Simon Barratt

Query Based Distribution Groups

One of the features I like in Exchange 2003 that Domino 6.5 was missing, is the Query Based Distribution Groups (QBDG) feature.  This simply allows you to define an LDAP query against AD for email distribution purposes.  This allows you to take advantage of various pieces of data to simplify mailing list maintenance.  It does not completely replace the need for "traditional" mailing lists, but it a good step forward.

However, one side effect of this technology is the inability of he user to know who is going to receive the email. "They have to trust the system"!  Most of the time this is ok, but with some people they need that final confirmation.

You can preview the results in AD Users & Computers, but that is no use to the user.  Here is a method (I am sure there are others)

Using AD Users & Computers copy the LDAP query associated with the QBDG, then open a command line and type/paste the following:

csvde -f xxxx.csv -r "(&(!cn=SystemMailbox{*})(&(&(&(& (mailnickname=*) (| (&(objectCategory=person)(objectClass=user)(|(homeMDB=*)(msExchHomeServerName=*))) )))(objectCategory=user)(description=XXXXXXX))))" -l DN,objectClass,description

This uses the csvde command to export the results of the query into a .csv file.  This article provides more detail.

Hopefully, in a future version Microsoft will just allow you to export the result straight from the UI!