---
name: "ldbedit"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "ldb"
version: "2:4.25.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ldbedit"
---

# ldbedit(1)

Edit LDB databases using your preferred editor

## NAME

ldbedit - Edit LDB databases using your preferred editor

## SYNOPSIS

**ldbedit** \[-?\] \[--usage\] \[-s base\|one\|sub\] \[-b basedn\] \[-a\] \[-e editor\] \[-H LDB-URL\] \[expression\] \[attributes...\]

## DESCRIPTION

ldbedit is a utility that allows you to edit LDB entries (in database files or LDAP servers) using your preferred editor. ldbedit generates an LDIF file based on your query, allows you to edit the LDIF, and then merges that LDIF back into the LDB backend.

## OPTIONS

- \-?, --help

  Show list of available options, and a phrase describing what that option does.

- \--usage

  Show list of available options. This is similar to the help option, however it does not provide any description, and is hence shorter.

- \-H \<ldb-url\>

  LDB URL to connect to. For tdb and lmdb databases, this will be of the form tdb://*filename* or mdb://*filename*, respectively. The URL ldb://*filename* will try to detect the file format automatically. For a LDAP connection over unix domain sockets, this will be of the form ldapi://*socket*. For a (potentially remote) LDAP connection over TCP, this will be of the form ldap://*hostname*, or ldaps://*hostname* for a TLS protected connection.

- \-s one\|sub\|base

  Search scope to use. One-level, subtree or base.

- \-a, -all

  Edit all records. This allows you to apply the same change to a number of records at once. You probably want to combine this with an expression of the form "objectclass=\*".

- \-e editor, --editor editor

  Specify the editor that should be used (overrides the VISUAL and EDITOR environment variables). If this option is not used, and neither VISUAL nor EDITOR environment variables are set, then the vi editor will be used.

- \-b basedn

  Specify Base Distinguished Name to use.

- \-v, --verbose

  Make ldbedit more verbose about the operations that are being performed. Without this option, ldbedit will only provide a summary change line.

## ENVIRONMENT

LDB\_URL

LDB URL to connect to. This can be overridden by using the -H command-line option.)

VISUAL and EDITOR

Environment variables used to determine what editor to use. VISUAL takes precedence over EDITOR, and both are overridden by the -e command-line option.

## VERSION

This man page is correct for version 1.1 of LDB.

## SEE ALSO

[ldb(3)](/ldb/3.md), [ldbmodify(1)](/ldbmodify/1.md), [ldbdel(1)](/ldbdel/1.md), [ldif(5)](/ldif/5.md), [vi(1)](/vi/1.md)

## AUTHOR

ldb was written by **Andrew Tridgell**\[1\].

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.

This manpage was written by Jelmer Vernooij and updated by Brad Hards.

## NOTES

- 1\.

  Andrew Tridgell

  https://www.samba.org/~tridge/