---
title: ObjectServices
summary: API reference for ObjectServices.
status: draft
owner: SAIF
last_reviewed: 2026-07-24
library: SAIF.Business
reference_type: package
---

# ObjectServices

`ObjectServices` is a public class in `SAIF.Business` that groups shared helper methods for portal-request setup, user/security lookup, translations, state validation, and general value conversion.

## Purpose
- Creates portal and data-request objects for callers working with `IDataPortalInfo`.
- Retrieves user department, location, fax, and phone details through `clsAccountMaintProxy`.
- Provides shared helpers for translations, authorization checks, resource-access checks, and state validation.
- Converts database values and retrieves the BDS reporting date used by downstream workflows.

## Context
- Namespace: `SAIF.Business`
- Assembly/package: `SAIF.Business`

## Public members
| Member | Signature | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `CreateDataPortalRequest` | `Public Shared Sub CreateDataPortalRequest(ByRef inDPI As IDataPortalInfo, ByRef inPR As IPortalRequest, ByRef inDR As IDataRequest)` | Instantiates a new portal request and its first data request for the supplied portal context. |
| `GetUserInfoDepartmentLocation` | `Public Shared Sub GetUserInfoDepartmentLocation(ByVal inUserID As String, ByRef inDepartment As String, ByRef inLocation As String)` | Retrieves a user's department and location values from account-maintenance user info. |
| `GetUserInfoFax` | `Public Shared Function GetUserInfoFax(ByVal inUserID As String) As clsPhone` | Retrieves a user's fax number and returns it in a `clsPhone` object. |
| `GetUserInfoPhone` | `Public Shared Function GetUserInfoPhone(ByVal inUserID As String) As clsPhone` | Retrieves a user's telephone number and returns it in a `clsPhone` object. |
| `DBValueToString` | `Public Shared Function DBValueToString(ByVal inValue As Object) As String` | Converts a non-`DBNull` object to `String` and otherwise returns `String.Empty`. |
| `GetTranslation` | `Public Shared Function GetTranslation(ByVal inDataPortalInfo As IDataPortalInfo, _ ByVal inLookupKey As String, _ Optional ByVal inGender As clsLanguageTranslation.LanguageGender = clsLanguageTranslation.LanguageGender.Masculine, _ Optional ByVal inLanguage As clsLanguageTranslation.SupportedLanguages = clsLanguageTranslation.SupportedLanguages.Spanish) As String` | Retrieves a translated value for the supplied lookup key, language, and gender. |
| `IsAuthorized` | `Public Shared Function IsAuthorized(ByVal inResource As String) As Boolean` | Checks whether the current security principal is authorized for the named resource. |
| `IsValidState` | `Public Shared Function IsValidState(ByVal inDataPortalInfo As IDataPortalInfo, ByVal inStateCode As String) As Boolean` | Queries `ALL_STATES` to determine whether the supplied state code exists. |
| `HasResourceAccess` | `Public Overloads Shared Function HasResourceAccess(ByVal inMailid As String, ByVal inResource As String) As Boolean` | Checks cached internal resource access for the supplied mail ID and resource. |
| `HasResourceAccessExternal` | `Public Overloads Shared Function HasResourceAccessExternal(ByVal inMailid As String, ByVal inResource As String) As Boolean` | Checks cached external resource access for the supplied mail ID and resource. |
| `GetBDSValueDate` | `Public Shared Function GetBDSValueDate(ByVal inDPI As IDataPortalInfo) As Date` | Calls the `cp_report_date` stored procedure and returns the reporting date value. |

## Behavioral notes
- The XML documentation on `CreateDataPortalRequest` states that the shortcut method should no longer be called and recommends using `inDPI.NewPortalRequest` and `PR.NewRequest` directly.
- `GetUserInfoFax` and `GetUserInfoPhone` swallow exceptions and return a `clsPhone` object even when user lookup fails.
- `GetTranslation` uppercases the lookup key before requesting the translation object.
- `IsValidState` runs `Select Count(*) from ALL_STATES where State = :StateCode` and returns `True` only when the count is greater than zero.

## Constraints and usage notes
- All members are `Shared`; the class acts as a stateless utility surface.
- `GetTranslation` defaults to masculine Spanish translation when optional parameters are omitted.
- Authorization, resource-access, translation, and portal-query methods depend on working security, language, and data-portal infrastructure.

## Sources
- `Business\SAIF.Business\ObjectServices.vb`