Managed Objects

A managed object is an object that represents the identity-related data managed by Identity Cloud. Managed objects are stored in the Identity Cloud repository. All managed objects are JSON-based data structures.

Data Consistency

Single-object operations are consistent within the scope of the operation performed, limited by the capabilities of the underlying data store. Bulk operations have no consistency guarantees. Identity Cloud does not expose any transactional semantics in the managed object access API.

For information on conditional header access through the REST API, see Conditional Operations.

Managed Object Triggers

Triggers are user-definable functions that validate or modify object or property state.

State Triggers

Managed objects are resource-oriented. A set of triggers is defined to intercept the supported request methods on managed objects. Such triggers are intended to perform authorization, redact, or modify objects before the action is performed. The object being operated on is in scope for each trigger, meaning that the object is retrieved by the data store before the trigger is fired.

If retrieval of the object fails, the failure occurs before any trigger is called. Triggers are executed before any optimistic concurrency mechanisms are invoked. The reason for this is to prevent a potential attacker from getting information about an object (including its presence in the data store) before authorization is applied.

onCreate: Called upon a request to create a new object. Throwing an exception causes the create to fail.
postCreate: Called after the creation of a new object is complete.
onRead: Called upon a request to retrieve a whole object or portion of an object. Throwing an exception causes the object to not be included in the result. This method is also called when lists of objects are retrieved via requests to its container object; in this case, only the requested properties are included in the object. Allows for uniform access control for retrieval of objects, regardless of the method in which they were requested.
onUpdate: Called upon a request to store an object. The oldObject and newObject variables are in-scope for the trigger. The oldObject represents a complete object, as retrieved from the data store. The trigger can elect to change newObject properties. If, as a result of the trigger, the values of the oldObject and newObject are identical (that is, update is reverted), the update ends prematurely, but successfully. Throwing an exception causes the update to fail.
postUpdate: Called after an update request is complete.
onDelete: Called upon a request to delete an object. Throwing an exception causes the deletion to fail.
postDelete: Called after an object is deleted.
onSync: Called when a managed object is changed, and the change triggers an implicit synchronization operation. The implicit synchronization operation is triggered by calling the sync service, which attempts to go through all the configured managed-system mappings. The sync service returns either a response or an error. For both the response and the error, the script that is referenced by the onSync hook is called.

You can use this hook to inject business logic when the sync service either fails or succeeds to synchronize all applicable mappings. For an example of how the onSync hook is used to revert partial successful synchronization operations, see Synchronization Failure Compensation.

Object Storage Triggers

An object-scoped trigger applies to an entire object. Unless otherwise specified, the object itself is in scope for the trigger.

onValidate: Validates an object prior to its storage in the data store. If an exception is thrown, the validation fails and the object is not stored.
onStore: Called just prior to when an object is stored in the data store. Typically used to transform an object just prior to its storage (for example, encryption).

Property Storage Triggers

A property-scoped trigger applies to a specific property within an object. Only the property itself is in scope for the trigger. No other properties in the object should be accessed during execution of the trigger. Unless otherwise specified, the order of execution of property-scoped triggers is intentionally left undefined.

onValidate: Validates a given property value after its retrieval from and prior to its storage in the data store. If an exception is thrown, the validation fails and the property is not stored.

onRetrieve: Called on all requests that return a single object: read, create, update, patch, and delete.

onRetrieve is called on queries only if executeOnRetrieve is set to true in the query request parameters. If executeOnRetrieve is not passed, or if it is false, the query returns previously persisted values of the requested fields. This behavior avoids performance problems when executing the script on all results of a query.
onStore: Called before an object is stored in the data store. Typically used to transform a given property before its object is stored.

Storage Trigger Sequences

Triggers are executed in the following order:

Object Retrieval Sequence

Retrieve the raw object from the data store
The executeOnRetrieve boolean is used to check whether property values should be recalculated. The sequence continues if the boolean is set to true.
Call object onRetrieve trigger
Per-property within the object, call property onRetrieve trigger

Object Storage Sequence

Per-property within the object:
- Call property onValidate trigger
- Call object onValidate trigger
Per-property trigger within the object:
- Call property onStore trigger
- Call object onStore trigger
- Store the object with any resulting changes to the data store

Managed Object Encryption

Sensitive object properties can be encrypted prior to storage, typically through the property onStore trigger. The trigger has access to configuration data, which can include arbitrary attributes that you define, such as a symmetric encryption key. Such attributes can be decrypted during retrieval from the data store through the property onRetrieve trigger.

Managed Object Configuration

Configuration of managed objects is provided through an array of managed object configuration objects.

{
  "objects": [ managed-object-config object, ... ]
}

objects: array of managed-object-config objects, required

Specifies the objects that the managed object service manages.

Managed-Object-Config Object Properties

Specifies the configuration of each managed object.

