Aliases

Aliases Overview

An alias provides a synonym that substitutes for a stored value of a specific attribute type. It is commonly used to display a meaningful or user-friendly name for a data value. For example, Financial Server might be defined as an alias for IP address 192.168.2.18.

Once an alias has been defined, users can display report results, formulate queries, and enter parameter values using the alias instead of the data value. Note, however, that you cannot sort reports on alias values; sorts always use actual data values.

There is only one set of aliases. If multiple users define aliases for the same value of an attribute, the most recently defined alias is the one that will be seen by all users.

Aliases can be defined in a number of ways:

Open the Alias Finder

  1. Do one of the following to open the Alias Finder panel:

  2. Select the attribute type for which you want to define aliases, from the Group Type list (USERS, for example).

Define Aliases Using the Alias Builder

Use this procedure to add, modify, or remove alias definitions for any attribute type for which aliases can be defined.

  1. If the Alias Finder is not open, see Open the Alias Finder, above.

  2. Select the attribute type for which you want to define aliases, from the Group Type list (USERS, for example).

  3. Do one of the following:

Either of the above actions opens the Alias Builder panel, listing all selected values and/or aliases.

  1. To add or replace an alias for a listed value, enter the alias in the Alias box to the right of that value, and click the Apply button. Note that if you searched for a specific alias value, and replace that value, when you click the Apply button the entry will "vanish", since it no longer meets the search criteria for the panel.

  2. To add an alias for a value not listed:

Note: If you attempt to define a second alias for a value, the system will prevent you from doing so.

  1. Optionally click the (Comments) button to add comments (see Commenting).

  2. Optionally click the (Remove) button to delete an alias.

  3. Repeat steps 4-7 above as necessary, and click the Done button when finished making all changes.

  4. Back to top

Alias Quick Definition from a Report

Use this procedure to add, modify, or remove the definition of an alias for any value displayed in a report.

  1. Verify that Aliases: ON displays in the lower left corner of the report portal. If not, click the Customize button on the report panel tab, to open the Customize Portlet panel for the report, mark the Show Aliases On button, and click Update.

  2. Double-click on any row of the report to open the drill-down menu, and select Alias Definition from the menu. The Alias Definition panel will list all columns of the report for which aliases are allowed, with the value of the selected row displayed.

  3. Enter a value in the Alias box to the right of any Value for which you want to define an alias.

  4. Click Apply when you are done.

To view the report with the new aliases, click the (Refresh) button.

Define Aliases Using a Query

Use this method to create aliases from a query. This is most often used when a custom table has been uploaded to the Guardium appliance, and that table can be used to map aliases to specific values.  

  1. If the Alias Finder is not open, see Open the Alias Finder, above.

  2. Select the attribute type for which you want to define aliases, from the Group Type list (USERS, for example).

  3. Click Populate From Query to open the curiously named Builder Alias From Query Set Up panel. Initially, only the Query list box displays in the Set Up Query To Run pane.

  4. From the Query list, select the query to be run.

  5. From the Choose Column for Value Column list, select the query column to be used for the attribute value.

  6. From the Choose Column for Alias Column list, select the query column to be used for attribute aliases.

  7. After making selections for both lists, the remaining run-time parameters will be displayed (From Date, To Date, Remote Source, and any additional parameters for the selected query). Enter all run-time parameters, as appropriate for the query.

  8. Click the Save button to save the configuration.

  9. Click Run Once Now to run the query immediately, or click the Modify Schedule button (see Scheduling) to define a schedule for the query.

View the Aliases Defined

There are no reports for alias definitions. Alias values can only be viewed from the Alias Builder.

  1. If the Alias Finder is not open, see Open the Alias Finder, above.

  2. Select the attribute type for which you want to display aliases, from the Group Type list (USERS, for example).

  3. Click the Search button (without entering anything in the Value or Alias boxes).

  4. Click the Done button when you are done.