Method and system for managing a directory with a template
View Patent ↗A system of managing a directory with templates. A template file is created containing various structure templates. The templates entries may then be loaded into the directory or be read directly from the file by users. The templates provide structure information to users of the directory, and allow an administrator to more easily configure part or all of the directory.
1. A method for managing a directory comprising the steps of:
creating a template to define the directory comprising one or more definitions corresponding to one or more object types, wherein for a given one of said object types, said corresponding definition identifies zero or more others of said object types to be automatically created and added to the directory whenever said given object type is added to the directory;
creating an object of said given type;
adding said object of said given type to the directory;
automatically creating zero or more objects of said others of said object types whenever said given object type is added to the directory; and
adding said zero or more objects to the directory, wherein the template defines relationships between the zero or more objects of said object types.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said zero or more objects of said others of said object types are added as children to said object of said given type in the directory.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said one or more object types are Java object types.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said one or more definitions comprise one or more attributes.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said one or more attributes have values.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of automatically creating zero or more objects comprises the steps of:
selecting one of said definitions that corresponds to said given type of said object that is created; and
reading said zero or more others of said object types from said selected definition.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said template is created using a markup language.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said markup language is one or more of the following:
an extensible markup language; and
a generalized markup language.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said markup language is the Extensible Markup Language.
10. A template for managing a directory comprising:
one or more definitions corresponding to one or more object types, wherein for a given one of said object types, said corresponding definition identifies zero or more others of said object types of zero or more objects to be automatically created whenever an object of said given object type is added to the directory, the template specifying relationships among the zero or more objects of the one or more object types.
11. The template of claim 10 , wherein said one or more object types are Java object types.
12. The template of claim 10 , wherein said one or more definitions comprise one or more attributes.
13. The template of claim 10 , wherein said one or more attributes have values.
14. A method for managing a directory of one or more entries comprising the steps of:
creating a template to provide one or more instruction on how to manage the directory;
automatically creating at least one of the entries whenever said given object type is added to the directory; and
adding said at least one entry to the directory in accordance with at least one of said instructions, wherein the template specifies relationships among the one or more entries.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the step of:
deleting said at least one entry from the directory in accordance with said instruction.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said one or more instructions comprise one or more definitions corresponding to one or more entry types wherein for a given one of said entry types, said corresponding definition identifies zero or more of said entries that must be added to the directory whenever an entry of said given type is added to the directory.