Siebel Security Guide > User Administration > Implementing Self-Registration >

Managing Duplicate Users

When a user self-registers, the User Registration Process workflow process attempts to determine whether the user already exists in the database. User deduplication is a default feature, and it is configurable.

As default functionality, if all of the following non-null field values entered by the self-registering user match those for an existing user, the users are considered to be the same person.

• First name
• Last name
• Email address

If the self-registering user is a match of an existing user, the existing User record is updated instead of a new User record being written. If the value in a field of the existing User record differs from the self-registering user's non-null entry, the existing field is updated with the new data. All other existing field values are left unchanged.

In the User Registration SubProcess workflow process, the duplication comparison is done by the ValidateContact method in the User Registration business service. The comparison is done by the Check User Key step.

Modifying Updated Fields for a Duplicate User

You can specify that certain fields in the User Registration business component are not updated when a duplicate user is determined.

The following procedure is intended to list the major steps you must do. For detailed information about doing any step, see Configuring Siebel Business Applications.

To exclude a field from being updated when a duplicate user is determined

1. Open Siebel Tools.
2. Lock the User Registration project.
3. Determine the field in the VBC User Registration virtual business component that you want to exclude from updating.
   1. In the Object Explorer, click Business Component.
   2. In the Business Components list, query or scroll to select the VBC User Registration business component.
   3. In the Object Explorer, expand the Business Component item, then select the Field child item.
   4. In the Fields list, query or scroll to select the field you will exclude.
4. Add the appropriate business service user property.
   1. In the Object Explorer, click Business Service.
   2. In the Business Services list, query or scroll to select the User Registration business service.
   3. In the Object Explorer, expand the Business Service item, then select the Business Service User Prop child item.
   4. In the Business Service User Props list, create a new record.

      Complete only the fields listed. Use the indicated guidelines.

      Field	Guideline
      Name	Enter Exclude From Update number, where number is the next number in the sequence for this particular user property. For example, enter Exclude From Update 3. This entry is case-sensitive.
      Value	Enter the field name from the VBC User Registration virtual business component that you noted in Step 3.

5. Recompile the Siebel repository file and unlock the User Registration project.

Modifying Fields Used to Determine a Duplicate User

You can change the fields that are used to determine whether a duplicate user exists.

The following procedure is intended to list the major steps you must perform to modify the fields used to determine a duplicate user. For detailed information about performing any step, see Configuring Siebel Business Applications.

To modify the fields used to determine a duplicate user

1. Open Siebel Tools.
2. Lock the User Registration project.
3. Determine the fields in the User Registration business component that you want to add or delete from the duplication comparison.
   1. In the Object Explorer, expand Business Component, and then expand its Field child.
   2. In the Business Component list, query or scroll to select the User Registration business component.
4. In the Object Explorer, expand Business Service, and then click on its Business Service User Properties child.

   The Business Services list and the Business Service User Properties child list appear.

5. In the Business Services list, select User Registration.
6. Delete a field from the duplication comparison:
   1. In the Business Service User Properties list, select the record with name App User Key: Default number or App User Key: Siebel eChannel number (for Siebel Partner Portal) whose value is the User Registration business component field you want to delete from the comparison.
   2. Click to put a check in the Inactive field, and then commit the record.
7. Add a field to the duplication comparison:
   1. In the Business Service User Properties, create a new record.
   2. Enter only the fields listed below. Use the indicated guidelines.

      Field	Guideline
      Name	Enter App User Key: Default number or App User Key: application number, where application is the name of the Siebel application, and number is the next number in the sequence for this particular user property. This entry is case-sensitive. For example, you might enter App User Key: Default 2 to add a field for Siebel eService, or App User Key: Siebel eChannel 4 to add a field for Siebel Partner Portal.
      Value	Enter the name of the field in the User Registration business component that you want to add to the duplication check.

8. Recompile the Siebel repository file and unlock the User Registration project.

Deactivating the Duplicate User Check

You can deactivate the duplicate user check.

The following procedure is intended to show the main steps in deactivating the duplication check. For more detailed information on working with workflow processes, see Siebel Business Process Framework: Workflow Guide.

To deactivate the self-registration deduplication check

1. In Siebel Tools, select Workflow Process in the Object Editor.
2. Query or scroll to select User Registration SubProcess.
3. Create a revised copy of User Registration SubProcess, as described in Modifying Self-Registration Views and Workflows.
4. Right-click and choose Edit Workflow Process to edit the revised copy.

   The Process Designer appears, showing the current workflow process.

5. For each process step that applies to your application, record the sources of all connectors to the step and the destination of the single connector from the step. Reroute the connectors to bypass the step. For all Siebel Business Applications, choose the Check User Key step.
6. Delete the bypassed process step, which must now not be the source or destination of any connector.
7. Right-click and choose All Processes.

   The Workflow Processes list appears again. The revised process is still selected.

8. Click Deploy.