Relationship Types

A relationship is a link between accounts and/or contacts. You can use relationship types, such as bill-to or executive, to organize and define the relationships between accounts/contacts. Each relationship is made of of two accounts/contacts: a subordinate account and a master account. 

In the below steps, a parent account is the main account/contact and the child account is the connected account/contact.

Add a Relationship Type

1. Click the Relationship Types link from the Main Menu. The Relationship Types screen opens.
2. Click the Add button. The Add Relationship Type screen opens.
3. Enter the necessary information:
   • Master Description – Description of the relationship from the child account’s perspective.
   • Code - Unique alphanumeric code.
   • Subordinate Description – Description of the relationship from the parent account’s perspective.
   • Scope - Select if the relationship type is required. Optional is almost always selected.
     • Mandatory - The relationship must exist between a parent account/contact and child account/contact. When adding a new account, a relationship is automatically created linking the account to itself.
     • Optional - The relationship is not required between a parent account/contact and child account/contact. 
   • Class – Type of relationship created between the parent and child account. Contact is most often used. A Subsidiary class requires you to select Unique Master from the Occurrence drop-down. A Bill-To class requires you to select Unique Subordinate from the Occurence drop=down.   
   • Occurrence – Number of times you can use the relationship type between a parent account/contact and child account/contact.
     • Multiple – You can use the relationship type multiple times between a parent and child account/contact.
     • Unique – You can only have one relationship with this relationship type.
     • Unique Master – A parent account/contact can only have one relationship with this relationship type with a child account/contact.
     • Unique Subordinate – A child account can only have one relationship with this relationship type with a parent account/contact.
   • Order – Determines the order the relationship displays in the Relationship Type drop-down. 
4. Click OK.

Change a Relationship Type

You can change the information for the relationship type after you have created it. When you change the information for a relationship type, it updates wherever the relationship type is used. If you don't want to update the already existing relationship type data, then you must add a new relationship type using the steps in Add Relationship Type.

1. Click the Relationship Types link from the Main Menu. The Relationship Types page opens.
2. Select the relationship type to edit.
3. Right-click and select Edit. The Edit Relationship Type window opens.
4. Make the desired change.
5. Click OK.

Inactivate a Relationship Type

If you no longer use relationship type but want to keep record of it for reporting or other purposes, you can make it inactive. When you make a relationship type inactive, it is no longer available for selection when adding or editing relationships.

1. Click the Relationship Types link from the Main Menu. The Relationship Types page opens.
2. Select the relationship type to make inactive.
3. Right-click and select Edit. The Edit Relationship Type window opens.
4. Check the Retire box.
5. Click OK.

Delete a Relationship Type

If you no longer use a relationship type and don't want to keep a record of it, you can delete it. When you delete a relationship type that is used, you receive a prompt to select a relationship type to replace the relationship type you are deleting. You cannot undo the delete or delete and replace process.

1. Click the Relationship Types link from the Main Menu. The Relationship Types page opens.
2. Right-click on the relationship type to delete.
3. Select Mark for Delete.
4. Click the Save button. If the relationship type is used, the Replace window opens.
5. Select the relationship type from the drop-down to replace the deleted relationship type.
6. Click OK.