TW NOTE: MICHAEL HAD STARTED A NEW DRAFT. SEE IF IT CONTAINS UPDATED MATERIAL. ALSO CREATE A LINK TO THIS FROM WITHIN THE GROUPS SECTION HERE IN THE HELP.
In your Asset Panda account, you have the ability to associate one group with another group. By using a 'Group List' Field Type, we can pull information from 1 group into another group. We can also take this a step further and create what we call Parent/Child Relationships. A Parent/Child Relationship can be defined as using hierarchal relationships between 2 or more groups to control the flow of information. The parent option would be the highest level in the hierarchy and can have multiple children. You can even set up grandchild groups if this is necessary to your use case.
We most commonly see this with “Buildings” and “Rooms," but this configuration can be used in many different ways. In this case, the Building would be the parent and the Rooms would be the children. Just like with humans, a child cannot exist without a parent so if someone wanted to add a Room to their Asset Record, they would need to first choose the Building and then select from the Rooms assigned to that building.
Example: Building A has a room 101, and a back office. Building B has a room 101, but only has a front office. If Building A is chosen, the only options seen will be 101, and back office. They will not see the front office. As both buildings have a room 101, that appears for both.
Creating a Parent/Child Relation:
To have a “Parent/Child Relation” we will need to create the parent group first. This will be the top of the hierarchy. Go to “Configuration,” and then “Group Settings,” to add the parent group if it does not currently exist. Select “Add New Group” to the right of this page to do this.
Add any desired fields in the parent group by using the “Add New Field” option like normal (you will always need one unique and required field). The connection will be created in the creation of the child.
Once the parent is created, the child should be created if it is not already. Click on the Gear Icon and then “Group Settings,” to add the child group if it does not currently exist. Select “Add New Group” to the right of this page to do this. In the field creation, for all groups, your will need a unique and required field.
“Building” in this scenario is the parent of room – as many buildings have rooms of the same number, we created this as a “Multiple Group List.” As Asset Panda is customizable, a “Group List” can be an option for a “Parent/Child Relation” as well. It is important to ensure that, in the child group, the field that relates is back to the parent as the “Parent Child Relation” box checked. Choose “Save and Close.”
Now that the connection is in place, we still need to turn it on in the group that contains both the parent and child. In our scenario, click on the Gear Icon then “Group Settings” and we are going to “Edit” by the “Assets” group.
Select “Edit” by your field that relates to the parent or add this field by selecting “Add New Field.” This field will be a “Group List” and will also have an option to select the check box for “Parent Child Relation.” Do this and select “Save and Close.”
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Next, we will need to edit or create the child field. This will also be a “Group List.” Also, in addition to this, as this is the child we have another step. In the creation or editing on the child field, there is an option for “Select Building field to be linked in Assets.” The only options that will appear in the drop down are the parent, or none. Select the parent.
Now when you go into your “Assets” group, and attempt to add assets and input information to the fields, it will ensure that you select your parent field first. If you choose your child, or in this case “Room,” it will not permit you to fill out the child information without the parent.
By choosing the parent first, the only options that will appear in the child field are those associated with the parent.
a “Parent/Child Relation” in Asset Panda. The parent option would be higher than the child in the hierarchy and can have multiple children.
Most commonly in Asset Panda we see this with “Buildings” and “Rooms;” as terminology can be customized in Asset Panda it can be used in a variety of ways. A room cannot exist without a building, similar to how a child cannot exist without a parent. Buildings can have many rooms and some with the same name as well. However, if the parent is not associated with a particular child in the group, that child will not be an option.
Example: Building A has a room 101, and a back office. Building B has a room 101, but only has a front office. If Building A is chosen, the only options seen will be 101, and back office. They will not see the front office. As both buildings have a room 101, that appears for both.