Search for an active directory object.
Syntax DSQuery Computer DSQuery Contact DSQuery Group DSQuery OU DSQuery Site DSQuery Server DSQuery User DSQuery Quota DSQuery Partition DSQuery * (LDAP query)
Commas within a CN must be escaped with the backslash \ character CN=Company\, Incorporated...
Escape Backslashes with a second backslash CN=Sales\\ Latin America...
If any value contains spaces, use quotation marks: "CN=John Smith,CN=Users,DC=SS64,DC=com"
Special Tokens
The token $username$ (case insensitive) can be used to place the SAM account name.
Entering * as a password will prompt for a new password.
Adding multiple Objects
For any DS command you can enter multiple values separated by spaces.
e.g. to add several user accounts at once just supply a list of the distinguished names separated with spaces.
It is also possible to store multiple values in a text file and redirect into DSQUERY.
PowerShell
To call dsquery and store the resulting string in a powershell array variable (from PowershellHell.com):
$arrComputerList = $(&dsquery computer -limit 0)|%{$_.Split("=")[1].replace(",OU","").replace(",CN","")}
“plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (The more things change, the more they are the same.)” ~ Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr 1849.
Related:
DSAdd - Add object.
DSMod - Modify object.
DSGet - Display object.
DSMove - Move object.
DSQuery - Search for objects.
DSRM - Delete object.
CSVDE - Import or export AD info in CSV format.
LDIFDE - Edit AD Objects, extend schema, import or export AD information.
LDAP Syntax Filters - TechNet Wiki.
AdFind - Command line Active Directory query tool (JoeWare).
Equivalent bash commands (Linux): ldapmodify - Modify Lightweight Directory Access Protocol.