--- title: Virtual Attribute description: This is an abstract object type that cannot be instantiated. component: pingds version: 8.1 page_id: pingds:configref:objects-virtual-attribute canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingds/8.1/configref/objects-virtual-attribute.html section_ids: virtual_attributes: Virtual Attributes virtual_attribute_properties: Virtual Attribute properties basic_properties: Basic properties attribute-type: attribute-type base-dn: base-dn conflict-behavior: conflict-behavior enabled: enabled filter: filter group-dn: group-dn java-class: java-class scope: scope --- # Virtual Attribute *This is an abstract object type that cannot be instantiated.* Virtual Attributes are responsible for dynamically generating attribute values that appear in entries but are not persistently stored in the backend. Virtual attributes are associated with a virtual attribute provider, which contains the logic for generating the value. ## Virtual Attributes The following Virtual Attributes are available: * [Collective Attribute Subentries Virtual Attribute](objects-collective-attribute-subentries-virtual-attribute.html) * [Entity Tag Virtual Attribute](objects-entity-tag-virtual-attribute.html) * [entryDN Virtual Attribute](objects-entry-dn-virtual-attribute.html) * [entryUUID Virtual Attribute](objects-entry-uuid-virtual-attribute.html) * [Governing Structure Rule Virtual Attribute](objects-governing-structure-rule-virtual-attribute.html) * [Has Subordinates Virtual Attribute](objects-has-subordinates-virtual-attribute.html) * [Is Member Of Virtual Attribute](objects-is-member-of-virtual-attribute.html) * [Member Virtual Attribute](objects-member-virtual-attribute.html) * [Num Subordinates Virtual Attribute](objects-num-subordinates-virtual-attribute.html) * [Password Expiration Time Virtual Attribute](objects-password-expiration-time-virtual-attribute.html) * [Password Policy State Virtual Attribute](objects-password-policy-state-virtual-attribute.html) * [Password Policy Subentry Virtual Attribute](objects-password-policy-subentry-virtual-attribute.html) * [Structural Object Class Virtual Attribute](objects-structural-object-class-virtual-attribute.html) * [Subschema Subentry Virtual Attribute](objects-subschema-subentry-virtual-attribute.html) * [User Defined Virtual Attribute](objects-user-defined-virtual-attribute.html) * [User Template Virtual Attribute](objects-user-template-virtual-attribute.html) These Virtual Attributes inherit the properties described below. ## Virtual Attribute properties You can use configuration expressions to set property values at startup time. For details, see [Property value substitution](expressions.html). | Basic Properties | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [attribute-type](#attribute-type) [base-dn](#base-dn) [conflict-behavior](#conflict-behavior) [enabled](#enabled) [filter](#filter) [group-dn](#group-dn) [java-class](#java-class) [scope](#scope) | ### Basic properties Use the `--advanced` option to access advanced properties. ### attribute-type | | | | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | *Synopsis* | Specifies the attribute type for the attribute whose values are to be dynamically assigned by the virtual attribute. | | *Default value* | None | | *Allowed values* | The name of an attribute type defined in the LDAP schema. | | *Multi-valued* | No | | *Required* | Yes | | *Admin action required* | None | | *Advanced* | No | | *Read-only* | No | ### base-dn | | | | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | *Synopsis* | Specifies the base DNs for the branches containing entries that are eligible to use this virtual attribute. | | *Description* | If no values are given, then the server generates virtual attributes anywhere in the server. | | *Default value* | The location of the entry in the server is not taken into account when determining whether an entry is eligible to use this virtual attribute. | | *Allowed values* | A valid DN. | | *Multi-valued* | Yes | | *Required* | No | | *Admin action required* | None | | *Advanced* | No | | *Read-only* | No | ### conflict-behavior | | | | ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | *Synopsis* | Specifies the behavior that the server is to exhibit for entries that already contain one or more real values for the associated attribute. | | *Default value* | real-overrides-virtual | | *Allowed values* | * merge-real-and-virtual: Indicates that the virtual attribute provider is to preserve any real values contained in the entry and merge them with the set of generated virtual values so that both the real and virtual values are used. * real-overrides-virtual: Indicates that any real values contained in the entry are preserved and used, and virtual values are not generated. * virtual-overrides-real: Indicates that the virtual attribute provider suppresses any real values contained in the entry and generates virtual values and uses them. | | *Multi-valued* | No | | *Required* | No | | *Admin action required* | None | | *Advanced* | No | | *Read-only* | No | ### enabled | | | | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | *Synopsis* | Indicates whether the Virtual Attribute is enabled for use. | | *Default value* | None | | *Allowed values* | truefalse | | *Multi-valued* | No | | *Required* | Yes | | *Admin action required* | None | | *Advanced* | No | | *Read-only* | No | ### filter | | | | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | *Synopsis* | Specifies the search filters to be applied against entries to determine if the virtual attribute is to be generated for those entries. | | *Description* | If no values are given, then any entry is eligible to have the value generated. If one or more filters are specified, then only entries that match at least one of those filters are allowed to have the virtual attribute. | | *Default value* | (&) | | *Allowed values* | Any valid search filter string. | | *Multi-valued* | Yes | | *Required* | No | | *Admin action required* | None | | *Advanced* | No | | *Read-only* | No | ### group-dn | | | | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | *Synopsis* | Specifies the DNs of the groups whose members can be eligible to use this virtual attribute. | | *Description* | If no values are given, then group membership is not taken into account when generating the virtual attribute. If one or more group DNs are specified, then only members of those groups are allowed to have the virtual attribute. | | *Default value* | Group membership is not taken into account when determining whether an entry is eligible to use this virtual attribute. | | *Allowed values* | A valid DN. | | *Multi-valued* | Yes | | *Required* | No | | *Admin action required* | None | | *Advanced* | No | | *Read-only* | No | ### java-class | | | | ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | *Synopsis* | Specifies the fully-qualified name of the virtual attribute provider class that generates the attribute values. | | *Default value* | None | | *Allowed values* | A Java class that extends or implements:- org.opends.server.api.VirtualAttributeProvider | | *Multi-valued* | No | | *Required* | Yes | | *Admin action required* | The object must be disabled and re-enabled for changes to take effect. | | *Advanced* | No | | *Read-only* | No | ### scope | | | | ----------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | *Synopsis* | Specifies the LDAP scope associated with base DNs for entries that are eligible to use this virtual attribute. | | *Default value* | whole-subtree | | *Allowed values* | * base-object: Search the base object only. * single-level: Search the immediate children of the base object but do not include any of their descendants or the base object itself. * subordinate-subtree: Search the entire subtree below the base object but do not include the base object itself. * whole-subtree: Search the base object and the entire subtree below the base object. | | *Multi-valued* | No | | *Required* | No | | *Admin action required* | None | | *Advanced* | No | | *Read-only* | No |