Assign Different Permissions to Multiple Users Having Same Role in C#, Asp.net Boilerplate

Asp.net Boilerplate is a popular framework for building scalable and maintainable applications. One of the key features of Asp.net Boilerplate is its robust authorization system, which allows developers to assign permissions to users based on their roles. However, in complex applications, it’s often necessary to assign different permissions to multiple users having the same role. In this article, we’ll explore how to achieve this in C# and Asp.net Boilerplate.

Understanding the Problem

In a typical Asp.net Boilerplate application, users are assigned to roles, and roles are assigned permissions. This is a straightforward approach, but it can become limiting when you need to assign different permissions to users who share the same role. For example, consider a scenario where you have multiple managers in an organization, and they all belong to the “Manager” role. However, each manager has different responsibilities and requires different permissions. Using the traditional role-based approach, you would need to create multiple roles, each with its own set of permissions, which can quickly become cumbersome.

The Solution: Custom Permissions

To assign different permissions to multiple users having the same role, we’ll use Asp.net Boilerplate’s custom permission feature. Custom permissions allow you to create fine-grained permissions that can be assigned to individual users, regardless of their role.

Step 1: Create a Custom Permission

In Asp.net Boilerplate, custom permissions are defined as strings. To create a custom permission, simply add a new string to the `PermissionNames` class:

public class PermissionNames
{
    public const string CreateOrders = "CreateOrders";
    public const string ManageUsers = "ManageUsers";
    public const string ViewReports = "ViewReports";
    // Add a new custom permission
    public const string ApproveInvoices = "ApproveInvoices";
}

Step 2: Assign the Custom Permission to a User

Once you’ve defined the custom permission, you can assign it to a user using the `IPermissionManager` interface:

public class UserManager : UserManager<User>
{
    public UserManager(UserStore<User> store) : base(store)
    {
    }

    public async Task AssignPermissionToUserAsync(User user, string permissionName)
    {
        await UserManager.SetPermissionAsync(user, permissionName, true);
    }
}

In this example, we’ve created a custom `UserManager` class that inherits from Asp.net Boilerplate’s `UserManager` class. The `AssignPermissionToUserAsync` method takes a `User` object and a `permissionName` string as parameters. It uses the `IPermissionManager` interface to set the permission for the user.

Step 3: Check for the Custom Permission

To check if a user has a custom permission, you can use the `IPermissionManager` interface again:

public class OrderController : Controller
{
    private readonly IPermissionManager _permissionManager;

    public OrderController(IPermissionManager permissionManager)
    {
        _permissionManager = permissionManager;
    }

    public async Task CreateOrderAsync()
    {
        if (await _permissionManager.HasPermissionAsync(User, PermissionNames.ApproveInvoices))
        {
            // The user has the ApproveInvoices permission
            // Proceed with creating the order
        }
        else
        {
            // The user does not have the ApproveInvoices permission
            // Return an error message or redirect to an unauthorized page
        }
    }
}

In this example, we’ve created an `OrderController` class that checks if the current user has the `ApproveInvoices` custom permission. If the user has the permission, the controller proceeds with creating the order. Otherwise, it returns an error message or redirects to an unauthorized page.

Using Custom Permissions with Roles

In some cases, you may want to assign custom permissions to users based on their role. For example, you may want to assign the `ApproveInvoices` permission to all users in the “Manager” role, but with different permissions for each manager. To achieve this, you can create a custom `RolePermission` class:

public class RolePermission : IEntity
{
    public long Id { get; set; }
    public long RoleId { get; set; }
    public string PermissionName { get; set; }
}

This class represents a many-to-many relationship between roles and permissions. You can then create a repository to manage role permissions:

public class RolePermissionRepository : IRepository<RolePermission, long>
{
    private readonly IRepository<RolePermission, long> _repository;

    public RolePermissionRepository(IRepository<RolePermission, long> repository)
    {
        _repository = repository;
    }

    public async Task CreateRolePermissionAsync(long roleId, string permissionName)
    {
        var rolePermission = new RolePermission { RoleId = roleId, PermissionName = permissionName };
        await _repository.InsertAsync(rolePermission);
    }

    public async Task DeleteRolePermissionAsync(long roleId, string permissionName)
    {
        var rolePermission = await _repository.GetAsync(rp => rp.RoleId == roleId && rp.PermissionName == permissionName);
        if (rolePermission != null)
        {
            await _repository.DeleteAsync(rolePermission);
        }
    }
}

This repository provides methods for creating and deleting role permissions.

Assigning Custom Permissions to Roles

To assign custom permissions to roles, you can use the `RolePermissionRepository` class:

public class UserManager : UserManager<User>
{
    private readonly RolePermissionRepository _rolePermissionRepository;

    public UserManager(UserStore<User> store, RolePermissionRepository rolePermissionRepository) : base(store)
    {
        _rolePermissionRepository = rolePermissionRepository;
    }

    public async Task AssignPermissionToRoleAsync(long roleId, string permissionName)
    {
        await _rolePermissionRepository.CreateRolePermissionAsync(roleId, permissionName);
    }

    public async Task RemovePermissionFromRoleAsync(long roleId, string permissionName)
    {
        await _rolePermissionRepository.DeleteRolePermissionAsync(roleId, permissionName);
    }
}

In this example, the `UserManager` class uses the `RolePermissionRepository` class to assign and remove custom permissions from roles.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explored how to assign different permissions to multiple users having the same role in C# and Asp.net Boilerplate. By using custom permissions and a custom `RolePermission` class, you can create a fine-grained authorization system that meets the complex requirements of your application. Remember to always follow best practices and security guidelines when implementing authorization in your application.

Tips and Variations

• Use a separate database table to store custom permissions to improve performance and scalability.
• Implement a caching mechanism to reduce the number of database queries when checking for custom permissions.
• Use a more advanced permission management system, such as a hierarchical permission system, to simplify permission management.
• Integrate with external authentication systems, such as Azure Active Directory, to leverage their built-in permission management features.

Keyword	Definition
Asp.net Boilerplate	A popular framework for building scalable and maintainable applications.
Custom Permissions	Fine-grained permissions that can be assigned to individual users, regardless of their role.
RolePermission	A many-to-many relationship between roles and permissions.
IPermissionManager	An interface for managing permissions in Asp.net Boilerplate.

By following the steps and guidelines outlined in this article, you can create a robust and flexible authorization system that meets the complex requirements of your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get the inside scoop on assigning different permissions to multiple users having the same role in C#, ASP.NET Boilerplate!