Configure People Attributes data connections

In the Management Portal at Data Model > Data Connections, use data connections to synchronize data from an external source with your environment. Use People Attributes data connections to synchronize people attributes of type list or table with an external Data Source.

Properties tab

Field Explanation and Tips
Name Specify a unique name for the data connection
Description Add a description that helps identify the source and reason for this data connection.
Destination Choose the type of attribute for this connection: Table or List
Select Attribute Select the people attribute that you want to synchronize with an external Data Source.
Data Source Select the Data Source that contains the external data that you want to synchronize.
You can configure Data Sources in the Setup and Sync Tool.

Mappings tab

On this tab, you specify which external data you want to synchronize and how.

Field Explanation and Tips
Look up people on Specify the method that identifies people in Identity Director AND in the external data.
Using data field Specify the field or column in the internal data that will hold the imported data.
Import data from Specify the field or column in the external data that holds the information needed for this method. (List attribute only)
Allow deletes Select this option to allow the synchronization of the data connection to delete data that is currently in the people table attribute for a user, if that data is no longer in the Data Source.
Table Attributes Field and Data Source Field Using these columns, map the fields in the table attribute to the fields in the external data.
  • Identity Director tries to match fields based on the field names, and creates mappings for matched fields.
    • You can edit or delete the mappings created by Identity Director.
    • You must manually create mappings for columns that are added after the data connection is created.
    • You must manually update the mapping for a column, if the name of the column changes.
    • Automatic mapping is only performed when you create the data connection, and after you delete all mappings (created automatically and manually).
  • You can add mappings for fields that Identity Director did not match.
  • You can use placeholders and functions to create custom patterns.
    Example:
    Combine the FirstName and LastName fields from a Data Source in the Name field of a people table attribute. 

Add criteria group

Use this option if you want to map data from multiple columns in a Data Source, to multiple rows in one column of a people table attribute.

  • Each field in the Table Attribute can only be mapped once per group.
  • Not all fields have to be included in every group.

Example:
Import data from the columns Question1 and Question2 from a Data Source as multiple rows in the Questions column in a people table attribute.

Data Source:

Account Question1 Answer1 Question2 Answer2
EXAMPLE\a.cavendish Name of your first droid? L3-37 What is the ultimate answer? 42

Desired result in table attribute for a.cavendish:

Questions Answers
Name of your first droid? L3-37
What is the ultimate answer? 42

To achieve this result, create the following groups and mappings:
Question2 and Answer2 mapped to Questions and Answers in Group 2

Diagnostics tab

On this tab, you can view information about the previous synchronization, including its duration and the number of affected records.

See also