NAME
      dce_attr_intro - Introduction to the DCE Attribute Interface routines

  DESCRIPTION

      The DCE Attribute Interface API allows applications to define and
      access attributes types (schema entries) in a schema of your choice.
      It is based on the Extended Registry Attribute (ERA) interface, which
      defines and accesses attribute types in the registry database schema.
      Except for the binding methods, the two APIs are similar.

      Note however, that the Extended Registry Attribute API provides
      routines to create attribute types in the registry schema, to create
      and manipulate attribute instances, and to attach those instances to
      objects.  The DCE Attribute Interface in its current state provides
      calls only to create attribute types.

      For general usage guidelines for the DCE Attribute Interface refer to
      the chapter in this manual titled "The Extended Attribute Application
      Program Interface." The DCE Attribute Interface routine reference
      pages are supplied in this section.

      The DCE Attribute Interface Routines

      The DCE Attribute Interface consists of the following routines:

      dce_attr_sch_bind
             Returns an opaque handle of type dce_attr_sch_handle_t to a
             schema object specified by name and sets authentication and
             authorization parameters for the handle.

      dce_attr_sch_bind_free
             Releases an opaque handle of type dce_attr_sch_handle_t.

      dce_attr_sch_create_entry
             Creates a schema entry in a schema bound to with
             dce_attr_sch_bind.

      dce_attr_sch_update_entry
             Updates a schema entry in a schema bound to with
             dce_attr_sch_bind.

      dce_attr_sch_delete_entry
             Deletes a schema entry in a schema bound to with
             dce_attr_sch_bind.

      dce_attr_sch_scan
             Reads a specified number of schema entries.

      dce_attr_sch_cursor_init
             Allocates resources to and initializes a cursor used with
             dce_attr_sch_scan. The dce_attr_sch_cursor_init routine makes
             a remote call that also returns the current number of schema
             entries in the schema.

      dce_attr_sch_cursor_alloc
             Allocates resources to a cursor used with dce_attr_sch_scan.
             The dce_attr_sch_cursor_alloc routine is a local operation.

      dce_attr_sch_cursor_release
             Releases states associated with a cursor created by
             dce_attr_sch_cursor_alloc or dce_attr_sch_cursor_init.

      dce_attr_sch_cursor_reset
             Reinitializes a cursor used with dce_attr_sch_scan.  The reset
             cursor can then be reused without releasing and re-allocating.

      dce_attr_sch_lookup_by_id
             Reads a schema entry identified by attribute type UUID.

      dce_attr_sch_lookup_by_name
             Reads a schema entry identified by attribute name.

      dce_attr_sch_get_acl_mgrs
             Retrieves the manager types of the ACLs protecting objects
             dominated by a named schema.

      dce_attr_sch_aclmgr_strings
             Returns printable ACL strings associated with an ACL manager
             protecting a schema object.

      Data Types and Structures

      dce_attr_sch_handle_t
        An opaque handle to a schema object.  Use dce_attr_sch_bind to
        acquire the handle.

      dce_attr_component_name_t
        A pointer to a character string used to further specify a schema
        object.

      dce_bind_auth_info_t
        A enumeration that defines whether or not the binding is
        authenticated.  This data type is defined exactly as the
        sec_attr_bind_auth_info_t data type in the ERA interface.
        See the sec_intro reference page for more information
        on sec_attr_bind_auth_info_t.

      dce_attr_schema_entry_t
        A structure that defines a complete attribute entry for the schema
        catalog. This data type is defined exactly as the
        sec_attr_schema_entry_t data type in the ERA interface.  See the
        sec_intro reference page for more information on
        sec_attr_schema_entry_t.

      dce_attr_cursor_t
        A structure that provides a pointer into a database and is used for
        multiple database operations. This cursor must minimally represent
        the object indicated by dce_attr_sch_handle_t. The cursor may
        additionally represent an entry within that schema.

      dce_attr_schema_entry_parts_t
        A 32-bit bitset containing flags that specify the schema entry
        fields that can be modified on a schema entry update operation.
        This data type is defined exactly as the
        sec_attr_schema_entry_parts_t data type in the ERA interface.
        See the sec_intro reference page for more information on
        sec_attr_schema_entry_parts_t.