How can I search users in Active Directory based on surname and first name?

Question

I'm trying to search for users in AD with their surname (sn) and first name (givenName) using DirectorySearcher in .NET.

I can find a user based on sAMAccountname with this code:

 DirectorySearcher searcher1 = new DirectorySearcher(entry);
 searcher1.Filter = string.Format("(&(objectCategory=person)(objectClass=user)(SAMAccountname={0}))",aLogin);

 SearchResult results1;
 results1 = searcher1.FindOne();

But when I try to do it with givenName and sn:

DirectorySearcher searcher1 = new DirectorySearcher(entry);
searcher1.Filter = string.Format("(&(objectCategory=person)(objectClass=user)(givenname={0})(sn={1})", aName, aSName);

SearchResultCollection results1;
results1 = searcher1.FindAll();

It doesn't work; the message says "Invalid Filter"; Can I not filter based on givenName and sn?

How can I achieve this?

Answer 1

If you're using .NET 3.5 or newer, you could also make use of the PrincipalSearcher and a "query-by-example" principal to do your searching:

// create your domain context
PrincipalContext ctx = new PrincipalContext(ContextType.Domain);

// define a "query-by-example" principal - here, we search for a UserPrincipal 
// and with the first name (GivenName) of "Bruce" and a last name (Surname) of "Miller"
UserPrincipal qbeUser = new UserPrincipal(ctx);
qbeUser.GivenName = "Bruce";
qbeUser.Surname = "Miller";

// create your principal searcher passing in the QBE principal    
PrincipalSearcher srch = new PrincipalSearcher(qbeUser);

// find all matches
foreach(var found in srch.FindAll())
{
    // do whatever here - "found" is of type "Principal" - it could be user, group, computer.....          
}

If you haven't already - absolutely read the MSDN article Managing Directory Security Principals in the .NET Framework 3.5 which shows nicely how to make the best use of the new features in System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement. Or see the MSDN documentation on the System.DirectoryServices.AccountManagement namespace.

Of course, depending on your need, you might want to specify other properties on that "query-by-example" user principal you create:

• DisplayName (typically: first name + space + last name)
• SAM Account Name - your Windows/AD account name
• User Principal Name - your "[email protected]" style name

You can specify any of the properties on the UserPrincipal and use those as "query-by-example" for your PrincipalSearcher.