Object Deletion Rules

By using object deletion rules, the metaverse determines when to delete a metaverse object. A metaverse object can be connected to objects that reside in different connector spaces of multiple management agents. When a connector space object is disconnected from a metaverse object, object deletion rules are evaluated to determine whether to delete the linked metaverse object from the metaverse.

Use the Metaverse Designer to configure object deletion rules, which are defined in the metaverse and scoped by object type. You can configure object deletion rules to do any of the following:

• Delete the metaverse object when the last connector space object that links to the metaverse object is disconnected. This is the default setting.

• Delete the metaverse object when the last connector space object from a specified management agent is disconnected.

• Delete the metaverse object according to a rules extension. The rules extension has read-only access to the connector space object that is deleted and to the metaverse object that it is linked to. The rules extension can examine the object's attributes and determine whether the metaverse object should be deleted.

When a metaverse object is deleted, it affects all the connector space objects that are linked to it. Therefore, when defining object deletion rules, it is important to understand when the rules will be called. Object deletion rules are evaluated:

• When a connector space object is disconnected due to importing a deletion.

• When a connector space object is disconnected due to connector filter rules.

• When a connector space object is disconnected manually by using Joiner.

• When a management agent is deleted.

Object deletion rules are not evaluated:

• When a connector space object is disconnected due to provisioning.

For more information, see Configure an Object Deletion Rule.

The following flow chart shows the sequence in which object deletion rules are applied.