I already replaced the ldap configuration backend to use openldap for *nix and winldap for windows. So one could get inspired from that work, I guess.

My understanding was, that Fridrich's open LDAP integration already replaced mozab LDAP driver. If it is not true, then it was a mistake to remove mozab driver on *nices on master and we must restore it again. Unless someone is going to integrate Fridrich's open LDAP integration in mork driver (or create a new one).

(In reply to comment #2)
> My understanding was, that Fridrich's open LDAP integration already replaced
> mozab LDAP driver.

It seems not. He replaced only the "LDAP configuration backend", which is used (I'm guessing) to ... configure LibreOffice centrally from an LDAP store?

 If it is not true, then it was a mistake to remove mozab
> driver on *nices on master and we must restore it again. Unless someone is
> going to integrate Fridrich's open LDAP integration in mork driver (or
> create a new one).

(In reply to comment #3)
> It seems not. He replaced only the "LDAP configuration backend", which is
> used (I'm guessing) to ... configure LibreOffice centrally from an LDAP
> store?

The configmgr LDAP backend, com.sun.star.configuration.backend.LdapUserProfileBe, code at extensions/source/config/ldap/, allows to read certain configuration data, like the user's name etc., from an LDAP server rather than the .xcu files.  See <http://wiki.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/Administration_Guide/LDAP_Access> for details.

After looking into Mozilla LDAP implementation and its own static LDAP Schema, specifically 

* https://wiki.mozilla.org/MailNews:Mozilla_LDAP_Address_Book_Schema
* https://wiki.mozilla.org/MailNews_Talk:Mozilla_LDAP_Address_Book_Schema

and reading this (from the last link):

[...]
It is a pretty bad idea to have/invent a special LDAP schema for Mozilla, and to limit Mozilla to such an old-fashioned scheme.

My proposal is:

Completely remove all this LDAP crap from Mozilla/Thunderbird and replace it with a common plugin interface
[...]

and taking into account that the main distributions (Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSuSE) don't ship in tree mozilla and thus don't provide that LDAP driver, I tend to reject this issue with won't fix.

IIRC under Linux there is the option of using the ldap-via-evolution route. (http://help.libreoffice.org/Common/Address_Data_Source)

(In reply to comment #5)
> After looking into Mozilla LDAP implementation and its own static LDAP
> Schema (...)

> I tend to reject this issue with won't fix.

Ow, the LibreOffice "LDAP" address book support used a Mozilla-specific static schema? Raaah.

On the Mozilla side, the situation seems not to be as bad as described in your links. https://wiki.mozilla.org/MailNews:LDAP_Address_Books says Mozilla products can use different schemas through mapping.

And a quick Google search suggests Mozilla products can e.g. use a Windows Active Directory as an LDAP address book without undue hassle:

 https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Help_Documentation:Connecting_to_an_LDAP_address_book
 http://joseph.randomnetworks.com/2006/02/08/active-directory-as-ldap-address-book-for-thunderbird-outlook-and-mailapp/

Anyway, assuming the "old" LibreOffice LDAP support did not have these capabilities, I get your point, that feature was not that valuable.

(In reply to comment #6)
> IIRC under Linux there is the option of using the ldap-via-evolution route.
> (http://help.libreoffice.org/Common/Address_Data_Source)

If one is using Evolution, if the desired LDAP address book is configured in Evolution, ...

But yeah, given David's previous comment, that's probably the best LDAP driver LibO 3.6 and earlier have anyway.

But I agree that allowing to connect to an LDAP server as a source for addresses is nice to have, thinking about corps with some Active Directories or other LDAP directories with all their members in. 

So either we submit this enhancement to vote : https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Vote_for_Enhancement

Or we confirm it and set it up as a EasyHack DifficultyInteresting SkillCpp.

(In reply to comment #9)
> But I agree that allowing to connect to an LDAP server as a source for
> addresses is nice to have, thinking about corps with some Active Directories
> or other LDAP directories with all their members in. 
> 

Not only is it nice to have, but if you had it _already_ in a corporate setup, even with its current limitations and then it disappears, you will not endear corporations to your cause.

So, I don't see this being announced as one of the "features" for LO4 release ? In terms of communication, it should be announced though.


Alex

(In reply to comment #10)

Oh and if it stays removed, it might be a good idea to clean up all the mess left behind in the Address Book wizard and in-line help.

Alex