Switch

The Switch policy item in the policy editor toolbox, allows you to construct a switch like evaluation which could reach a number of different outcomes. Similar to the programming concept of switch statement, you can configure the Switch policy item to see if the value of a piece of selected event data matches a range of possible values. If the data is of a value listed in the Switch policy item, then the policy evaluation will continue through the output connector associated with that particular value.

In the worksheet example below, the Switch policy item (highlighted) will check to see which user is making the proxy request. If they are Fred, Bob, Dave, or Jim, then the policy will continue along the output of their respectively labeled paths. If the user is Fred or Bob, or Dave their request will be allowed to continue. If the user is Jim, their request will be rejected. Similarly if the user isn't any of these users then the policy evaluation will continue on the Default path which means their request will also be rejected.

The Switch policy item is extremely powerful, since unlike the Yes or No outputs of other decision type policy items, it can create multiple paths that the policy could follow depending on the data being examined. This also means that the output of one switch value can lead to the evaluation of another Switch item. This provides multiple branching of policy paths when policy evaluation is taking place.

To use the Switch:

1. Select or create a policy to open a policy editor.
2. In the Items section of the policy editor toolbox, select the Switch policy item and drag it to the worksheet. This will automatically open the Switch properties.

   

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3. In the Take the value of field, enter which piece of event data the Switch policy item will check the value of. You can use the Insert symbol button to open the Symbol Browser to select which event data will be checked. In this example, the User.Name method (provided by the User object) has been selected since it will hold the value of the authenticated users name.
4. In the Matching value column, enter the required value that the selected piece of event data should be matched against. Like other value matching dialogs in WinGate you have the choice of selecting the type of method used for matching. (i.e. Exact or Pattern).
5. Under the Output label column enter the label that will be placed on the output connector for this particular value on the worksheet. If the data matches the value then policy processing will be sent down the path with the corresponding Output label.
6. Once you have finished listing the values click OK to return to the worksheet.
7. The Switch policy item will now blink, allowing you to give it a meaningful name so you can identify it easily in the policy evaluation flow.