Record Link Groups

Related records in different tables can be linked using Record Link Groups.

These are named collections of bidirectional links between tables, and they can be used to minimize data duplication/reduce data errors, and to help data maintenance.

Record Link Groups may include static or smart links:

  • Static links are direct, permanent links from one record to another record. The Record Link Group defines the source table and target table, and the records in the group are added or removed manually (in MI Viewer) or during import (auto-links) or using MI Toolbox (Automatic Link Creator).
  • Smart links are links from one record to another record that are made automatically using defined rules (Smart link criteria): when the value of key Attributes in the two records match (for example, a Batch number), the records are linked. If the values do not match, there is no link. Smart Link Groups can't be edited manually (that is, users can't add or remove records): records are added or removed automatically based on the current value of the relevant Attributes in the records.

When a Record Link Group is included in the relevant Layout(s), a list of the records it contains is shown in datasheets:

In MI Viewer, the records in the Record Link Group appear as links on the datasheet; users can click the link and view the datasheet for the linked record, as well as access additional features via the menu:

Note: MI Viewer users won't see cross-database links unless both databases are included in the current Profile.

MI Viewer users with sufficient privileges can edit Static Record Link Groups to add or remove records:

In MI Explore, linked records can be viewed on datasheets, and users can double-click to view the datasheet for the linked record:

Display Names may be defined for Record Link Group names. Where a Display Name is defined, application users will see this instead of the Record Link Group name defined in the schema, for example, in datasheets and searches. See Display Names.

See also Link design for a comparison of the relative benefits of Static Links vs Smart Links.