Microsoft KB Archive/259050

= Unwanted Attribute Updates by Management Agent =

Article ID: 259050

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Metadirectory Services 2.1
 * Microsoft Metadirectory Services 2.2 Service Pack 1

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This article was previously published under Q259050



SYMPTOMS
A Microsoft Metadirectory Services Management Agent updates or overwrites an attribute value in the Metaverse or Connected Directory. This is an attribute that is maintained by you or another process, and you do not want the Management Agent to overwrite it.



CAUSE
This problem is caused by incorrectly configured attribute flow rules. Somewhere in the attribute flow rules the attribute is configured to be updated.



RESOLUTION
For purposes of explanation, this article uses the attribute TelephoneNumber as an example. Issues related to other attributes can be addressed in the same fashion.

The prefix proceeding the attribute name identifies the location of the attribute. For example:

$MV.TelephoneNumber - Identifies the Metaverse TelephoneNumber.

$CS.TelephoneNumber - Identifies the Connector Space (Administration Area which tracks connectors in the metaverse) TelephoneNumber.

$CD.TelephoneNumber - Identifies the Connected Directory (Exchange, Notes, Active Directory) TelephoneNumber.

First identify the attribute flow rule that is causing the problem. There are three areas that must be checked: Specific Flow Rules, General Attribute Flow, and the Advanced Flow Script.

Checking Specific Flow Rules To check specific flow rules, follow these steps:
 * 1) Start the Compass client.


 * 1) Select the Management Agent you want and select the Attribute Flow action.

By default, the Specific Flow Rules tab is displayed. The left pane lists the available Metaverse attributes and the right pane displays the connected directory attributes. The bottom pane displays the rules that are currently configured.

If a specific flow rule has been created it will appear as follows:

$mv.telephonenumber = $cd.telephonenumber - The metaverse is being updated by the connected directory.

-or-

$cd.telephonenumber = $mv.telephonenumber - The connected directory is being updated by the metaverse.


 * 1) Select the flow rule to highlight it and click the Delete button.

Checking General Attribute Flow Rules To check general attribute flow rules, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click the General Attribute Flow Rules tab.

This form allows you to configure general rules that affect all the attributes related to a directory object. Only general rules can affect the Metaverse (MV) or Connector Space (CS). Connected Directory (CD) assignments must be specifically configured in either Specific or the Advanced area.


 * 1) If your $mv.telephonenumber is being overwritten, under the Metadirectory Attributes section, click either Never or When the metaverse attribute does not exist.

Checking the Advanced Flow Script To check the advanced flow script, follow these steps:  Click the Advanced Flow Script tab.

When investigating this type of problem, you may see something similar to the following:

'''IF $exists($mv.telephonenumber)=T

THEN

$mv.telephonenumber = $cd.telephonenumber'''

 Do one of the following:

 

 Comment the rule so it is not processed. For example:

#IF $exists($mv.telephonenumber)=T

#THEN

#$mv.telephonenumber = $cd.telephonenumber

-or- Change the rule, such that if the telephonenumber attribute is blank it can be populated from the connected directory, and if it is not, no change will be made. For example:

IF $exists($mv.telephonenumber)=F

THEN

$mv.telephonenumber = $cd.telephonenumber



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Additional query words: MMS Attribute Flow Management Agents Zoomit Via

Keywords: kbenv kbprb KB259050

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