DOCUMENT:Q253528 30-APR-2000 [winnt] TITLE :Using the $Search() Function in a Management Agent of MMS PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::2.1 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbtool MMS ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Metadirectory Services, version 2.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Prior to Microsoft Metadirectory Services 2.1 when the metascript $Search() function performed a search and found zero or multiple matches, it would return a null value. This mechanism was unsatisfactory in situations where you needed to determine the uniqueness of an entry based on a search criterion. CAUSE ===== The $search() function would return a NULL value if more than one entry was located by the search. A new argument, returnArbitraryResponse, was added to signal the fact that more than one entry was located. This now provides a means to determine the uniqueness of entries matching a particular search criterion. RESOLUTION ========== To resolve this issue, this $search() functionality was modified in MMS 2.1. Upgrade to Microsoft Metadirectory Services 2.1 to receive this modification. MORE INFORMATION ================ The $search() function has been modified. The new syntax to this function is: $search(whatToSearch, scope, base, returnArbitraryResponse) Where returnArbitraryResponse is optional and has a default value of NULL for backward compatibility. If returnArbitraryResponse is set to "arbitrary", the $search() function returns an arbitrary set of search results when multiple responses are found; it will no longer return a NULL. Management Agent developers can then use this argument to signal that more than one match was found, and that the entry being searched for is not unique. No changes are required for existing templates if you do not require this functionality. Additional query words: Importt, Management Agents, Agent Functions, MMS ====================================================================== Keywords : kbtool MMS Technology : kbMMSSearch kbMMS210 Version : :2.1 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2000.