XADM: Admin Unescapes Invalid X.400 Characters in DDA Fields (169688)

SYMPTOMS

After you add a new custom recipient using the Admin utility, invalid X.400 characters may be displayed when you view the newly added address.

CAUSE

X.400 addresses have a limited set of characters that are valid. When you use the Admin.exe tool to add a custom recipient X.400 address, and the X.400 address is to include a DDA value with invalid X.400 characters, the invalid X.400 characters are to be entered as an escape sequence (as defined by RFC98).

The invalid character is represented by its decimal value enclosed in parentheses. For example, to enter a DDA value of "UserA & UserB", you would actually enter "UserA (038) UserB".

If you look at the DDA value after you save the new address, the DDA value is incorrectly displayed as "UserA & UserB". It should be displayed as entered, that is, "UserA (038) UserB".

WORKAROUND

There is no workaround. The issue is cosmetic. Internally, the string is stored correctly, with the invalid X.400 character in the escaped format.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0. This problem has been corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

SERVPACK