### The selection Parameter

The selection parameter of the ds_read( ) and ds_search( ) operations tailors its results to obtain just part of the required entry. Information on all attributes, no attributes, or a specific group of attributes can be chosen. Attribute types are always returned, but the attribute values are not necessarily returned.

The value of the parameter is an instance of OM class DS_C_ENTRY_INFO_SELECTION, but one of the constants in the following list can be used in simple cases:

· To verify the existence of an entry for the purported name, use the constant DS_SELECT_NO_ATTRIBUTES.

· To return just the types of all attributes, use the constant DS_SELECT_ALL_TYPES.

· To return the types and values of all attributes, use the constant DS_SELECT_ALL_TYPES_AND_VALUES.

To choose a particular set of attributes, create a new instance of the OM class DS_C_ENTRY_INFO_SELECTION and set the appropriate OM attribute values by using the OM functions.

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