Using both populate global and manual populating attributes

Question

Hi,
I am using IDM 8.0 with Flat file active sync using following parameters in FF synchronization policy.
Populate Global = checked
Track Last Processed Timestamp =true
Process Differences Only=true
My create user process is working fine but I DO NOT want to update the attributes such as First name when its value in flat file is null. My following code is working in update user form if I DO NOT use populate global parameter. But i want to use Populate global parameter.
Here is my code in update user form
<Field name='accounts[Lighthouse].firstname'>
                <Expansion>
                    <block >
                        <defvar name='potentialValue'>
                            <ref>activeSync.firstname</ref>
                        </defvar>
                        <cond>
                            <ref>potentialValue</ref>
                            <ref>potentialValue</ref>
                            <ref>accounts[Lighthouse].firstname</ref>
                        </cond>
                    </block>
                </Expansion>
                <Disable>
                    <or>
                        <isnull>
                            <ref>activeSync.firstname</ref>
                        </isnull>
                        <eq>
                            <length>
                                <ref>activeSync.firstname</ref>
                            </length>
                            <i>0</i>
                        </eq>
                    </or>
                </Disable>
            </Field>Is it possible to use both manual as well auto populate attributes. If so, How can I stop updating firstname attribute when the firstname attribute value is null along with populate global parameter enabled.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks

Answer 1

Any reason why you write your result into accounts[Lighthouse].firstname instead of global.firstname when you are using populate global?
Try something in the line of this:
<Field name='global.firstname'>
  <Expansion>
    <cond>
      <or>
        <isnull><ref>activeSync.firstname</ref></isnull>
        <eq><length><ref><activeSync.firstname</ref><i>0</i></length></eq>
      </or>
      <ref>accounts[Lighthouse].firstname</ref>
      <ref>activeSync.firstname</ref>
    </cond>
  </Expansion>
</Field>