the database
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_modify(3)\fR
\- modify a record in the database
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_errstring(3)\fR
\- retrieve extended error information from the last operation
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_ldif_write(3)\fR
\- write a LDIF formatted message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_ldif_write_file(3)\fR
\- write a LDIF formatted message to a file
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_ldif_read(3)\fR
\- read a LDIF formatted message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_ldif_read_free(3)\fR
\- free the result of a ldb_ldif_read()
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_ldif_read_file(3)\fR
\- read a LDIF message from a file
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_ldif_read_string(3)\fR
\- read a LDIF message from a string
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_find_element(3)\fR
\- find an element in a ldb_message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_val_equal_exact(3)\fR
\- compare two ldb_val structures
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_find_val(3)\fR
\- find an element by value
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_add_empty(3)\fR
\- add an empty message element to a ldb_message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_add(3)\fR
\- add a non\-empty message element to a ldb_message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_element_compare(3)\fR
\- compare two ldb_message_element structures
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_find_int(3)\fR
\- return an integer value from a ldb_message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_find_uint(3)\fR
\- return an unsigned integer value from a ldb_message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_find_double(3)\fR
\- return a double value from a ldb_message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_msg_find_string(3)\fR
\- return a string value from a ldb_message
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_set_alloc(3)\fR
\- set the memory allocation function to be used by ldb
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_set_debug(3)\fR
\- set a debug handler to be used by ldb
.RE
.sp
.RS 4
.ie n \{\
\h'-04'\(bu\h'+03'\c
.\}
.el \{\
.sp -1
.IP \(bu 2.3
.\}

\fBldb_set_debug_stderr(3)\fR
\- set a debug handler for stderr output
.SH "AUTHOR"
.PP
ldb was written by
Andrew Tridgell\&.
.PP
If you wish to report a problem or make a suggestion then please see the
: http://ldb.samba.org/
web site for current contact and maintainer information\&.
.PP
ldb is released under the GNU Lesser General Public License version 2 or later\&. Please see the file COPYING for license details\&.