Tool

Introduction

The Generic File Driver is similar to the Text Driver shipped with IDM, but has more options, and has the capability to read virtually any file type. Out of the box, the following file types are supported: XML, CSV and XLS (the latter using POI from Apache).

The original version I wrote in 2007 is located at http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/tools/18671.html. This update comes with an IDM 4 package making the installation simpler and has some new features and fixes.
See the referenced version for a list of the old features.

New features and fixes

version 0.5, 21-JAN-2013

• Shim bug: Fixed an issue wrt the driver not adding the metadata on the publisher channel.

version 0.4, 24-APR-2012

• Shim bug: Fixed an issue with the driver schema (appeared to be hard coded).
• Shim feature: Added beta support for query back. Query back only supported on publisher channel (when reading in a file). Feedback welcome.
• Package bug: Fixed an issue that caused the driver configuration not to be imported when the package was imported.
• Package bug: Changed creation policy from validating the Given Name to validating the Surname.
• Package feature: Added package 'Delimited Text Driver Password Synchronization Package' as an optional package for this driver.
• Package feature: Added remote loader prompts to the package.

version 0.3, 12-OCT-2011

• Shim feature: automatic association and src-dn calculation (using ecmascript in the driver configuration). No longer need for style sheets for just creating association and src-dn values. The driver shim now does this for you.
• Shim bug: fixed missing remove-all-values on the publisher documents.
• Shim feature: added the ability (csv output files) to flush the file buffer after every record written (useful for when you are developing/testing your driver).
• Shim feature: when receiving a modify event on the subscriber channel, the shim will query back for all missing attribute values in order to be able to write a complete record (no need for a stylesheet to query for missing attributes and keeping this stylesheet in sync with the schema).
• Shim bug/feature: the subscriber channel now fully support add, modify and instance events. Instance and add events are assumed to contain all data and do not perform a query back. Only the modify event performs a query back

Installation

The attached zip file (GenFileDriver_0_5.zip) contains 2 jar files. One is the package, one is the shim.
Shim: GenFileDriverShim_0.5.jar
Copy the shim to you eDirectory server (DirXML's classes folder). If you want to use XLS support, also download poi from Apache. Restart eDirectory after this.
Note: if you have an older version of the shim, be sure to delete that jar.
Package: SVCGENFILEB_0.0.4.jar
Import this package into your designer project. Drag and drop the "Delimited Text" driver that is located under "Tools" and select the "Generic File Base" package, answering all the questions as needed.
From this point on, you can use and modify it as any other driver.

Policies

This driver only has 3 policies; all of them on the publisher channel. If required, you could add the password policies as available from the standard text driver (by creating your own copy from Novell's package and adding this to the driver).
SVCGENFILEB-pub-mp
Match on Internet Email Address if any available.
SVCGENFILEB-pub-cp
Checks for mandatory attributes:
Surname: required due to eDir constraints
Internet Email Address: required due to use in matching policy
SVCGENFILEB-pub-pp
Placement based on a driverset GCV (idv.dit.data.users).