Relationship Types NN – Connections

In the previous step, we looked at Relationship Types NN. We now learn about Relationship Types NN – Connections in this step.

Creating relationships requires planning and administrative effort. With Common Data Service for Apps, you can define connections between entity records without creating an entity-relationship. By using connections users can establish a named link between records to establish a less formal relationship which doesn’t justify creating an actual entity relationship.

For example, connections between accounts and contacts may include employees, board members, shareholders, customers, suppliers, etc. Some connections can also be reciprocal, such as child and parent, husband and wife, or doctor and patient.

Connections are a way for users to record associations between almost any two records and provide additional information to describe how the records are linked to one another.

Create a Connection

You can create and view the relationships between records for many entities using Connect > To Another command when a record is opened. The record you start with is known as the source record.

In the New Connection dialog box you need to identify the target record and the connection role.

Use Details to enter additional information about the connection, such as the role of the source record, and start and end dates.

View Connections for a Record

When you open a record and select Related > Connections, you can view all the connections between it and other records.

Deactivate or Delete a Connection

If you no longer need a connection for a record, you can deactivate it or delete it to permanently remove the connection.

Connection Roles

Since connection roles can be included in solutions, always use a solution in the PowerApps portal to create or modify connection roles.

There are several connection roles available in the Common Data Services for Apps by default. To modify an existing connection role, make sure it’s in the solution with which you are working. You can use Add existing command to bring an existing connection role you wish to modify, into your solution.

If the desired connection role is not available, new roles can be created in your solution. The following information needs to be provided when a connection role is created:

You can also specify which record types should be available to connect. Although All is selected by default, make sure you consider which types are appropriate for the connection role you are adding.

Matching connection roles section becomes available once the record is saved. In this optional step, you can define any roles that be applied in a reciprocal manner. It is not required, but connections are more meaningful if these are defined. For example, Former Employee is matched with Former Employer and vice versa.

Let’s continue with Relationships in the next step as we discover about Relationship Behaviours.