{
  "name"      : string,
  "actions"   : script object,
  "onCreate"  : script object,
  "onDelete"  : script object,
  "onRead"    : script object,
  "onRetrieve": script object,
  "onStore"   : script object,
  "onSync"    : script object,
  "onUpdate"  : script object,
  "onValidate": script object,
  "postCreate": script object,
  "postDelete": script object,
  "postUpdate": script object,
  "schema"    : {
    "id"        : urn,
    "icon"      : string,
    "mat-icon"  : string,
    "order"     : [ list of properties],
    "properties": { property-configuration objects },
    "$schema"   : "http://json-schema.org/draft-03/schema",
    "title"     : "User",
    "viewable"  : true
  }
}

name

string, required

The name of the managed object. Used to identify the managed object in URIs and identifiers.

actions

script object, optional

A custom script that initiates an action on the managed object. For more information, see Register Custom Scripted Actions.

onCreate

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when the creation of an object is being requested. The object to be created is provided in the root scope as an object property. The script can change the object. If an exception is thrown, the create aborts with an exception.

onDelete

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when the deletion of an object is being requested. The object being deleted is provided in the root scope as an object property. If an exception is thrown, the deletion aborts with an exception.

onRead

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when the read of an object is being requested. The object being read is provided in the root scope as an object property. The script can change the object. If an exception is thrown, the read aborts with an exception.

onRetrieve

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when an object is retrieved from the repository. The object that was retrieved is provided in the root scope as an object property. The script can change the object. If an exception is thrown, then object retrieval fails.

onStore

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when an object is about to be stored in the repository. The object to be stored is provided in the root scope as an object property. The script can change the object. If an exception is thrown, then object storage fails.

onSync

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when a change to a managed object triggers an implicit synchronization operation. The script has access to the syncResults object, the request object, the state of the object before the change (oldObject) and the state of the object after the change (newObject). The script can change the object.

onUpdate

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when an update to an object is requested. The old value of the object being updated is provided in the root scope as an oldObject property. The new value of the object being updated is provided in the root scope as a newObject property. The script can change the newObject. If an exception is thrown, the update aborts with an exception.

onValidate

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when the object requires validation. The object to be validated is provided in the root scope as an object property. If an exception is thrown, the validation fails.

postCreate

script object, optional

A script object to trigger after an object is created, but before any targets are synchronized.

postDelete

script object, optional

A script object to trigger after a delete of an object is complete, but before any further synchronization. The value of the deleted object is provided in the root scope as an oldObject property.

postUpdate

script object, optional

A script object to trigger after an update to an object is complete, but before any targets are synchronized. The value of the object before the update is provided in the root scope as an oldObject property. The value of the object after the update is provided in the root scope as a newObject property.

schema

json-schema object, optional

The schema to use to validate the structure and content of the managed object, and how the object is displayed in the UI. The schema-object format is defined by the JSON Schema specification.

The schema property includes the following additional elements:

icon: string, optional

The name of the Font Awesome icon to display for this object in the UI. Only applies to standalone Identity Cloud.
mat-icon: string, optional

The name of the Material Design Icon to display for this object in the UI. Only applies to Identity Cloud as part of the ForgeRock Identity Platform.
id: urn, optional

The URN of the managed object, for example, urn:jsonschema:org:forgerock:openidm:managed:api:Role.
order: list of properties, optional

The order in which properties of this managed object are displayed in the UI.
properties: list of property configuration objects, optional

A list of property specifications. For more information, see Property Configuration Properties.
$schema: url, optional

Link to the JSON schema specification.
title: string, optional

The title of this managed object in the UI.
viewable: boolean, optional

Whether this object is visible in the UI.

Property Configuration Properties

Each managed object property, identified by its property-name, can have the following configurable properties:

"property-name" : {
  "description"     : string,
  "encryption"      : property-encryption object,
  "isPersonal"      : boolean true/false,
  "isProtected"     : boolean true/false,
  "isVirtual"       : boolean true/false,
  "items"           : {
     "id"                  : urn,
     "properties"          : property-config object,
     "resourceCollection"  : property-config object,
     "reversePropertyName" : string,
     "reverseRelationship" : boolean true/false,
     "title"               : string,
     "type"                : string,
     "validate"            : boolean true/false,
  },
  "onRetrieve"      : script object,
  "onStore"         : script object,
  "onValidate"      : script object,
  "pattern"         : string,
  "policies"        : policy object,
  "required"        : boolean true/false,
  "returnByDefault" : boolean true/false,
  "scope"           : string,
  "searchable"      : boolean true/false,
  "secureHash"      : property-hash object,
  "title"           : string,
  "type"            : data type,
  "usageDescription": string,
  "userEditable"    : boolean true/false,
  "viewable"        : boolean true/false,
}

description

string, optional

A brief description of the property.

encryption

property-encryption object, optional

Specifies the configuration for encryption of the property in the repository. If omitted or null, the property is not encrypted.

isPersonal

boolean, true/false

Designed to highlight personally identifying information. By default, isPersonal is set to true for userName and postalAddress.

isProtected

boolean, true/false

Specifies whether reauthentication is required if the value of this property changes.

isVirtual

boolean, true/false

Specifies whether the property takes a static value, or whether its value is calculated dynamically as the result of a script.

