> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://withforerunner.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Related records

> Connect records by creating linked records directly from a form

Related records let you connect records that belong together—like a work order and its related time cards, or a permit and its associated reviews. A Related records field on a record type lets your team create linked records without leaving the form they're working in, and every related record links back to the record it was created from.

## How related records work

1. A manager adds a **Related records** field to a record type and selects which record type it links to
2. When filling out that form, users select **Add \[record type]** to create a related record on the spot
3. The related record saves together with the main record and appears as a link on both records

A few things to know about how linking works:

* Related records are always created from the main record's form. You can't link two records that already exist.
* A record can have many related records, but each related record belongs to exactly one record.
* Related records automatically use the same property or object as the record they're created from.
* A linked record type can have a Related records field of its own, so you can build multi-level structures.

## Set up a Related records field

Manager-level users can add the field in the record builder:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the record type">
    Go to your record type settings and open the record type you want to add related records to. See [Customizing records](/docs/records/customizing-records) for how to edit record types.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the Related records field">
    Add a **Related records** field from the **Basic inputs** section of the field list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the linked record type">
    In the field settings, select the record type users will create from this form under **Linked record type**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the field label">
    Adjust the field label if you'd like something more specific than "Related records"—for example, "Follow-up actions".
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish the record type">
    Publish your changes. The field now appears on new records of this type.
  </Step>
</Steps>

A record type can't link to itself, and the linked record type must support the same object types (properties or objects) as the record type you're editing.

<Note>
  The field settings show the linked record type's permissions—who can fill out that form and who can view it after it's submitted. Users can only add a related record if they're allowed to create records of the linked type.
</Note>

## Add a related record

While creating or editing a record with a Related records field:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Select 'Add [record type]'">
    In the Related records field, select the **Add** link. A blank form for the linked record type opens.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill out the form">
    Complete the related record's form. A "Related record" section at the top shows which record it will be linked to.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Add">
    The related record appears as a row in the Related records field with a **Draft** tag. You can select it to keep editing, or add more.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the main record">
    Related records are created when you save or submit the main record. The confirmation message tells you both were saved—for example, "Inspection and 1 related record saved".
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Draft related records aren't saved until you save the main record. If you close or refresh the page before saving, unsaved drafts are discarded.
</Warning>

## View and open related records

On a record, the Related records field lists each related record with its record type and who created it. Selecting a row opens that record in a new tab.

On the related record itself, a **Related record** section above the form links back to the record it was created from.

## Remove a related record

To unlink a related record, hover over its row in the Related records field and select the remove icon, then save the record. Removing a related record unlinks it—the record itself isn't deleted and can still be found in your records tables.

<Warning>
  Deleting works differently than unlinking: deleting a record **also deletes all of its related records**. The delete confirmation shows how many related records will be deleted with it.
</Warning>

When duplicating a record that has related records, you can choose **Copy associated records** to carry them over to the duplicate.

## Related records on mobile

The mobile app supports the same flow: select **Add \[record type]** in the field, fill out the form, and tap **Add**. Tapping the **Related record** banner on a related record takes you back to the main record.

Related records work offline—records created in the field sync together with their related records when you're back online. See [Offline mode](/docs/mobile/offline-mode) for how syncing works.

<Note>
  Related records require mobile app version 7.19 or later. On older versions, record types that contain a Related records field are hidden from the app entirely—update the app to see them.
</Note>

## Tables, exports, and PDFs

**Records tables** - A **Related records** column shows a record's connections in both directions: the records created from it and the record it was created from. Each entry links to the record. This column isn't available as a filter.

**Exports** - Exports include links to each related record.

**PDFs** - When you download a record as a PDF, each related record's PDF is appended after the main record under a "Related records" divider.

**Public website** - On a publicly visible record, the Related records field only shows related records that are also publicly visible—anything [hidden from public](/docs/records/public-sharing) is left out. The Related records table column doesn't appear on public views.