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Object relationships let you link objects that belong together, like a stormwater system and its inlets, a building and its units, or a dam and its gates. Each object keeps its own records and history, and you can see everything it’s linked to from the object itself.

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How object relationships work

  1. A manager sets up a relationship between two object types in Settings, like “a stormwater system has many inlets”
  2. A manager can add lookup fields to show details from a linked object, like the system name on each inlet
  3. Users link individual objects from the Related tab, or accept a suggested link
  4. Linked objects appear on each other’s Related tab and can be explored together on the map
A few things to know:
  • Each inlet keeps its own inspections, and still shows which system it’s part of.

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Set up a relationship

Managers set up relationships for an object type, and every object of that type follows the same setup. You only do this once per pair of object types.
1

Open the object type

Go to Settings > Object types, select the … menu on the object type, and choose Edit. Relationships are on the Name & structure step, under Related object types.The Name and structure step for Stormwater Systems, with Has many Inlets, Has many Storm pipes, and Has many Ponds under Related object types
2

Add a relationship

Select Add relationship. Choose has one or has many, then choose the other object type.For example, “Stormwater Systems has many Dry Detention Basins” means a system can have many basins, and each basin belongs to one system.
3

Name each side

Give each side a name that reads naturally from that object. The name on the system side, like “Detention basins”, is the heading on the system’s Related tab. The name on the other side, like “Drainage system”, is what each basin calls its system.Adding a relationship: Stormwater Systems has many Dry Detention Basins, named Detention basins on the system side and Drainage system on the basin side
4

Save

Select Save. The relationship is saved right away.
You can rename either side or drag relationships into a different order later. You can’t switch a relationship between has one and has many after it’s created. To change it, remove the relationship and add it again. Removing a relationship also removes every link made through it. Once a relationship exists, you can add two kinds of attributes on the object type’s Attributes step:
  • Relationship shows the linked object itself, like the system an inlet belongs to.
  • Lookup shows a field from the linked object, like the system ID. It stays up to date when the system changes.
The Attributes step for Inlets, showing a Drainage System relationship attribute and a System ID lookup To add a lookup, select Add attribute, choose Lookup as the value type, then pick the related object and the field to show. The Add attribute window with Lookup selected, Drainage system as the related object, and Maintenance Crew as the field to look up Lookups work from the side that has one linked object. An inlet can show its system’s ID, but a system can’t list a field from each of its inlets. Open an object on the map and go to the Related tab. It lists each relationship and the objects linked through it. Select any of them to open it. The map focuses on the object and everything linked to it, so you can see how they fit together. Hover over an object in the list to find it on the map. The Related tab on a stormwater system, listing its inlets and storm pipes, with the map focused on the system's inlets, pipes, and ponds
1

Select Link

On the Related tab, select Link.
2

Pick the object

Choose the object type, then search for the object by name or select it on the map.The Link an object window, with Inlets chosen and a map and search list of inlets to pick from
3

Select Link

The object now shows on both objects’ Related tabs.
Forerunner can suggest links based on where objects sit on the map, like the properties inside a community. Suggestions show with a Suggested tag on the Related tab. Open the … menu to Accept suggested link or Dismiss suggestion. Nothing is linked until someone accepts it, and a dismissed suggestion doesn’t come back. A property marked Suggested on a community's Related tab, with the menu open to Accept suggested link or Dismiss suggestion Open the … menu next to a linked object:
  • Change swaps the linked object for another one. It shows where an object can only be linked to one, like an inlet’s system.
  • Unlink removes the link. Neither object is deleted. If the link fills in lookups, Forerunner shows which values will be cleared before you confirm.
The Unlink this object window, showing that unlinking the drainage system clears the System ID value

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Lookups on the Overview

Relationship and lookup attributes show in Object properties on the Overview tab. Select the linked object’s name to open it. An inlet's Overview showing its inspection fields, its Drainage system, and its System ID

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Tables

Relationship and lookup attributes can be added as columns in your object tables, including Properties, from Columns. Relationship columns link to each object, and you can sort by them. The Properties table with a Community column listing Harbor Pointe for each linked property

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On the mobile app

The Related tab is in the mobile app from version 7.27. Field teams can see related objects, link, change, and unlink, and accept suggestions. Viewing and linking work offline. Suggestions only show when you’re online.

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Who can do what

  • Managers set up relationships and lookups.
  • Managers, members, and creators can link, change, and unlink objects and accept or dismiss suggestions.
  • View only users can see related objects.

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Limitations

  • An object can be linked to one object or to many, but not many to many. An inlet can belong to one system, not several.
  • Properties can’t be linked to other properties. To group units under a building, set the building up as an object.
  • Relationships go one level at a time. A district shows its communities, but not the properties inside them.
  • Lookups show a value from one linked object. They don’t add up totals.
  • There’s no bulk linking from tables or imports yet.
  • Relationships aren’t in search or filters, and they don’t show on the public website.
  • There are no combined reports across related objects yet.