Link To Table

If you want to link data from one table to another in Tabidoo, you can simply do it via field type Link to table as it is explained in the previous chapter - Field Types in a Table.

Where to find the Type of binding in Tabidoo

In the advanced features, you can select ways how to link the data between those tables. When the option Type of binding is opened, there are 4 ways of binding:

1. One to Many
2. Many to One 
3. Many to Many 
4. One to One

One To Many

In this option, the data from the 1. table (e.g. Contacts) may be linked to many elements of the 2. table (e.g. Communication), but a member of the 2. table (e.g. Communication) is linked to only one element in the 1. table (e.g. Contacts).

An example:

Let's imagine that you have two tables in Tabidoo - Contacts and Communications. You want to have an overview so that when you open a specific contact in the Contacts table, you can see all the conversations that have taken place with the person so far.

How can you do that?

How to setup binding One To Many in Tabidoo

1. Step: In the table Contacts add a new field called for example Communications. From the field types you then select the option Link to table.
2. Step: select a source table from which you link the data, in this case, the table Communications. Select the fields from the linked table to be displayed in the grid.
3. Step: select the type of binding, in this case - One To Many. If you want this binding to appear in the other table as well, press the button Show field in linked table.

What will happen now?

The linked sub-table will be displayed in the form. You can edit or add new linked records (in this case, communications with a customer), which will be displayed in your table (Contacts) and also in the other linked table (Communications).

Type of binding One To Many in Tabidoo

In step 2. select which fields will be linked. They will afterwards appear in a grid of the table.

In step 3. you can display the binding in the linked table (e.g. a contact is displayed for each communication).

Many To One

In this option, the data from the 1. table (e.g. Communications) is linked to only one element from the 2. table (e.g. Contacts), but a member of the 2. table (e.g. Contacts) may be linked to many elements of the 1. table (e.g. Communications).

An example: 

For example, if you want to link communication with one specific contact. However, you can link this contact person to multiple conversations at the same time. 

You achieve it the exact way as we explained in the previous type of binging with only one slight difference. In step 3 you select the type of binding - Many To One.

To link a record, you must click the link to table field on the edit form. You can then select the record you want to link from the lookup. If you want to set which columns and records will be displayed in the lookup, see How to define which data will display in the lookup.

The lookup in Tabidoo

This type of binging is used the most frequently, for that reason it is automatically preset for a user.

Many To Many

By selecting this option the data from the 1. table (e.g. Projects) will be linked to many elements of the 2. table (e.g. Staff) and the other way round.

An example:

Let's imagine you have two tables - Projects and Employees. You want to link these tables so that when you add a new project to the table, you can directly select the employees who will be responsible for it. This means that many employees can be responsible for one project. While each employee can also be responsible for many projects at once.

How can you do that?

How to set up the binding Many to Many in Tabidoo

1. Step: add a new field to the table and select Link to table from the field type.
2. Step: select the table you want to link. You can select fields from linked table to be displayed in the grid. You can skip step 3 by pressing the Allow linking to multiple records button.
3. Step: choose the type of binding, in this case - Many To Many. If you want this field to be shown in the linked table, press the button below it. 

What will happen now?

A new field will appear in the form (e.g. Responsible). It contains two sub-tables. The left one contains all the data of the linked table (in this case employees). Click on the blue arrow to move the ones you want to link to the right sub-table.

Filtering data from the linked table

You can also set a fixed condition that will display only certain unassigned records. The filter is a standard Tabidoo filter, for more information how to use it, see the section Filters.

Be aware, that this filter is not meant to be used to display only some records that have been already linked to your record, but to limit the selection of records that can be linked to your records. 

Component types

The "Many to Many" binding can be displayed using two different views.

In the advanced features you can set the following component types:

1. One table with checkbox

Link the records easily by clicking at the checkbox.

1. Two tables

Link the records by moving them to the table on the right side.

One To One

In this option the data from the 1. table (e.g.: Projects) may only be linked to one element of the 2. table (e.g. Staff) and the other way round.

An example:

We will follow the previous example with one difference. Suppose you want to assign a project to only one of your employees and you want to ensure that the same project is not assigned to someone else at the same time. Then this type of binding will come in handy.   

In other words, records can be linked just once in this type of binding. If you link twice the same field, the alert will show up.

An example of alert in Tabidoo after linking twice the same record

Card fields for One To One or Many To One

In these two cases, you may occasionally need to display multiple values from a linked record on a form. This function only displays values in the form, not in the grid, and does not store any data. In the Table field settings, select Form Designer.

Then, in the designer, first click Control Settings, and then click Choose Card Fields.

And now you can choose which fields you want to show in the form and whether you want to hide the field headers.

The result will look like this.