Why can't I search for entities that have a specific crossvalue value and a source type?

Question

Why does filtering entities by both sourceSystems and crosswalks.value in a single API call return unexpected results?

Answer

In Reltio, filtering entities using both sourceSystems and crosswalks.value in a single API call may yield unexpected results because the filter does not inherently link the specified crosswalks.value to the specified sourceSystems. This means that while an entity may have a crosswalk with the given value and also be associated with the specified source system, the API does not ensure that the crosswalk value is from that particular source system.

Example:

Consider the following API call:

GET https://<environment>.reltio.com/reltio/api/<tenantId>/entities?filter=equals(type,"configuration/entityTypes/Individual") AND equals(sourceSystems,"FACETS") AND equals(crosswalks.value,"04864575401_20140301")&select=uri,attributes,crosswalks

This call may return an entity that has the crosswalk value 04864575401_20140301 and is associated with the FACETS source system. However, the API does not guarantee that the crosswalk value 04864575401_20140301 originates from the FACETS source system. The entity could have multiple crosswalks from different sources, and the specified crosswalk value might be linked to a different source.

Recommended Approach:

To accurately retrieve an entity based on a specific crosswalk value and its associated source system, use the Get Entity by Crosswalk API. This API allows you to specify both the crosswalk value and the source type, ensuring that the returned entity has a crosswalk matching both criteria.(docs.reltio.com)

API Call:

GET https://<environment>.reltio.com/reltio/api/<tenantId>/entities/_byCrosswalk/04864575401_20140301?type=FACETS

This call will return the entity that has a crosswalk with the value 04864575401_20140301 specifically from the FACETS source system.

References:

• Why can't I search for entities that have a specific crosswalk value and a source type? – Reltio Support(support.reltio.com)
• Get Entity by Crosswalk – Reltio Documentation(docs.reltio.com)

By using the Get Entity by Crosswalk API, you ensure precise retrieval of entities based on both crosswalk value and source system, avoiding the ambiguity that may arise from combined filters in a single API call.