Exchange 365 PowerShell Dynamic Distribution Group

[RowlandoGloom]

Here's one driving me nuts.

 

Using Exchange 365 with RM Unify. I currently have a dynamic distribution group setup for staff (user type is "Teaching Staff" and "Non-Teachjng Staff". All works properly, contains all staff.

 

When Unify syncs the student accounts, it basically sets their account type as "students" - which I suppose you'd expect... I can create a group which contains all, bingo.

 

I want to create dynamic distribution groups for each year group. Usernames contain the year they started.

 

[email protected]

[email protected]

jbloggs12....

 

I am trying to use PowerShell to create groups such as "[email protected]" where they all have "14" in their email address, "[email protected]" where they all have "13" in their email address etc...

 

If I run:

 

new-DynamicDistributionGroup "year7students" -recipientfilter {EmailAddresses -like "smtp:*[email protected]"} - I end up with no members.

 

If I run:

 

new-DynamicDistributionGroup "year7students" -recipientfilter {EmailAddresses -like "*[email protected]"} - I get the error stating a wildcard can't be used as the first character. It doesn't matter if use "-like" or "-eq".

 

I even tried:

 

new-DynamicDistributionGroup "year7stuents" -recipientfilter {EmailAddresses -like "j*[email protected]"} - All uses starting with j, then ending 14 (jbloggs14), but still no members.

 

If any powershell guru has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers,

Paul.

[Arthur]

What happens if you run this...

 

New-DynamicDistributionGroup -Name "year7students" -RecipientFilter { EmailAddresses -like [color="#FF0000"]'[/color]*[email protected][color="#FF0000"]'[/color] }

[RowlandoGloom]

What happens if you run this...

 

New-DynamicDistributionGroup -Name "year7students" -RecipientFilter { EmailAddresses -like [color="#FF0000"]'[/color]*[email protected][color="#FF0000"]'[/color] }

 

 

Hi Arthur, thanks for the advice.

 

I have just tried and PowerShell gives me the following error:

 

"Wildcards cannot be used as the first character. Please revise the filter criteria."

 

Thanks,

Paul.

[jonawd]

How are you adding your users into Active Directory?

One solution may be to right the Intake Year '2014' etc. to another attribute in AD for the user and use that to identify them that way.

[Marshall_IT]

Are you using dirsync? I created distribution groups in ad called [email protected] and just add each year to it in ad. Then you have make sure to sync the group to 365 and bingo.

[RowlandoGloom]

Cheers for the advice - sorry for not replying.

 

I'm in Gran Canaria at the moment until next week, so I'll give your suggestions a go.

[RowlandoGloom]

Hi.

 

The problem with RM Unify, is it takes all students and dumps them in one place irrespective on which OU they are in the AD. The only attributes the client uses, username, password, first name, surname.

 

I know users can be added to a group manually, however this would be 'too much' for the people managing emails (not us in tech support)

 

I'll take another look tomorrow.

 

Cheers.

[RowlandoGloom]

Sorry for the long delay getting back. I haven't been in work for some time.

 

I have installed DiRSYNC onto a server - however the install fails, then won't let you remove it, plus says it is already installed once you try again.

 

As I say, RM Unify takes the users based on their primary group ("RM Students", "RM Non-Teaching Staff", RM Teaching Staff", "RM Administrator"). It totally doesn't take into account which OU they are in.

 

I'm still struggling to find a query that will check for the number on the end. I just wish you could have a wildcard at the beginning of the string (*14). I'm going to try "a*14", "b*14" so will see how I get on.

 

Paul.

Edited October 13, 2014 by RowlandoGloom

[RowlandoGloom]

New-DynamicDistributionGroup -Name "___year7students" -RecipientFilter { EmailAddresses -like 'a*14@' }

 

Creates the group, nothing in it.

 

The only reason for the underscores is so it appears at the top of the list and makes it easier to find in the GUI for now.

 

Paul.

Edited October 13, 2014 by RowlandoGloom

[RowlandoGloom]

Now noticing, if on the mailboxes page in IE - searches won't work with wildcards:

 

If in the search box I try "emailaddresses:[email protected]" - the E-Mail address is listed.

 

If I run "emailaddresses:j*[email protected]" or "emailaddresses:j*" - nothing is returned.

 

Paul.