Previous Topic: Logical Attribute APINext Topic: Logical Representation of Physical Attributes


Logical Attributes and Physical Attributes

In the User Console, task screen fields are associated with data attributes. For example, on a user profile screen, the task screen fields First Name and Last Name might be associated with the attributes firstname and lastname, respectively, in the underlying user directory.

The attributes that can be associated with the fields on a particular task screen appear in the Attribute Name drop-down for that task screen, as shown in the following list:

Field properties of Attribute Task Screen

Attribute Name contains two types of data attributes:

Physical attribute

Physical attributes are attributes of the underlying data store (a user directory such as LDAP, the SiteMinder policy store, or a database). If a task screen field is configured with a physical attribute, a value entered into the field is ultimately written to the data store.

For example a Last Name field on a user profile screen might be configured with a lastname attribute in the underlying user directory. When a user enters a value into the field and clicks Submit, the value is written to the lastname attribute in the directory. When a user next displays the profile screen, the value is retrieved from the lastname attribute of the directory and displayed in the Last Name field.

Logical attribute

Logical attribute values are not directly associated with or written to the data store. A logical attribute value is presented in a task screen field and processed by a logical attribute handler.

The result of the processing can be written to the data store if the logical attribute is mapped to a physical attribute, or the result can be used in some other way. For example, a logical attribute handler might evaluate the contents of a Notify me of good deals field to determine whether a self-registering user should be added to an organization whose users receive promotional materials and other benefits.

More Information:

Logical Attribute Handler at Run Time