Lookup Tables

Overview

You can use Lookup transformers to convert identity attributes from a source system into appropriate values for target systems based on CSV reference tables. This is particularly useful when mapping values between systems that use different naming conventions, codes, or formats for the same conceptual data.

For example, you might need to transform a "Location" attribute from Workday (which might be stored as location codes like "MN001") into corresponding values for country, country code, or city names in a target system.

Use Table Lookup Transformers when:

• You need to map source attribute values to different values in target systems

• You have standardized reference data that must be consistent across applications

• You need to extract different pieces of information from a single attribute value

Examples

1. Geographic Information:

   • Transform location codes to country, region, city, or timezone information

   • Map office codes to physical addresses or facility types

How It Works

The Table Lookup Transformer references CSV-based mappings between source and destination values. When synchronizing user attributes, Veza:

1. Takes the source attribute value

2. Looks up this value in the specified lookup table

3. Returns the corresponding value from the designated return column

Lookup Table Structure

Lookup tables are CSV files with columns that map values from a source of identity to destination values. Each row represents a mapping entry. The first row must contain the column headers.

For example, a location mapping table might look like:

Creating and Managing Lookup Tables

Creating a Lookup Table

To create a new lookup table:

1. Navigate to the Lookup Tables tab within your policy configuration

2. Click Edit mode to enable policy changes

3. Click Add New to create a new lookup table

Managing Lookup Tables

From the Lookup Tables tab, you can:

• Edit table descriptions or upload a new CSV

• Delete tables that are no longer needed

Updating a lookup table

To update an existing lookup table:

1. Create a new policy draft version.

2. Delete the CSV from the existing lookup table (do not delete the table itself).

3. Upload the updated CSV.

Using Table Lookup Transformers

Basic Syntax

To use a Table Lookup Transformer in a common or action-synced attribute:

1. In Destination Attribute, choose the attribute on the target entity that will be updated

2. In Formatter, choose the source attribute to transform

3. In Then Apply, specify the lookup table name, the column to match against, and the column containing values to return.

The full syntax for using lookup table transformers is:

Where:

• <value> is the source attribute to transform (e.g., {location})

• <table_name> is the name of the lookup table to use

• <column_name>

Examples

Assuming a user has "location": "IL001" and a lookup table named locationTable structured as shown earlier:

Advanced Features

Pipeline Transformations

You can combine lookup transformations with other transformation functions in a pipeline:

This would look up the state_code corresponding to the location value and convert it to lowercase.

Handling Missing Values

When a lookup value is not found in the table, the transformation will fail for that specific attribute.

For full coverage, ensure your lookup table includes entries for all possible source values that may be encountered during provisioning.

To ensure robust provisioning workflows, it's important to include all expected values in your lookup table, validate source data before implementing lookup transformations, and test transformations with representative data sets.

Technical Details

Implementation Notes

• Lookup tables are immutable and automatically deleted when no longer referenced by any policy version

• Multiple policy versions can reference the same lookup table (e.g., an active version and a draft version)

• Lookup tables are defined at the policy level and can be referenced by any transformer within the policy

Best Practices

1. Standardize Naming: To use a lookup-based transformer, you will reference the table by file name. Apply consistent conventions for both the table and columns.

2. Document Mappings: Add descriptions for each lookup table to explain its purpose

3. Validate Data: Ensure lookup tables are complete and accurate before using them in transformers. Consider how lookup tables will be maintained over time, especially for values expected to change.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Related Topics