How to search for an AD account using PowerShell script.

The following is a comparison between searching for an AD account with Windows PowerShell and ADManager Plus:

Windows PowerShell

Steps to search for AD accounts based on specific requirements using PowerShell:

  • Identify the domain from which you want to retrieve the report.
  • Identify the LDAP attributes you need to fetch the report.
  • Identify the primary DC to retrieve the report.
  • Compile the script.
  • Execute it in Windows PowerShell.
  • The report will be exported in the given format.
  • To obtain the report in a different format, modify the script accordingly to the needs of the user.

Sample Windows PowerShell script

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Search-ADAccount -PasswordExpired | FT Name,ObjectClass -A
Click to copy entire script

ADManager Plus

To obtain a report :

  • Select a desired report from the Reports tab.
  • Select the domain and OU. Click Generate.
  • Choose any of the preferred formats (CSV, PDF, HTML, CSVDE and XLSX).

Screenshot

Search for an Active Directory account using ADManager Plus

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Following are the limitations to search for AD user(s) based on certain conditions using native tools like Windows PowerShell:

  • We can run this script only from the computers which has Active Directory Domain Services role.
  • Adding even minor details to the report—such as adding additional attributes—require scripts to be modified and executed again, which is time-consuming.
  • Exporting a report in a specific format requires a script to be modified accordingly, which increases the complexity of the scripts.
  • Troubleshooting is not easy in case of errors

ADManager Plus will retrieve details of multiple users in any desired format in a simple and intuitively designed UI.

One-click search for Active Directory objects in specific OUs and domains.

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