---
name: "ldif"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "openldapd"
version: "1:1.2.12-1"
release: "Debian 2.2 (Potato)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ldif/8"
---

# ldif(8)

convert arbitrary data to LDIF format

## NAME

ldif - convert arbitrary data to LDIF format

## SYNOPSIS

**/usr/sbin/ldif \[-b\] attr-name**

## DESCRIPTION

This program is used to convert arbitrary data to the LDAP Directory Interchange Format (LDIF) described in [**ldif**(5)](/ldif/5.md). **ldif** reads data from standard input, converts it, and writes the corresponding LDIF output to standard output. The output is suitable for use as a line in an [**ldif**(5)](/ldif/5.md) file.

Without the **-b** flag, **ldif** considers its input a sequence of values to be converted, one per line. With the **-b** flag,  **ldif** considers its input as a single raw binary value to be converted. This can be useful when converting binary data such as a photo or audio attribute.

See "The SLAPD and SLURPD Administrator's Guide" for more details on using this program.

## OPTIONS

- **-b**

  This option specifies that **ldif** should interpret its input as a single binary value for conversion. Otherwise, it interprets it as a sequence of lines, with each line containing a single value.

## SEE ALSO

[**ldap**(3)](/ldap/3.md), [**ldif**(5)](/ldif/5.md), [**ldif2ldbm**(8)](/ldif2ldbm/8.md), [**slapd**(8)](/slapd/8.md)

"The SLAPD and SLURPD Administrator's Guide"

## ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

**OpenLDAP** is developed and maintained by The OpenLDAP Project (http://www.openldap.org/). **OpenLDAP** is derived from University of Michigan LDAP 3.3 Release.