Use Case Examples

The following are examples of how the Logical Attribute API can be used:
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The following are examples of how the Logical Attribute API can be used:
  • Format data from a data source
    In the user directory, a telephone number is stored as the physical attribute
    phone
    . It has 10 digits -- for example, 9785551212. This physical attribute is associated with the logical attribute
    formatted_phone
    .
    When the task screen that contains the telephone number is about to be displayed,
    CA Identity Manager
    calls a custom logical attribute handler that formats the physical attribute telephone number appropriately -- for example, as (978) 555-1212 -- and assigns the formatted value to
    formatted_phone
    .
    CA Identity Manager
    uses the
    formatted_phone
    logical attribute value to display on the task screen.
  • Validate data entry
    The physical attribute
    employeeNumber
    exists in a data source, and it is mapped to the logical attribute
    validEmployeeNumber
    . After a user assigns an employee number to the
    validEmployeeNumber
    attribute on the task screen and clicks Submit,
    CA Identity Manager
    calls a custom logical attribute handler to query the data source to be sure that the supplied employee number exists in
    employeeNumber
    . If it does not exist, the logical attribute handler throws an exception.
  • Add a drop-down list to a task screen
    A task screen requires a customer to provide the type of service they have purchased -- Gold, Silver, or Bronze. These options are presented in a drop-down list associated with the logical attribute
    serviceType
    . When the customer chooses a service level and clicks Submit,
    CA Identity Manager
    calls a logical attribute handler that converts the selected service level to the corresponding physical attribute value (1, 2, or 3) and assigns the value to the physical attribute
    type
    .