Although DNs are hierarchical, the order of the individual components (called relative DNs (RDNs), or DN attributes) is not defined. The order in which the attributes are shown is thus a matter of personal taste or company policy, which is why it is configurable in Kleopatra.
This setting does not only apply to Kleopatra, but to all applications using Kleopatra Technology. At the time of this writing, these include KMail, KAddressBook, as well as Kleopatra itself, of course.
This configuration page basically consists of two lists, one for the known attributes (Available attributes), and one describing the Current attribute order.
Both lists contain entries described by the short from of the attribute (e.g. CN) as well as the spelled-out form (Common Name).
The Available attributes list is always sorted alphabetically, while the Current attribute order list's order reflects the configured DN attribute order: the first attribute in the list is also the one displayed first.
Only attributes explicitly listed in the Current attribute order list are displayed at all. The rest is hidden by default.
However, if the placeholder entry _X_ (All others) is in the “current” list, all unlisted attributes (whether known or not), are inserted at the point of _X_, in their original relative order.
A small example will help to make this more clear:
Given the DN
O=KDE, C=US, CN=Dave Devel, X-BAR=foo, OU=Kleopatra, X-FOO=bar,
the default attribute order of “CN, L, _X_, OU, O, C” will produce the following formatted DN:
CN=Dave Devel, X-BAR=foo, X-FOO=bar, OU=Kleopatra, O=KDE, C=US
while “CN, L, OU, O, C” will produce
CN=Dave Devel, OU=Kleopatra, O=KDE, C=US
To add an attribute to the display order list, select it in the Available attributes list, and press the Add to current attribute order button.
To remove an attribute from the display order list, select it in the Current attribute order list, and press the Remove from current attribute order button.
To move an attribute to the beginning (end), select it in the Current attribute order list, and press the Move to top (Move to bottom) button.
To move an attribute up (down) one slot only, select it in the Current attribute order list, and press the Move one up (Move one down) button.
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