Setting Search Filters

Search filters enable filtering for specific objects by searching for objects based on attributes associated to the object, such as the objectClass. To do this, set up a filter string with the desired attributes included in the string. For wildcard searches, you can enter any part of the string you wish to search on along with a *, such as (anr=test*). When setting up search filters to use with System.DirectoryServices, follow the syntax rules for LDAP filters. To indicate that a filter is used, use the DirectorySearcher property Filter.

For more information about search filters, see Creating a Query Filter.

The following code example shows how to add a search filter.

[C#]
DirectoryEntry entry = new DirectoryEntry("LDAP://CN=users,DC=fabrikam,DC=com");
DirectorySearcher mySearcher = new DirectorySearcher(entry);
mySearcher.Filter = "(&(objectClass=user)(anr=test*))";
SearchResultCollection ResEnt = mySearcher.FindAll();
{
				// Handle results.
}	 
// Handle exceptions.