There are no restrictions on the length of the value for a user-defined virtual attribute. You must only ensure that the new virtual attribute conforms to your schema, or you will see an error message when you configure it.

You can define your virtual attributes using the dsconfig tool from the Standard object menu. Only the value property is specific to the user-defined virtual attribute. All the other properties are common across all kinds of virtual attributes, which include the following.

Property Description

enabled

Indicates whether the virtual attribute should be used.

attribute-type

The attribute type for the virtual attribute that is generated.

base-dn

group-dn

filter

Can be used to select which entries are eligible to contain the virtual attribute.

client-connection-policy

Can be used to select which entries are eligible to contain the virtual attribute.

conflict-behavior

Used to indicate how the server should behave if there are one or more real values for the same attribute type in the same entry.

The server can either return only the real values, only the virtual values, or merge both real and virtual values.

require-explicit-request-by-name

Used to indicate whether the server should only generate values for the virtual attribute if it was included in the list of requested attributes.

multiple-virtual-attribute-evaluation-order-index

multiple-virtual-attribute-merge-behavior

Used to control the behavior of the server if multiple virtual attributes can be used to contribute values to the same attribute.