---
title: Selecting an attribute mapping method
description: On the Mapping Method tab, you can select if and how PingFederate should query local datastores to help fulfill the attribute contract in conjunction with attribute values from the authentication source.
component: pingfederate
version: 13.1
page_id: pingfederate:administrators_reference_guide:pf_selecting_attribute_mapping_method
canonical_url: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/13.1/administrators_reference_guide/pf_selecting_attribute_mapping_method.html
llms_txt: https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingfederate/llms.txt
docs_for_agents: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/docs-for-agents.md
revdate: July 10, 2024
section_ids:
  about-this-task: About this task
  steps: Steps
---

# Selecting an attribute mapping method

On the **Mapping Method** tab, you can select if and how PingFederate should query local datastores to help fulfill the attribute contract in conjunction with attribute values from the authentication source.

## About this task

To determine whether you need to look up additional values, compare the attribute contract against the adapter contract or the authentication policy contract. If the attribute contract requires more information, you must determine whether local datastores can supply it.

|   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| - | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|   | Alternatively, you can configure datastore queries as part of the fulfillment configuration for the applicable identity provider (IdP) adapter contract or authentication policy contract. If so, you do not need to set up datastore query on the connection level.For more information, see [Defining the IdP adapter contract](help_authnadapterinstancetasklet_plugincontractstate.html) or [Applying policy contracts or identity profiles to authentication policies](pf_apply_policy_contract_or_ident_profile_to_auth_policies.html). |

## Steps

1. For initial steps to configure IdP adapter instances, see [Mapping an adapter instance](pf_mapping_adapter_instance.html).

2. On the **Mapping Method** tab, select one of the following options.

   | Mapping method                                                                 | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
   | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
   | **Retrieve additional attributes from multiple data stores using one mapping** | Select to configure one or more datastores to look up attributes for a single mapping.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
   | **Retrieve additional attributes from a data store**                           | Select to define alternate datastores to look up attributes and a failsafe mapping configuration.

When this option is selected, the token authorization framework, through issuance criteria, does not apply. For more information, see Token authorization and Selecting an attribute mapping method. |
   | **Use only the adapter contract values in the SAML assertion**                 | Select if you do not require connection-level datastore query.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |

3. Click **Next** to save changes and proceed to the next tab.

   If you opted to require datastore queries, see [Configuring attribute sources and user lookup](pf_configuring_attribute_sources_user_lookup.html). If not, see [Configuring contract fulfillment for IdP Browser SSO](pf_configuring_contract_fulfillment_idp_browser_sso.html).