The most recently calculated value of a virtual property is persisted by default. The persistence of virtual property values allows Identity Cloud to compare the new value of the property against the last calculated value, and therefore to detect change events during synchronization.

Virtual property values are not persisted by default if you are using an explicit mapping.

items

property-configuration object, optional

For array type properties, defines the elements in the array. items can include the following sub-properties:

id

urn, optional

The URN of the property, for example, urn:jsonschema:org:forgerock:openidm:managed:api:Role:members:items.

properties

property configuration object, optional

A list of properties, and their configuration, that make up this items array. For example, for a relationship type property:

"properties" : {
    "_ref" : {
        "description" : "References a relationship from a managed object",
        "type" : "string"
    },
    "_refProperties" : {
        "description" : "Supports metadata within the relationship",
        ...
    }
}

resourceCollection

property configuration object, optional

The collection of resources (objects) on which this relationship is based (for example, managed/realm-name_user objects).

reversePropertyName

string, optional

For relationship type properties, specifies the corresponding property name in the case of a reverse relationship. For example, a roles property might have a reversePropertyName of members.

reverseRelationship

boolean, true or false.

For relationship type properties, specifies whether the relationship exists in both directions.

title

string, optional

The title of array items, as displayed in the UI, for example Role Members Items.

type

string, optional

The array type, for example relationship.

validate

boolean, true/false

For reverse relationships, specifies whether the relationship should be validated.

onRetrieve

script object, optional

A script object to trigger once a property is retrieved from the repository. That property may be one of two related variables: property and propertyName. The property that was retrieved is provided in the root scope as the propertyName variable; its value is provided as the property variable. If an exception is thrown, then object retrieval fails.

onStore

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when a property is about to be stored in the repository. That property may be one of two related variables: property and propertyName. The property that was retrieved is provided in the root scope as the propertyName variable; its value is provided as the property variable. If an exception is thrown, then object storage fails.

onValidate

script object, optional

A script object to trigger when the property requires validation. The value of the property to be validated is provided in the root scope as the property property. If an exception is thrown, validation fails.

pattern

string, optional

Any specific pattern to which the value of the property must adhere. For example, a property whose value is a date might require a specific date format. Patterns specified here must follow regular expression syntax.

policies

policy object, optional

Any policy validation that must be applied to the property.

required

boolean, true/false

Specifies whether the property must be supplied when an object of this type is created.

returnByDefault

boolean, true/false

For virtual properties, specifies whether the property will be returned in the results of a query on an object of this type if it is not explicitly requested. Virtual attributes are not returned by default.

scope

string, optional

Specifies whether the property should be filtered from HTTP/external calls. The value can be either "public" or "private". "private" indicates that the property should be filtered, "public" indicates no filtering. If no value is set, the property is assumed to be public and thus not filtered.

searchable

boolean, true/false

Specifies whether this property can be used in a search query on the managed object. A searchable property is visible in the End User UI. False by default.

secureHash

property-hash object, optional

Specifies the configuration for hashing of the property value in the repository. If omitted or null, the property is not hashed.

title

string, required

A human-readable string, used to display the property in the UI.

type

data type, required

The data type for the property value; can be String, Array, Boolean, Number, Object, or Resource Collection.

usageDescription

string, optional

Designed to help end users understand the sensitivity of a property such as a telephone number.

userEditable

boolean, true/false

Specifies whether users can edit the property value in the UI. This property applies in the context of the End User UI, in which users are able to edit certain properties of their own accounts. False by default.

viewable

boolean, true/false

Specifies whether this property is viewable in the object’s profile in the UI. True by default.

Script Object Properties

{
  "type"  : "text/javascript",
  "source": string
}

type: string, required

Identity Cloud supports "text/javascript".
source, file: string, required (only one, source or file is required)

Specifies the source code of the script to be executed (if the keyword is "source"), or a pointer to the file that contains the script (if the keyword is "file").

Property Encryption Object

{
  "cipher": string,
  "key"   : string
}

cipher: string, optional

The cipher transformation used to encrypt the property. If omitted or null, the default cipher of "AES/CBC/PKCS5Padding" is used.
key: string, required

The alias of the key in the Identity Cloud cryptography service keystore used to encrypt the property.

Property Hash Object

{
    "algorithm" : string,
    "type" : string
}

algorithm: string, required

The algorithm that should be used to hash the value.
type: string, optional

The type of hashing. Currently only salted hash is supported. If this property is omitted or null, the default "salted-hash" is used.

Accessing Managed Objects Through the REST API

Identity Cloud exposes all managed object functionality through the REST API unless you configure a policy to prevent such access. In addition to the common REST functionality of create, read, update, delete, patch, and query, the REST API also supports patch by query. For more information, see the REST API Reference.